Action 1.6 – Stimulating innovative activities and increasing the competitiveness of SMEs, Operation A.2 Increasing the competitiveness of SMEs     

• The financing measure for micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized companies for investments in the 6 counties of the South-East Region, through a call for projects financed by European funds, is ready for launch.

The South-East Regional Development Agency (ADR) has put the applicant's draft guide for public debate Call for projects 1.6 – Operation A.2 Increasing the competitiveness of SMEs, from the South-East Regional Program (Region) 2021-2027, more specifically financial aid for eligible companies with their headquarters or workplace in one of the 6 counties of the South-East region: Brăila, Buzău, Constanța, Galați, Tulcea , Vrancea.

Eligible expenses under the Regional State Aid Scheme are:

1. expenses for landscaping;
2. expenses for providing the utilities necessary for the objective;
3. expenses for the basic investment;
4. expenses with intangible assets exclusively related to the operation of fixed assets that are acquired in order to carry out the financed activity;
5. expenses for the organization of the site and related to the organization of the site;
6. miscellaneous and unforeseen expenses, which are closely related to the initial investment;
7. expenses with the purchase of installations/equipment specific to the circular economy or development activities of new ecological supply chains; Expenditures for the acquisition of facilities/equipment specific to the recovery and reuse of raw materials, materials and products by re-introducing them into the main manufacturing process or by creating new products/services, for the development of new economic activities necessary for integration into value chains;
8. expenses for industrial symbiosis;
9. expenses for quotas;
10. expenses related to the budget margin and for the establishment of the implementation reserve for the price adjustment.

Activities eligible under the Scheme through de minimis aid are:

• activities related to promoting the environmental footprint of the product/organizing carbon footprint studies;
• supporting product design for durability, repairability, reusability, upgradability and recycling;
• design and technical assistance;
• marketing and internationalization activities;
• external financial audit activity;
• mandatory publicity and information activities related to the project.

The eligible value related to the component financed by de minimis aid cannot exceed 10% of the total eligible value of the investment.

The investments proposed by the project must target a single field of activity (CAEN class) that is the object of the project. The CAEN code for which funding is requested can be primary or secondary.

The minimum and maximum non-refundable value of a project

The minimum non-refundable value of a project: 220.000 euros, respectively a minimum of 20.000 euros through de minimis aid and a minimum of 200.000 euros from regional state aid.

Maximum non-refundable value of a project: 1.500.000 euros, respectively a maximum of 200.000 euros through de minimis aid and a maximum of 1.300.000 euros from regional state aid.

According to the indicative calendar of the Regio 2021-2027 program, it is expected that the opening of the call for projects will take place through the electronic system MySMIS2021 in August.

Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor of Arta Albă

Read on White Art and: AFIR has published for consultation the Applicant's Guide related to Intervention DR-23