The Ministry of Economy has launched a new call for proposals targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), aimed at strengthening international competitiveness through conformity assessment and the certification of products, services, or processes.Investing in internationally recognised standards is essential for facilitating access to global markets, building customer trust, and enhancing business reputation. The renewal of existing certificates and standards is not an eligible cost.

The call is open to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Additional eligibility criteria include a minimum of one employee, financial viability (positive EBITDA), at least one year of operations prior to submission, and business revenues of at least 50% of the total project value. The call is implemented under the de minimis aid framework, with a total allocation of EUR 20,000,000, a minimum grant of EUR 3,000, and a maximum of EUR 150,000. The aid intensity is 55% for medium-sized and 75% for small enterprises..

Eligible activities include:

• Certification of products, services, or processes
• Conformity assessment in accordance with EU legislation (Directives, Regulations)
• Certification of management systems
• Implementation and certification of quality management systems or business processes (ISO standards)
• Preparation and certification under market-recognised certification schemes (FSC, PEFC, BRC, KOSHER, HALAL, EU Ecolabel, etc.)

Certification must be carried out by an accredited body, and the entity that prepared the technical documentation may not also conduct the conformity assessment.

This is an open, rolling call — commonly referred to as a "first come, first served" call. It was published on 23 December 2024, with applications accepted from 4 February 2025. The submission deadline is 31 December 2026, and the maximum project duration is 18 months from the date of contract signature. Applicants may submit more than one application, but not concurrently — a subsequent application may only be submitted after the previous project has been rejected or after a Grant Agreement has been signed.

At the time of application submission, the applicant must not be registered for any ineligible business activities (real estate, gambling, financial services, arms manufacturing, tobacco industry, primary agricultural production, fisheries, and aquaculture). The project must comply with the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) principle. All documentation originating from abroad must be translated into Croatian and duly certified.

We provide a complimentary eligibility assessment and a free scoring simulation, so you can approach the application process with confidence and maximise your chances of success. Reach out to us as early as possible to ensure a timely, high-quality submission.

Contact us today and seize this opportunity to grow your business and expand into international markets.