Deadline: September 12, 2025
The Internationalisation Strategy for SMEs scheme aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises through non-repayable grants to part-finance costs incurred for external services contracted to provide enterprises with an internationalisation strategy aimed at rendering them more efficient or competitive.
The focus areas of the scheme are to promote entrepreneurship, facilitate the economic exploitation of new ideas, foster the creation of new firms, and enhance the sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs while promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity.
This grant scheme is designed to assist eligible micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises engaged in economic activity in Malta, supporting them to develop internationalisation strategies that outline comprehensive plans for how a business intends to attract, engage, and retain customers while achieving its business goals. The strategy is divided into two parts: Part 1 focuses on studying opportunities abroad, including global market analysis, feasibility assessments, and recommendations for market focus. Part 2 consists of a tailored strategy for selected countries, encompassing country-specific analysis, market entry strategies, marketing, sales, and financial planning, as well as risk mitigation and monitoring mechanisms.
Eligible SMEs can receive grants up to €20,000 per undertaking, allowing for funding of both Part 1 and Part 2, with Part 1 grant amounts capped at €10,000. The aid intensity varies depending on the enterprise’s size and status: newly founded micro and small enterprises (up to five years) may receive funding covering 60% of eligible costs, while other micro, small, and medium enterprises qualify for 50% aid intensity. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and funding is available until the allocated budget of €500,000 is fully committed or up to December 31, 2026, subject to availability.
Eligible undertakings must demonstrate compliance with regulations, have been actively trading for at least one year for Part 1 applications, and prepare to hire external, autonomous, and unrelated service providers registered with the Intermediate Body to develop their strategies. The grant scheme has clear exclusion criteria including undertakings in difficulty, public entities not carrying out economic activities, and those already engaged in certain primary agricultural or tobacco-related activities.
Applications must be submitted online, accompanied by specific documentation such as a detailed proposal, financial records, private match financing evidence, and compliance certificates. A unique reference number and acknowledgment email are generated upon submission. Assessment is based on gateway criteria including eligibility, completeness, and match financing, with grants awarded on a first-come, first-served basis subject to available funding, and applications reviewed by a Project Selection Committee.
Approved projects must keep detailed documentation and comply with transparent financial management principles. Funding is disbursed through milestones linked to the completion and acceptance of phases of the internationalisation strategy. Beneficiaries are obliged to maintain extensive records for monitoring, audits, and reporting and are subject to controls to prevent double financing or misuse of funds.
The scheme encourages equal opportunities and mandates visibility of support from the European Union through integrated communication and publicity efforts acknowledging co-financing by the European Regional Development Fund.
For more information, visit Fondi.eu.
