The Action aims to strengthen the country’s production base and international competitiveness in sectors with a high external orientation through the strengthening of selected production sectors.
This is a targeted intervention, which aims, on the one hand, to strengthen the domestic production base in key sectors and, on the other hand, to support and expand the export orientation of Greek businesses.
By increasing local production of products with high international demand and improving export performance, the action is expected to contribute positively to the Greek economy. At the same time, it aims to strengthen the coverage of domestic demand with Greek-produced products, enhancing the competitiveness of Greek products at an international level.
Actions that can be financed within the framework of the Action:
- Production modernization: Investments in modern mechanical and production equipment to increase production capacity and improve efficiency.
- Technological upgrade: Adoption of advanced technologies, automation and digital systems (Industry 4.0, IoT, etc.) in the production process to reduce costs and improve product quality.
- Certifications and quality: Acquisition of quality certifications and product compliance with international standards (labels, accreditations), so that the products meet the requirements of the domestic and international market.
- Design and branding: Product redesign, improvement of design/packaging and development of branding to enhance their added value and commercial appeal in the international market.
- Human resources reinforcement: Coverage of salary costs of specialized personnel who contribute to the upgrade of production capacity and the achievement of the strategic objectives of the company.
Who is it addressed to: Existing Small, Very Small and Medium Enterprises, which must meet the basic conditions for participation:
- Have at least one (1) full closed management year before the date of electronic submission of the funding application.
- Have the eligible investment KAD(s) of the detailed call before the date of electronic submission of the funding application.
- The investment must concern exclusively KADs contained in Annex II – ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES (KAD).
- Have at least one (1) EME of dependent employment during the calendar year preceding the submission of the funding application. This will be confirmed based on the declared data kept for this enterprise in the ERGANI information system.
The total subsidized budget of the investment plan may not exceed twice the highest turnover achieved in one of the three (or fewer if the company does not have three) closed management periods of the year preceding the submission of the funding application with a maximum aid limit of €200,000 or €220,000 for rapid implementation.
It is noted that when submitting the funding application, it must be proven that at least all of the companies whose investment plans will be co-financed, received and made “complete” within the framework of this action, are required to meet a production efficiency target within a specific period of time after the completion of the investment, under penalty of returning 10% of the grant received.
Submission period: from 31/3/2026 to 2/6/2026 (and time 15:00)
The funding application must be submitted electronically through the Integrated State Aid Management Information System (OPSKE). Funding applications in which all mandatory fields of the OPSKE have not been completed will not be able to be submitted.
The funding application must achieve a minimum score of 75 during the self-assessment of the investment plan. It is noted that the submission of the funding application to the OPSKE is not permitted if the above condition is not met.
Comparative evaluation will be applied for the evaluation of funding applications.
Type of aid: Grant / Subsidy
Area of application: All of Greece
What is financed:
Minimum budget of investment projects: €100,000
Maximum budget of investment projects: €400,000
The support rates for funding applications range from 50% to 55% of the subsidized budget of each funding application. The additional public subsidy rate of 5% (Fast Implementation Bonus) is given in the event that the Beneficiary submits a Request for Payment of Support (AKP) with implementation costs at least 80% of the approved budget, within 9 months from the date of electronic notification of the final approval of the funding application,
The maximum grant limit is set at €200,000 per VAT number or €220,000 for fast implementation.
The aid is granted on the basis of EU Regulation 2023/2831 (OJ EL L 15.12.2023) (De minimis).
The eligible main categories of expenses are the following:
- Machinery – Equipment (Production and Mechanical Equipment, Equipment for Environmental Protection and Energy Saving, Circular Economy Equipment)
- Expenses for the Provision of Services (Software Supply/Use Services under the “Software as a Service” regime, “cloud computing” or similar, Certifications, Packaging – Label – Branding Design Services, Advisory support for monitoring the implementation of the investment plan, etc.)
- Software (Website Construction, e-shop, mobile applications as fixed assets, Software and software program licenses)
- Promotion, Promotion & Networking (Participation in Professional Exhibitions as an Exhibitor Abroad, Other Promotion – Promotion and Networking Expenses)
- Personnel Expenses (Full Payroll Cost of Newly Hired Personnel)
- Indirect Costs
The date of publication of the Call for Proposals is the starting date for eligibility of costs.
The maximum duration of completion of the physical and financial object of the investment plan cannot exceed fifteen (15) months, from the date of electronic notification of the final approval of the funding application (evaluation result or outcome of the evaluation of an objection).
Budget: € 50,000,000
The Action is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union and by National Participation. For reasons of greater complementarity, the financing is made using the Common Support (Article 25 C (EU) 2021/1060) for the financing of interventions falling within the scope of ESF+ support
- €39,000,000 for the Less Developed Regions: North Aegean, East Macedonia – Thrace, Central Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly, Western Greece, Crete, Western Macedonia, Ionian Islands, Central Greece, Peloponnese.
- €11,000,000 for the Transition Regions: Attica and South Aegean
See the call below.
More information about the call can be found here.
Source: espa.gr