The Digital Intensification Grant, SME Digitalisation Grant and the Renovation of Private Sector buildings Grant Schemes are now available for business through a series of open calls managed by the Measures and Support Division (MSD). These schemes are funded through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) to support digitalisation investments and energy efficient projects by eligible businesses through non-repayable Grants to part-finance initial investments in the case of SMEs, or for initial investment in favour of a new economic activity in the case of large enterprises.
Scheme 1: Digital Intensification Grant Scheme
This scheme is intended to those businesses planning to invest in digital technologies and other related processes in their company in particular hardware, software (off-the-shelf or custom made), digital solutions and installations including training costs aiming to improve the efficiency, productivity, and customer experience. There are various economic sectors which are eligible but proposals within the Manufacturing and Tourism (including culture) sectors shall be given priority.
Budget: €10,000,000
Timeframe: Scheme operational until 31 December 2023 subject to availability of funds and investments must be concluded by 30th June 2026.
Maximum Grant Value and Aid Intensity: The maximum grant value under this scheme is set at €200,000 with aid intensity ranging from 10% to 30% depending on the applicant’s size and the location of the investment. Gozo applicants shall benefit with a higher aid intensity of 5%. Large companies which do not operate in the indicated Malta’s regional aid map will be ineligible to participate. If the applicant has more than one digitalisation investment project, the total maximum amount of assistance would still be €200,000 per undertaking.
Scheme 2: SME Digitalisation Grant Scheme
This scheme is aimed to support Digitalisation Investment by SMEs, in various economic sectors through non-repayable Grants to part-finance investment in digital technologies and related processes and implementation. The Grant will assist businesses to finance the hardware, software and digital solutions to improve their efficiency, productivity and customer experience by enhancing new digital capabilities and digitalised processes such as product and process design and engineering, end-to-end procurement, supply chain/distribution and after sales.
Budget: €5,000,000
Timeframe: Scheme will be operational until 31 December 2023 subject to availability of funds and investments are to be concluded by 30 June 2026.
Maximum Grant Value: Maximum funding is capped at €50,000 per digitalisation investment in digital technologies, part-financing eligible costs up to 50% for investments in Malta and 60% for investments in Gozo.
Eligible Expenditure: This Grant schemes will support eligible applicants investing in tangible and intangible assets including e-Commerce Website, Digital Solution (including necessary hardware and software) and related training costs. Applications need to include a Systems and Process Review.
Scheme 3: Renovation of Private Sector Buildings Grant Scheme
This scheme is aimed to improve the energy efficiency, reduce energy demand, lower carbon emissions and limit energy waste through the retrofitting of private sector buildings. The improvement of the existing building will upgrade the energy performance of the commercial building assets for their ongoing life.
Budget: €20M with annual thresholds of €10M
Timeframe: Scheme will be operational until 31 December 2023 subject to availability of funds and investments are to be concluded by 31 December 2025.
Maximum Grant Value aid intensity: The grant that an applicant can receive is of €300 per m (capped at €1M per undertaking). The aid shall depend on the set aid intensities as follows:
Eligible Expenditure: Reducing energy used for heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water and lighting are eligible including systems for the above energy use. An Energy Performance Certificate issue before and after the renovation will be required. The building renovations undertaken are to lead a reduction of Primary Energy Demand of at least 30%. For construction works the economic operators need to ensure that at least 70% (by weight) of the non-hazardous construction and demolition waste shall be prepared for re-use and recycling. An assessment and evaluation process is carried out.
The deadline for all three schemes is 30th September 2022. Should you require assistance with your application you may contact our advisory team on [email protected]