Deadline: 14-November-2025
The Feasibility Study Grant Scheme, administered by the Measures and Support Division within Malta’s Ministry responsible for Union Funds, supports enterprises in researching their proposed business ideas to assess their viability and sustainability under the European Regional Development Fund programming period.
Focus Areas/Objectives/Priorities/Themes: This scheme seeks to help enterprises with the cost of researching their proposed business or new business idea to see if it could be viable and sustainable, with the aim to further increase gross R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP and stimulate R&I capacities during the programming period. Investment will be steered towards contributing to Malta’s R&I landscape by fostering a culture for innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship in the areas identified in Malta’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3), which include Health and Well-being, Sustainable Use of Resources for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Smart Manufacturing, Marine and Maritime Technology, Aviation and Aerospace, and Future Digital Technologies. 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’ and addresses the Specific Objective RSO1.1 ‘Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies (ERDF).’
The Feasibility Study Grant Scheme assists Maltese enterprises in evaluating the potential of their innovative ideas through structured feasibility studies that analyze market opportunities, financial and technical viability, and overall sustainability. Through this measure, beneficiaries can make informed decisions about project development and commercialization.
The scheme is managed as an open rolling call, awarding grants on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible undertakings that meet the required gateway criteria. The maximum grant value is set at €100,000 per undertaking, with aid intensity levels of 70% for micro or small enterprises, 60% for medium-sized enterprises, and 50% for small mid-cap enterprises. Actions financed under the scheme must be completed within six months from the signing of the Grant Agreement, although justified extensions may be considered.
Eligible applicants include micro, small, medium-sized, and small mid-cap enterprises engaged in an economic activity and registered in Malta or Gozo. Projects must fall within one of the six S3 priority areas and demonstrate their contribution to research and innovation capacity-building. The feasibility study must include an executive summary, market research, cost and revenue estimations, financial and welfare assessments, risk profiling, and defined next steps.
The scheme follows strict regulatory frameworks including Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 on the ERDF and Cohesion Fund, Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 on common provisions, and Commission Regulation (EU) No. 651/2014 (General Block Exemption Regulation). It also ensures compliance with community policies such as state aid rules, equal opportunities, sustainable development, and the “Do No Significant Harm” principle under Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852.
Overall, the Feasibility Study Grant Scheme represents Malta’s ongoing commitment to fostering a smarter, well-connected, and resilient economy by promoting innovation-driven entrepreneurship and the development of advanced technologies across key strategic sectors.
For more information, visit FONDI.eu.
