Call for Proposals: Business Reports for SMEs Grant Scheme (Malta)

The focus areas of this scheme are to support SMEs through non-repayable Grants in the form of a lump sum to part-finance a business report procured from external Consultancy Service Providers which are registered with the IB and which are autonomous and unrelated to the Beneficiary Undertaking. External consultancy services shall be procured to support the decision-taking process, by providing Process and Systems Review aimed at rendering the Undertaking potentially more efficient, or Business Plan addressing the proposed investment initiatives, aimed at rendering the Undertaking potentially more competitive. SMEs generally have limited in-house resources and competences required to conduct studies to assist them in their decision-making processes to embark on investment initiatives.

This limitation presents a dependency on outsourcing services to develop necessary reports. This Grant Scheme shall seek to support SMEs through non-repayable Grants to part-finance costs incurred for external consultancy services contracted to provide the enterprise with a Business Report being either a Business Plan or a Process and Systems Review aimed at rendering it more efficient or more competitive. This Grant Scheme falls under Policy Objective 1 ‘A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity’ of SFC2021 Programme 2021-2027 ‘Towards a smarter, well connected and resilient economy, a greener environment and an integrated society’, and addresses the following Policy Objective and Specific Objective: PO1: Promoting entrepreneurship, in particular by facilitating the economic exploitation of new ideas and fostering the creation of new firms, including through business incubators. A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity. RSO1.3. Enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including by productive investments.

The scheme has an initial allocated budget of €1,350,000 from 1 January 2024, contributing to the total allocated budget of €1,500,000 under the Business Reports for SMEs initiative. Beneficiaries receive a lump sum grant of €4,000, representing an aid intensity of 80% of eligible costs. The scheme will remain active until 31 December 2026, subject to the availability of funds.

This scheme addresses the challenge faced by SMEs that lack the internal capacity to develop comprehensive studies needed for strategic decision-making. By offering grant support, enterprises can access specialised consultancy to assess their efficiency, competitiveness or investment potential through well-structured business reports. These external assessments help guide planning processes and strengthen the enterprise’s ability to pursue growth-oriented initiatives.

Eligibility extends to Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises engaged in an economic activity. Undertakings lacking legal personality must be registered under the Second Schedule of the Civil Code of Malta to qualify for support under this measure.

For more information, visit FONDI.eu.