CISEx Workshop: EU Funding for Start-ups and Exporters

Nikolić commented on the currently open call for start-ups younger than five years that are developing innovations at technology readiness levels TRL 5 to 8. Applications open on 5 March 2025 and run until 9 April 2025. The call supports projects of newly established companies up to 60 months old, with an emphasis on radical innovation and significant improvement in the commercialisation of products, including intellectual property protection, whose technological maturity is beyond the proof-of-concept phase, meaning that at the time the project proposal is submitted they are at TRL 5-8. Some of the eligible cost categories include the following: instruments and equipment needed for implementation, staff salaries, software, external services, services needed to carry out project activities (market research and analysis, product testing, preparing a marketing plan, product design, etc.), indirect costs of up to 7% of the total eligible direct costs of the project, and other costs.

“Under this call, start-ups can cover 85% of their eligible costs. The minimum aid amount of EUR 30,000 allows smaller projects with significant innovation potential to take part, while a maximum amount of EUR 140,000 is foreseen for more ambitious innovators,” says Nikolić.

He adds that companies must have been established within the last five years and must have had at least one employee in the month before applying. He advised companies to engage experts who can help with the application process. “The most common mistakes in applications include incomplete documentation and an insufficiently clear description of the innovation. With expert help, they can be avoided,” Nikolić believes.

According to Matija Vlahovski, a call for the internationalisation of SMEs is expected to open soon, with applications due to start in mid-March. “Entrepreneurs will be able to finance registration fees for trade fairs, the fit-out and rental of stands, marketing activities and the purchase of the necessary ICT equipment, and to cover travel costs and daily allowances for their employees,” Vlahovski pointed out. He also said that strong competition is expected. “Companies can apply for participation in two international trade fairs. We expect a high success rate, but we certainly advise companies to start preparing as soon as possible,” says Vlahovski.

The president of the CISEx association, Ivan Bešlić, said that he will continue to encourage member companies to take advantage of the opportunities on offer.

“We need to make better use of funding from EU funds. With its help, we can develop our businesses more successfully than competing countries that do not have access to European money,” Bešlić concluded.

Source: cisex.org/Omnia Solutions

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