Publication of the "Starting a Business" Action

The purpose of this regime is to support large investment projects involving sectors of the economy, in order that, through their implementation, they may bring significant results to local economies.

BUDGET

The total budget of this scheme for the year 2025 amounts to one hundred and fifty million (150,000,000) euros, of which seventy-five million (75,000,000) euros concern the type of aid of tax exemption. The remaining seventy-five million (75,000,000) euros concern the types of aid of grant, financial leasing subsidy and subsidy of the cost of employment created and come from the Public Investment Budget of the Ministry of Development.

BENEFICIARIES

Beneficiaries of the aid granted under this scheme are investment entities that are active or are about to be active in the Greek Territory at the time of commencement of work on the investment project and have one of the following forms:

a. Commercial company,

b. cooperative,

c. Social Cooperative Enterprises (SCE), Agricultural Cooperatives (AC), Producer Groups (PG), Urban Cooperatives, Agricultural Partnerships (AP),

d. companies undergoing merger, with the obligation to have completed the publicity procedures before the start of work on the investment plan, e. joint ventures carrying out commercial activity,

e. joint ventures carrying out commercial activity,

f. public and municipal enterprises and their subsidiaries

INVESTMENT PLANS

The investment plans submitted must have a comprehensive initial investment nature and in particular must meet the following conditions, investment in tangible and intangible assets in one or more of the following:

– The creation of a new facility (new unit),

– the expansion of the production capacity of an existing installation (unit),

– the diversification of the production of an existing installation (unit) into products that have never been produced or services that have never been provided by it, provided that the aided costs exceed by at least two hundred percent (200%) the accounting value of the assets that are reused, as this value has been recorded in the tax year preceding the application for inclusion of the investment plan,

– the fundamental change of the entire production process of an existing unit. In the case of large enterprises, it is also required that the supported investment costs exceed the depreciation of the last 3 tax years of the assets, which are linked to the activity to be modernized. If the depreciation of the assets linked to the activity is not clearly reflected, it is considered that the above condition is not met.

Replacement investments are not a form of initial investment. Nor is the acquisition of shares in another company considered an initial investment.

The submitted investment projects are developed within a Regional Unit. In cases where the investment plan is structured into sections, the supported expenses must be completely distinct.

Commencing work on the investment plan before submitting the application results in its rejection or even the revocation of the approval decision, regardless of the stage of implementation of the investment and within the stipulated control time limit, after the completion of the investment by the competent control bodies.

REINFORCEMENT TYPES

a. Tax exemption

b. Grant

c. Leasing subsidy

d. Subsidizing the cost of the employment created

ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE

The eligible costs of investment projects for which regional aid is granted, subject to more specific terms and conditions provided for herein, are as follows:

a. Investment expenses in tangible assets and specific expenses for:

aa. The construction, expansion and modernization of building facilities, as well as special and auxiliary facilities of buildings, and for constructions to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities and for people with disabilities, as well as the development of the surrounding area. These costs in total cannot exceed forty-five percent (45%) of the total supported regional costs. The above coefficient is set at seventy percent (70%) for investment projects of Transport Services with supply chain management to third parties (logistics – activity code number: 52.29.19.03) as well as at eighty percent (80%) for investment projects implemented in buildings that are classified as protected.

ab. The purchase of all or part of the existing fixed assets, such as buildings, machinery and other equipment of a business establishment, under the following conditions, which must be met cumulatively.

ac. The purchase and installation of new modern machinery and other equipment, including technical installations and means of transport that move within the premises of the integrated unit.

ad. Leasing payments for new and modern machinery and other equipment, provided that the right of use is acquired through a financial leasing agreement, under the condition that the agreement stipulates that ownership of the equipment will be transferred to the lessee upon the expiration of the contract.

ae. Modernization of special installations not related to buildings, as well as mechanical and technical installations.

b. Investment expenses in intangible assets, specifically costs related to:

ba. Technology transfer, through the acquisition of intellectual property rights, licenses, patents, know-how, and unpatented technical knowledge.

bb. Quality assurance and control systems, certifications, procurement and installation of software, as well as business organization systems.

c. The wage cost of new job positions created as a result of the investment plan is calculated for a period of two (2) years from the creation of each position. The above wage cost is eligible only as a standalone expense and cannot be combined with cases (a) and/or (b) of this article.

Investment projects falling under this scheme may receive additional support beyond regional aid for eligible expenses under Article 6, as well as for the following categories of eligible costs, such as:

• Costs for consulting services provided to SMEs
• Costs for energy efficiency measures
• Costs for vocational training
• Costs for innovation in SMEs

SUBSIDY RATE:

• *These rates are considered, under the current regime, as the maximum limits of the Regional Aid Map.

INTENSITY OF AID

Support of up to 75% is provided, based on the Regional Aid Map, depending on the size of the business and the installation area.

Higher aid rates, according to paragraph 2, are granted to investment projects implemented in: a) mountainous areas, according to the classification of ELSTAT, excluding municipal units that are part of the Athens urban complex, b) areas located within a distance of up to thirty (30) kilometers from the borders, c) islands with a population of fewer than three thousand one hundred (3,100) inhabitants, d) buildings classified as preserved (listed heritage buildings).

AMOUNT OF AID

• Minimum investment size: €15,000,000
• Maximum aid amount per investment project: twenty million euros (€20,000,000) for all types of aid, i.e. grants or tax exemptions or leasing subsidies or employment cost subsidies, and fifty million euros (€50,000,000) for the total of associated or affiliated enterprises.

FINANCING SCHEME

Each entity participates in the cost of the investment plan either through own capital, external financing, or a combination of both. At least twenty-five percent (25%) of the eligible investment cost must not include any form of state aid, public support, or subsidy.

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) may declare, upon submitting their application under this call, their intention to obtain a long-term loan for the implementation of the investment, with a guarantee from the Hellenic Development Bank S.A. through the Development Law Guarantee Fund (DeLFI GF) or alternatively through another eligible financial instrument of the Hellenic Development Bank. It is noted that such loans include an aid element (Gross Grant Equivalent - GGE), which is added to the total aid received by the investment. This loan cannot be included in the 25% minimum private participation requirement, which must not contain any form of state support.

IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD

The investment project is considered completed upon the execution of its physical and financial scope and the commencement of its productive operation, within the deadline specified in the approval decision. This deadline cannot exceed three (3) years from the publication date of the summary of the approval decision. The completion deadline defined in the approval decision may be extended once, for a maximum of two (2) additional years, provided that all required conditions are cumulatively met.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION & EVALUATION

• The submission period for investment project applications under this scheme begins on 17 April 2026.
• The submission deadline is set for 30 June 2026.
• Applications must be submitted through the Development Laws Information System (OPSAN) at: https://opsan.mindev.gov.gr
• Each entity may submit an application for the same investment project under more than one aid scheme, provided that the relevant eligibility conditions are met.
• The minimum required score for an investment project to be included in the ranking lists is 50 points.
• The evaluation of investment projects begins after the submission deadline and is completed within ninety (90) days.

Contact us to proceed with checking your eligibility and submitting your application.