This year, the Innovation Fund announced two calls: the Matching Grants Program for co-financing innovations and the Mini Grants Program as an incentive in the early development of startups. In both of them, at least 50% of the fund will go to projects from selected domains, which include creative industries.
The Matching Grants Program is intended for existing and profitable companies that want to improve their product. This is the most important information:
- It is possible to receive up to 500,000 euros per project, which can be a maximum of 70% of the entire project for micro and small businesses, and 60% for medium-sized companies, while the other 30% / 40% of the project’s finances must be provided from other sources that are not part of the public financing program.
- The condition for application is that you have made at least 300,000 euros in the previous or current year and that you are doing business with a profit.
- The company must not be more than 10 years old at the time you submit your application.
Additional information and application documentation can be found at the Fund’s website, and the call is open until September 15, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.
The Mini Grants Program, on the other hand, is intended for start-up and spin-off companies working on innovative products with commercial potential. Here’s what you need to know:
- It is possible to receive up to 120,000 euros per project, but this must not constitute more than 70% of the project’s costs, and it is necessary to provide 30% of finance from other sources.
- You can apply if you are a micro or small company established in Serbia and have not existed for more than 10 years.
In this case, too, for more information and application documentation, please refer to the Fund’s website, and make sure to send your application by September 15, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.
Many SGA members have gone through this process successfully, so feel free to knock on our Discord door for application tips. Good luck!