Deadline: September 12, 2025
The Standards & Awards for SMEs scheme issues a public open call inviting eligible micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to submit their applications for non-repayable grants aimed at part-financing advisory services needed to acquire recognized standards or awards.
The Standards & Awards for SMEs scheme offers a strategic opportunity for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to access advisory services that help them achieve recognized standards and awards, thereby strengthening their competitiveness and operational excellence.
The focus of this initiative includes promoting entrepreneurship by facilitating the economic exploitation of new ideas and fostering the creation of new firms, supporting a more competitive and smarter Europe through innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity, and enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs while encouraging job creation through productive investments.
This scheme funds advisory services necessary for SMEs to prepare for and successfully achieve recognized standards or awards, which enhances their credibility and alignment with industry standards and best practices. It aims to improve internal management frameworks and operational structures rather than addressing regulatory or product-specific certification requirements. The support facilitates quality, efficiency, sustainability, and innovation within business operations, fosters entry into new markets, and cultivates a culture of continuous improvement.
Eligible enterprises under this scheme must be actively trading micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises registered and established in Malta, with a proven operational history of at least one year. Support is provided through non-repayable grants to partially finance advisory costs incurred in acquiring organization-wide or management system standards or awards from external, unrelated service providers registered with the Intermediate Body. The grant covers up to 60% aid intensity for micro and small start-ups up to five years following registration, and 50% for other eligible SMEs and medium-sized enterprises, with maximum grant amounts of €15,000 or €20,000 for undertakings seeking multiple certifications.
The implementation period for funded actions is six months from the Grant Agreement, with possible extensions subject to penalties. Beneficiaries must maintain proper financial and administrative controls, comply with state aid and procurement regulations, and ensure transparency through required documentation and public visibility of the support received. The scheme excludes certain sectors such as agriculture, tobacco, illegal activities, and marketing material costs, focusing purely on organizational and management system improvements.
Beneficiaries are required to submit detailed applications including declarations, proposals, fiscal compliance certificates, audited financials or certified accounts, evidence of private match financing, and supporting documents. Successful applications undergo due diligence before grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis within the available budget.
Monitoring, reporting, and auditing are integral to the scheme’s administration to ensure compliance, with audit visits possible at any stage. In case of disputes, arbitration is provided under Maltese law. The Transparency requirements mandate that grants exceeding €100,000 are publicly disclosed, and communications must acknowledge EU funding.
For more information, visit Fondi.eu.
