Deadline: September 12, 2025
The Marketing Strategy for Micro & Small Enterprises scheme presents a valuable opportunity for small businesses to access non-repayable grants aimed at boosting their marketing capabilities and enhancing competitiveness.
The focus areas of this scheme align under Policy Objective 1 ‘A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity’ of the SFC2021 Programme 2021-2027, with particular emphasis on promoting entrepreneurship, facilitating the economic exploitation of new ideas, fostering creation of new firms including business incubators, and enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs alongside job creation through productive investments.
This scheme is designed to support micro and small enterprises that often face limitations in internal resources and competencies required for developing effective marketing strategies. By providing financial aid to cover part of the cost for external services, the scheme enables these enterprises to procure comprehensive marketing strategies from registered, autonomous, and unrelated service providers. The scheme operates until December 31, 2026, with a budget allotment of €500,000 and offers grants up to €10,000, with aid intensity varying between 50% and 60% depending on the age status of the enterprise.
Eligible enterprises must undertake economic activities as defined, and the marketing strategy procured shall include an extensive array of elements, such as an executive summary, business overview, market analysis with customer personas and trends, clear marketing goals with SMART objectives, positioning and branding directives, detailed marketing strategies and tactics covering digital and traditional marketing, financial overviews including budgets and ROI analysis, measurement and evaluation mechanisms, and an implementation plan with timelines, risks, sustainability considerations, and appendices containing supporting data.
The grant strictly covers marketing strategy development acquired from external service providers registered with the implementing body, while excluding marketing execution costs such as promotional materials, advertisements, or ongoing marketing activities. Applications undergo rigorous eligibility screening, where micro and small enterprises must demonstrate ability to match finance, comply with relevant EU and Malta national legislation, and ensure no double funding for the activities supported. The application process is online and requires submission of thorough documentation including declarations, quotations, tax compliance certificates, financial statements, and evidence of private financing.
Successful applicants receive funding after strict assessment against gateway criteria, followed by a formal grant agreement. The marketing strategy must be implemented within six months initially, with possible extensions subject to defined conditions and penalties. Beneficiaries are mandated to maintain detailed financial records, submit documented claims for reimbursement linked to completion milestones, and cooperate with audits and controls. Transparency and publicity requirements are enforced, requiring acknowledgement of EU funding in communications and public disclosure of grants.
This scheme not only facilitates strategic marketing planning for small enterprises but also enhances their ability to leverage insights, digital tools, and targeted marketing tactics to achieve measurable business growth and sustainable competitive advantages.
For more information, visit Fondi.eu.
