5,000 SMEs in Romania Benefited from Up to 90% Non-Refundable Financing in 2024

5000 de IMM-uri din România au Beneficiat de Până la 90% Finanțare Nerambursabilă în 2024

In year 2024, approximately 5,000 SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) in Romania benefited from up to 90% non-refundable financing through various national and European programs. These funds represent an extraordinary opportunity for micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized companies that want to develop their businesses in a competitive economic environment. Statistics show that SMEs that accessed non-refundable funding in 2024 recorded significant increases in productivity and succeeded in implementing innovative digitalization and automation solutions.

Main Funding Programs for SMEs in 2024

2024 brought a multitude of funding opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises in Romania. With substantial budgets and advantageous conditions, these programs have become an important engine for the country’s economic development.

European Funds through Regional Programs

One of the most important sources of funding for Romanian SMEs in 2024 was represented by European Funds available through regional programs. According to data published on StartupCafe.ro, micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized companies could obtain grants of up to 200,000 euros per project, from a total budget of approximately 420 million euros.

In the Central Region, which includes the counties of Alba, Brașov, Covasna, Harghita, Mureș, and Sibiu, eligible companies could submit projects in the MySMIS2021 online system to obtain funding between 15,000 and 200,000 euros per project. Similarly, in the South-Muntenia Region, which includes the counties of Argeș, Călărași, Dâmbovița, Giurgiu, Ialomița, Prahova, and Teleorman, SMEs had access to grants of 50,000-200,000 euros for micro-enterprises and small companies, and up to 3 million euros for medium-sized enterprises.

A special opportunity for innovative startups and SMEs in the Central Region is available between December 16, 2024, and June 16, 2025, when they can apply for grants of 100,000-500,000 euros per project, through the Central Region Program 2021-2027. These funds are especially aimed at facilitating the commercial and industrial valorization of their own innovations.

Grants for Digitalization and Digital Transformation

In the digital age, the technological transformation of businesses has become a priority. According to published information, the “Grants for supporting entrepreneurs in the development of advanced digital technologies” scheme made available to non-IT SMEs, which partner with IT companies, grants of 500,000-3 million euros for the implementation of technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain, or cybersecurity.

The total budget of this scheme is 150 million euros, distributed as follows:

  • 105 million euros for regional investment aid funding
  • 25 million euros for research and development project aid
  • 20 million euros for de minimis aid

At ROBORA, we understand the importance of digitalization for increasing the competitiveness and efficiency of SMEs. We offer advanced process automation and digitalization solutions that can be implemented with the help of these funds, helping companies digitally transform their workflows and reduce operational costs.

State Aid and PNRR Funds

The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) represented another important source of funding for SMEs in 2024. With a total budget of 4.78 billion lei in the form of commitment credits and 1.23 billion lei in budget credits, national programs provided substantial support for business development.

A notable program was aimed at economic operators in the HORECA sector, who could obtain funding of up to 150,000 euros for the installation of photovoltaic panels with a power between 27kWp and 150kWp, necessary to ensure their own consumption.

Additionally, just transition funds offered grants of 200,000-8 million euros for SMEs in the counties of Gorj, Hunedoara, Dolj, Galați, Prahova, and Mureș, targeting the transition from polluting industries to less polluting activities.

Benefits of Non-Refundable Financing for SMEs

Accessing non-refundable funds offers multiple advantages for small and medium-sized enterprises, contributing significantly to their development and modernization.

Increasing Market Competitiveness

Non-refundable financing allows SMEs to invest in modern technologies and equipment, which would otherwise be difficult to acquire from their own resources. These investments lead to an increase in the quality of the products and services offered, and implicitly, to strengthening their position on the market.

According to available information, SME grants have supported essential activities for social and economic development, helping in areas with insufficient financial resources. Through these funds, Romanian companies can compete more efficiently both on the domestic and international markets.

Automation and Business Process Optimization

One of the most important benefits of non-refundable financing is the possibility to invest in the automation and optimization of business processes. At ROBORA, we specialize in providing automation solutions for companies in various industries.

Automation through RPA (Robotic Process Automation) software robots allows the reduction of execution time for repetitive tasks, increased productivity, and ensuring compliance with regulations. RPA robots interact with applications and systems just like human employees, but they do it faster, without errors, and can run 24/7.

Reducing Operational Costs

The implementation of digital solutions and process automation leads to a significant reduction in operational costs in the long term. According to specialists, automation can generate an increase in productivity of up to 70%, which translates directly into substantial savings for companies.

At ROBORA, we offer consultancy for identifying processes that can be automated and cost-benefit analyses to demonstrate the economic advantages of implementing our solutions.

How Can SMEs Access the Available Funding?

How Can SMEs Access the Available Funding?
Sursă foto – Dreamstime.com

Obtaining non-refundable financing is not a complicated process if the correct steps are followed and the eligibility criteria are well understood.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria vary depending on the funding program, but there are some general conditions that apply in most cases:

  • Classification as a micro, small, or medium-sized enterprise
  • Carrying out activities in eligible fields according to the CAEN codes specified in the funding guides
  • Stable financial situation and co-financing capacity (usually between 10% and 50% of the project value)
  • No debts to the state budget
  • Compliance with the specific conditions of each program (e.g., geographical location, number of employees, etc.)

For the “From Idea to Market – Support for SMEs” program in the Central Region, for example, eligible companies are medium or small enterprises (including micro-enterprises) from the urban or rural environment of the Central Region, which have research and development in their activity object (CAEN code 72).

Steps Required to Submit a Project

The process of accessing non-refundable funds generally involves the following steps:

  1. Identifying the Right Program – Analyze the available programs and choose the one that best matches the needs and objectives of your business.
  2. Preparing the Documentation – This includes a business plan, feasibility study, offers for the equipment to be purchased, financial documents, etc.
  3. Registering in the Electronic System – Most programs use the MySMIS2021 platform for project submission.
  4. Project Evaluation and Selection – Projects are evaluated according to the criteria established in the applicant guides.
  5. Signing the Funding Contract – After project approval, the funding contract is signed with the management authority.
  6. Project Implementation – Carrying out the activities and purchases according to the approved plan.
  7. Reporting and Monitoring – During implementation and after project completion, the beneficiary must periodically report on the status of the activities.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many SMEs miss the opportunity to obtain funding due to mistakes that can be easily avoided:

  • Not respecting deadlines – Make sure you start preparing the documentation in time.
  • Incomplete documentation – Carefully check all required documents before submission.
  • Incorrectly estimated budget – Conduct a detailed analysis of costs to avoid unpleasant surprises.
  • Lack of a clear strategy – Clearly define the project objectives and how they align with the objectives of the funding program.
  • Ignoring evaluation criteria – Familiarize yourself with the evaluation criteria and ensure your project meets them.

ROBORA Solutions for Maximizing Success Chances

At ROBORA, we are dedicated to assisting SMEs on their journey to a more efficient and competitive business through digitalization and automation.

Consultancy Services for Accessing Funding

We offer consultancy in the process of accessing European Funds, helping our clients obtain non-refundable financing of up to 90% for the implementation of our solutions. Our team of experts is available to create solutions tailored to the specifics of your business, regardless of size.

Implementation of Automation and Digitalization Solutions

With extensive experience in implementing RPA technologies and complex automations, we help you reduce costs, eliminate human errors, and increase productivity. Our services include:

  • RPA (Robotic Process Automation) – We automate repetitive and rule-based tasks, offering companies the possibility to optimize processes without intervening in existing systems.
  • Artificial Intelligence Solutions – We implement advanced technologies that allow the optimization of decisions and the improvement of customer experience.
  • ChatBot & Conversational AI – We develop intelligent virtual assistants, capable of managing complex interactions with customers.
  • Presentation Websites – We create professional websites that represent your business in the online environment.

Success Case Studies

Numerous SMEs in Romania have succeeded in digitally transforming their businesses with the help of ROBORA solutions and non-refundable funding. Processes that previously required days of manual work are now completed in hours or minutes, with 100% accuracy.

A concrete example is the implementation of an RPA solution for automating the invoicing process for a food products distributor. By using European funds for digitalization, the company managed to reduce invoice processing time by 85% and completely eliminate human errors, thus obtaining a significant competitive advantage on the market.

Frequently Asked Questions about Funding for SMEs

Question: What is the difference between de minimis aid and state aid?

Answer: De minimis aid has an intensity of 100%, meaning the beneficiary is not required to contribute anything to the eligible expenses for this type of aid. The maximum value of de minimis aid is usually limited to 200,000 euros in a period of 3 fiscal years. Regional state aid requires a co-financing from the beneficiary of 20%-50%, depending on the size of the company and the county where the investment is implemented.

Question: What does a funding intensity of 90% mean?

Answer: Funding intensity represents the percentage of the total eligible value of the project that is covered by non-refundable financing. An intensity of 90% means that 90% of the eligible costs of the project are covered by the grant, and the remaining 10% represents the beneficiary’s own contribution.

Question: How can I find out which funding programs are currently open?

Answer: Updated information about open funding programs can be found on the official websites of the management authorities, as well as on the MySMIS2021 portal. 

Question: What documents are required?
Answer: Requirements vary by program but typically include a business plan, financial statements, tax certificates, equipment quotes, feasibility studies (if applicable), and property or lease documents.

Conclusion

In 2024, over 5,000 Romanian SMEs benefited from up to 90% non-refundable financing, driving innovation in digitalization and automation. Partnering with transformation experts like ROBORA can be the key to successful project implementation. Our team is ready to provide tailored consultancy and cutting-edge solutions to help you seize every available funding opportunity.

Don’t miss your chance to digitally transform your business with non-refundable grants! Contact us today to discuss collaboration and accelerate your success.

Sources: