Starting Monday, companies can begin submitting funding applications for investments in new technologies with eligible costs exceeding 50 million lei, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance.
“Starting today, July 29, the Ministry of Finance is launching the first registration session for projects funded under the state aid scheme established by H.G.300/2024. Until September 9, 2024, business representatives can submit funding requests, along with supporting documents, for investments with eligible costs exceeding 50 million lei. The total budget for the scheme is 2.25 billion lei, which is approximately €450 million. For the first session, the allocated budget is 750 million lei,” the statement reads.
Funding requests should be submitted online via the Big Project application. These requests are ranked in descending order based on a calculated score and are analyzed according to the available budget for the session. The analysis of the requests will conclude with either a funding agreement (if all eligibility conditions and criteria are met) or a rejection letter. State aid payments are made after partial or total completion of eligible expenses, according to the funding agreement, and within the limits of approved annual budget credits.
State aid will be provided for eligible expenses, including construction costs, acquisition of equipment and intangible assets, with the investment assets needing to be new.
Eligible businesses include both SMEs and large enterprises with legal personality, established under Company Law No. 31/1990, republished, with subsequent amendments and completions. Both newly established enterprises and those already active can apply.
According to the Ministry of Finance, eligible investments must be in one of the following sectors: animal feed manufacturing; beverage manufacturing; wood processing; paper and paper products manufacturing; chemical substances and products manufacturing; basic pharmaceutical products and preparations manufacturing; other non-metallic mineral products manufacturing; metal construction and metal product manufacturing (excluding machinery, equipment, and installations); computer and electronic and optical products manufacturing; electrical equipment manufacturing; road transport vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers manufacturing; other means of transport manufacturing; furniture manufacturing; waste collection, treatment, and disposal; recyclable material recovery activities; and other industries.
“We are launching the registration for a highly anticipated measure by the business community, aimed at supporting investments in new technologies. The essence of this scheme, with a budget of over 2.2 billion lei, is to generate a multiplier effect in the economy, primarily within the manufacturing sector. It is one of the forms of support for entrepreneurs, contributing to the development of suppliers of raw materials, materials, installations, and equipment, as well as service providers. Separately, through the well-established schemes 807 and 332, we are running 64 investment projects this year with a total value of over 11 billion lei, in industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and home appliances, which will generate over 11,000 jobs,” explained Minister Marcel Boloș in the statement.
