Deadline Date: October 31, 2025
The Business Reports for SMEs Grant Scheme is a non-repayable funding opportunity launched by the Measures and Support Division within the Ministry responsible for managing European Regional Development Fund resources, aimed at supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malta through external consultancy services to improve their competitiveness and efficiency.
The scheme falls under Policy Objective 1: A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity, specifically addressing entrepreneurship by facilitating economic exploitation of new ideas and fostering new firm creation, enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs, and job creation including through productive investments.
The Business Reports for SMEs Grant Scheme supports SMEs generally facing resource limitations in conducting internal studies by providing grants to part-finance business reports procured externally, such as Business Plans or Process and Systems Reviews, to enable better decision-making for investment initiatives. The grant offers a lump sum of €4,000 per undertaking, covering 80% of eligible costs, subject to a maximum de minimis aid limit over a three-year period.
Eligible businesses must be established and operational in Malta or Gozo and undertake eligible actions such as procuring business reports from registered, autonomous, and unrelated external service providers. These reports must include a comprehensive analysis including business history, objectives, process review, digitalization strategy, market and competition analysis, financial projections, risk assessments, investment proposals, and expected outcomes.
The scheme is open via a rolling call process assessed on a first-come, first-served basis, with applications evaluated against gateway criteria including completeness, eligibility of the undertaking, and eligibility of actions. Applicants must submit necessary documentation such as declarations, compliance certificates, financial statements, and supporting evidence as detailed in the application guidelines.
Successful applicants enter into a legally binding grant agreement with the Intermediate Body, implementing projects within six months, with possible extensions subject to conditions and penalties. Monitoring, reimbursement, audit, and control measures ensure compliance and proper use of funds, accompanied by publicity requirements acknowledging EU funding support.
Exclusions apply to certain business sectors and circumstances such as insolvency, activities covered internally by the SME, or receiving other overlapping public funding for the same actions. Beneficiaries must comply with equal opportunity principles and community policies.
For more information, visit FONDI.eu.
