Deadline Date: June 30, 2026
The Standards and Awards Support Scheme for SMEs in Malta provides financial assistance to help small and medium-sized enterprises enhance competitiveness and achieve recognised business standards or awards through external advisory services.
The scheme focuses on improving enterprise efficiency, strengthening competitiveness, and increasing business credibility through advisory support leading to certification of recognised standards or awards. The initiative offers non-repayable grants co-financed under ERDF funding, with a maximum grant ranging between €15,000 and €20,000 per enterprise.
The funding is designed to part-finance external consultancy services that guide SMEs through preparation and successful attainment of recognised standards or awards, contributing to improved operational performance and market credibility.
Eligible expenditure covers the cost of external advisory services directly related to achieving the standard or award, with reimbursement based on actual costs incurred and paid, subject to the approved grant ceiling or invoice value, whichever is lower. Costs must be incurred within the approved project period and compliance with agreed indicators is required for eligibility.
Enterprises deemed to be in difficulty under EU regulations, those subject to outstanding recovery orders, public entities, and businesses operating in excluded sectors such as agriculture, tobacco processing, gambling, and illegal activities are not eligible. Additionally, undertakings that already have internal capability to deliver the service or whose core activity relates to the provision of such consultancy are excluded from participation.
For more information, visit FONDI.eu.
