Grants of almost EUR 1.5 million approved for our client

In brief

• Our client was awarded grants of almost EUR 1.5 million for a research project in the pharmaceutical sector, in partnership with an international multinational company.
• The Targeted Scientific Research call was intended for research, development and innovation at technology readiness levels (TRL) 1 to 4, up to the prototype development level.
• Grants ranged from EUR 500,000 to 1,500,000, projects last 18 to 36 months and aid intensity for certain costs reaches 100% for small enterprises.
• Micro, small, medium-sized and large enterprises and research organisations could apply, as applicant or partner.

Note, 30 October 2026. The Targeted Scientific Research call was financed from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and there are no new NPOO grant calls for companies. We track current opportunities for research, development and innovation in the guide Grants and EU funds for businesses 2026.

The project partner is an international multinational company, and the project activities will take place in the pharmaceutical sector.

Which call was this?

The Targeted Scientific Research call was open until 31 October 2023 (the deadline was extended by amendments to the call) and was intended for research, development and innovation (RDI), to co-finance research activities at technology readiness levels (TRL) 1-4 (up to the prototype development level).

Who could apply and what were the grant amounts?

Eligible applicants were micro, small, medium-sized and large enterprises and research organisations, while the grants ranged from (a minimum of) EUR 500,000 to as much as EUR 1,500,000, which is also the maximum possible grant amount.

Projects under this call can last from 18 to a maximum of 36 months, while aid intensities (for certain costs) can reach as much as 100% (for small enterprises).

A research organisation and an enterprise can take the role of either applicant or partner in this call, in accordance with the official call documentation, that is, the Guidelines for Applicants (Upute za prijavitelje, UzP). The cooperation carried out under this call will help research organisations define research jointly with the business sector, which will give the research greater practical relevance. On the other hand, the support will allow companies to become more involved in cutting-edge research, help them better understand the academic community and, in the long term, benefit from cutting-edge research.

Which costs were eligible?

Eligible costs for enterprises included: costs of research, technical and administrative staff, both existing and newly hired employees of the enterprise, who will work on project implementation; costs of external research services; costs of know-how and patents; depreciation costs of instruments and equipment necessary for project implementation; costs of materials and small inventory for the project; fees paid to intellectual property offices; costs of external services for preparing a market analysis, a feasibility study and a commercialisation study or plan, costs of attending events related to the project; costs of external project management services, costs of disseminating the research and development results of the project, etc.

We track current calls for businesses in the guide Grants and EU funds for businesses 2026, technology readiness levels are explained in our TRL guide, and how much EU funding Croatia absorbs is analysed in EU funds absorption 2021 to 2027.

Frequently asked questions about this project and call

How much grant funding was approved for the client?

The client was awarded almost EUR 1.5 million in grants for a research and development project in the pharmaceutical sector, in partnership with an international multinational company.

What were the grant amounts under the call?

Grants ranged from EUR 500,000 to 1,500,000, which was also the maximum possible grant amount.

Who could apply for the call?

Micro, small, medium-sized and large enterprises and research organisations, as applicant or partner.

How long could projects last and what was the aid intensity?

Projects could last from 18 to a maximum of 36 months, and aid intensity for certain costs could reach 100% for small enterprises.

The call “Targeted Scientific Research” (Ciljana znanstvena istraživanja) is expected to reopen at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025. To check eligibility and for professional project preparation, contact us at: info@omniasolutions.hr.