On 24 December, the Ministry of Economy published the Innovations by Newly Established SMEs call, aimed at supporting companies less than five years old. The total budget exceeds EUR 14.5 million, with grants ranging from a minimum of EUR 30,000 to a maximum of EUR 140,000. The aid intensity is 85%, and applications will be ranked based on a quality assessment.

Who is the call intended for?
The call is open to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) no older than 5 years. Ineligible sectors include real estate, gambling, financial and insurance services, legal and accounting services, tobacco, arms manufacturing, and fisheries and aquaculture.

Eligible Activities and Costs

1. Development of an innovative product:minimum 70% of the total budget (design of new products and services, pilot production runs, intellectual property protection).
2. Preparation for commercialisation:up to 30% of the budget (marketing studies, market analysis, certification).

Eligible costs include equipment procurement, costs of existing and new personnel, digital solutions, external services (knowledge transfer, external research and analysis, intellectual property filing, preparation of an EU funding project proposal), as well as flat-rate costs for overheads and rent.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted from 10 March 2025 to 28 April 2025. The maximum project duration is 24 months, and the company must have been incorporated before 28 March 2025 and have at least one employee as of March 2025.

To achieve the maximum score, the project should encompass the development of three radically innovative products or services with global scaling potential. Addressing multiple thematic priority areas (health, energy, transport, security, food, wood-based products, or digital products) further improves the chances of securing funding. Other key scoring factors include an intention to protect intellectual property and evidence of commercial readiness, such as letters of intent from prospective customers and investors.

Additionally, to score the maximum points, the company should be less than 36 months old and have a founder with a track record of prior business success or participation in startup competitions. Applicants are expected to create at least one new job by 2028, with two new positions being the ideal target to demonstrate the project's growth potential.

1. Telemedicine Platform for Chronic Patient Monitoring
   Leverages artificial intelligence to analyse medical data, enabling personalised therapies and timely interventions. A patent application is planned, and the project aligns with the S3 priority areas of health and digital products, with global reach potential.
2. Modular Renewable Energy Storage System
   An innovative combination of advanced battery systems and predictive analytics for more efficient use of renewable energy sources. The solution offers scalable applications across a broad range of end users, and letters of intent from investors are included.
3. Innovative Wooden Packaging with Biodegradable Coatings
   An environmentally sustainable packaging solution made from wood and natural coatings, tailored to a market increasingly seeking green alternatives to plastic. The project includes the possibility of patent protection and future collaboration with international partners.
4. Traffic Safety Risk Prediction Platform
   Advanced analysis of large traffic datasets using machine learning to predict critical traffic points and high-risk scenarios. The platform has global application potential in collaboration with municipalities and transport companies.

n this sample project budget, total eligible costs amount to just under EUR 165,000, with the project generating just under EUR 140,000 in grant funding.Indicative costs are listed for each budget line, with the expected grant amount per item shown in brackets over the 24-month project duration.

• Employee 1 gross salary (incl. employer contributions) – EUR 48,000 (EUR 40,800)
• Employee 2 gross salary (incl. employer contributions) – EUR 48,000 (EUR 40,800)
• New equipment procurement – EUR 30,000 (EUR 25,500)
• Depreciation of existing equipment – EUR 5,000 (EUR 4,250)
• Digital solutions – EUR 4,000 (EUR 3,400)
• Innovation advisory services – EUR 8,000 (EUR 6,800)
• Intellectual property protection costs – EUR 2,000 (EUR 1,700)
• Certification costs – EUR 1,900 (EUR 1,615)
• Project management costs – EUR 7,000 (EUR 5,950)
• Overhead costs (flat rate 7%) – EUR 10,773 (EUR 9,157)

For a complimentary eligibility assessment and scoring simulation,get in touch as soon as possible. A quality application requires 4 to 6 weeks of preparation — make the most of this opportunity and secure additional funding for your growth.

Contact us today and we will work together to develop a project that meets all eligibility criteria and maximises your chances of success.