NSRF: 1 billion euros for Greek SMEs in the next two months

The first two actions of the new National Strategic Reference Framework-NSRF 2021-2027 for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which will run in the next two months with a total budget of 1 billion euros, was announced by the Deputy Minister of Development and Investments Yannis Tsakiris, responsible for the NSRF and Public Investments, during the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Athens Chamber of Small and Medium Indusries– ACSMI. In total, through the new NSRF, around 4 billion euros are expected to be allocated to SMEs, 3 billion euros through actions and 1 billion euros through financial instruments.

On his part, the ACSMI President Pavlos Ravanis, pointed out that the new NSRF is a valuable tool, which can breathe life into businesses and mobilize the shift to a new productive model.

The two actions of the “Competitiveness” scheme

As revealed by the Deputy Minister of Development and Investments, the two actions of the “Competitiveness” program will run as follows:

-The first action concerns the “Digital Transition of SMEs” with the first cycle of announcements involving resources of 300 million euros. The submission of applications will start at the end of October and will concern the funding of business plans of companies with low digital readiness.

-The second action concerns the “Green Transition of SMEs” which includes resources of 700 million euros. The submission of applications will begin at the end of November and concerns the upgrading of the production function of SMEs by utilizing environmentally friendly solutions that will make the companies more competitive. In the context of this call, according to Mr. Tsakiris, in addition to the subsidy for productive assets, the installation of solar panels in SMEs will also be subsidized for the production of electricity for own consumption, but not for “net metering”. The aim of the action is to further reduce the operating costs of SMEs.