Deadline: 14-November-2025
The Marketing Strategy for Micro & Small Enterprises scheme by the Measures and Support Division under the Ministry responsible for Union Funds in Malta provides non-repayable grants to assist micro and small enterprises in developing external marketing strategies that enhance efficiency, competitiveness, and alignment with overall business goals.
Focus Areas/Objectives/Priorities/Themes: 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 Marketing Strategy for Micro & Small Enterprises scheme seeks to support micro and small enterprises through grants that part-finance costs incurred for external services contracted to provide the enterprise with a comprehensive marketing strategy. The total allocated budget for the scheme is €500,000, with a maximum grant value of €10,000. Aid intensity is set at 60% for start-up enterprises up to five years following registration and 50% for enterprises exceeding five years. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis under a rolling call system and are subject to fund availability.
Eligible undertakings are micro and small-sized enterprises engaged in economic activity and registered in Malta or Gozo. The eligible action includes procuring a marketing strategy report from an autonomous and unrelated external service provider registered with the Intermediate Body. The marketing strategy must include key sections such as market analysis, business overview, marketing goals, digital and content strategy, risk management, and sustainability planning.
Implementation must be completed within six months of the Grant Agreement, with possible extensions upon justified request. Beneficiaries must ensure compliance with EU and national laws, fiscal obligations, and social security requirements. Exclusions apply to undertakings in difficulty, public entities, gambling, betting activities, and enterprises with internal capabilities to perform the marketing work themselves.
Applications must be submitted online and include a declaration form, quotation from a registered service provider, tax compliance certificates, financial statements or accounts, and evidence of private match financing. Grants are disbursed in two stages—80% upon submission of the marketing strategy report and 20% after evidence of implementing the action plan for the upcoming year.
Beneficiaries must maintain transparent records, ensure visibility of EU support, and comply with audit and reporting requirements for three years post-payment. The Measures and Support Division serves as the contact point for all queries regarding this scheme.
For more information, visit FONDI.eu.
