VAPRO

The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration released for public consultation the Specific Guideline (IP 2.2, POR 2014-2020) regarding the call for SMEs for a financing up to 5.000.000 euro.

The guide is in public consultation until 23.11.2018.

Eligible beneficiaries – Cooperative societies or societies that fall under the category:

• SMEs from urban areas (including microenterprises) and
• medium enterprises from rural areas.

It is required for a beneficiary to have at least 1 year of activity (established no later than 03.01.2018).

Eligible regions: North-East, South-East, South Muntenia, South-West Oltenia, West, North-West, Centre (Projects implemented in the Bucharest – Ilfov and ITI area cannot be submitted).

Eligible investments:

• the creation of a new unit, the construction and endowment of a production/ service space, in order to start the project activity;
• expanding the capacity of an existing unit by increasing the volume of at least one product/ service without the fundamental change in the production process;
• diversification of an unit through products/ services that were not previously manufactured/ rendered in the unit. Diversification of production implies that new products/ services are added to the range of assortments already produced/ rendered.

The proposed project in the grant application must necessarily include an initial investment in tangible assets financed by regional state aid (construction/ extension/ endowment with tangible assets).

Implementation period – 12 months.

The period for realization of the project activities after the signing of the financing contract may be extended up to a maximum of twice the period initially foreseen under the conditions stipulated in the financing agreement but not later than 31.12.2023.

Financing amount: minimum 1.000.000 euro and maximum 5.000.000 euro.

Non-reimbursable financing rate:

• Medium enterprises: 60% ( from North-East, South-East, South Muntenia, South-West Oltenia, North-West, Centru regions) and 45% (from West region), from the eligible expenses value;
• Small and micro enterprises: 70% ( from North-East, South-East, South Muntenia, South-West Oltenia, North-West, Centru regions) and 55% (from West region), from the eligible expenses value;

More information here.

The Ministry of European Funds – MACOP announces the launch of the  Action 2.2.1 “Support for adding value generated by ICT and innovation field by developing clusters”.

The project submission period begins on December 17, 2018, 09:00 and ends on February 14, 2019 at 17:00.

A project is eligible for financial support if it leads to:

• Developing a range of ICT products / services with applicability in the rest of the Romanian economy for the vertical integration of ICT solutions;
• Achieving innovative strategic projects that impact on the development of the entire ICT industry at national or international level.

Eligible applicants:

• SME-s (micro/small/medium-sized enterprises) operating in Romania, focused on ICT or who operates as members of clusters focused on ICT;
• Partnerships between SME-S operating in Romania, members of clusters focused on ICT.

The support will target the development of innovative ICT products / services / applications through:

1. Investments in tangible and intangible assets within an initial investment;
2. Investments in industrial research and experimental development;
3. Investments in projects for innovation of SMEs;
4. Investments in projects regarding process and organizational innovation;
5. Minimis aid: market research expenditure, information and publicity, consultancy, notice, authorizations, training, audit, management, subscriptions, etc.

The amount of non-reimbursable funding is: between 500.000 euro and 3.500.000 euro

Financing percentage:

• For activities from a) to d): between 20% and 80% of total eligible costs, differentiated according to project activities, the size of the company and the region where it is being implemented.
• For minimis aid – point e): 100%, maximum 200.000 euro and no more than 20% of the total eligible costs of the project.

Project duration: maximum 36 months.

Find more details here.

The Ministry of European Funds extended the submission period for the call: “Grandparents of the community” aimed at supporting the development / provision and access of elderly people to integrated services (social and socio-medical).

The projects can be submitted until: 26 November 2018.

Total call allocation:

• 15 mil. euro

Maximum eligible project value:

• 600,000 euro, of which the percentage of non-reimbursable financing is between 85% -100%, depending on the type of applicant.

Project implementation:

• maximum 36 months;

Eligible applicants:

• Social services providers, accredited according to the law, alone or in partnership with relevant social actors;

• Local public authorities with responsibilities in the field in partnership with relevant social actors.

Eligible activities:

• Development of social services for the elderly: establishment of social services, or development of existing social services (financial support and support for human resources);
• Providing social services for the elderly, exclusively: social services without accommodation:
  • Day centers;
  • Home care services;
  • Day care centers for assistance and support for the elderly in need;
  • Street intervention services;
  • Food preparation and distribution centers;

Target group:

• Elderly people in situations of addiction and/or at risk of social exclusion;
• Staff of public authorities / public/private agencies that provide social and employment services to vulnerable elderly people; staff of civil society organizations and NGOs.

Minimum target group: 100 elderly people;

For more information click here.

AMPOCU launched the financing line – “Innovation through training”, in which LARGE companies can reimburse their investment in training programs for employees. The call is dedicated to human resource development through training programs authorized by ANC (initiation/ qualification/ requalification/ specialization/ refresher courses).

What is the maximum implemention period of a project?

• 18 months.

What is the maximum value of the project?

• 500.000 euro of which the percentage of non-reimbursable financing is 50% (with increase to 60% if training is addressed to disabled or disadvantaged employees), maximum 250.000 euro.

Who can apply?

• Large enterprises with activity in priority sectors. The CAEN code for the eligible activity must be authorized. See the list of eligible CAEN codes here.
• The project can be implemented in any region of the country, except for Bucharest-Ilfov. Large enterprises with headquarters in the Bucharest-Ilfov region are eligible only if their projects are implemented in the less developed regions (within a place of business located in one of the eligible regions).

Which employees can be involved in the project (target group)?

• Employees (all categories) seeking for development of their knowledge, competencies and aptitude levels.
• Minimum target group: 75 employees.

The deadline for submitting projects is January 15, 2019.

For more information click here.

The Regional Operational Program (ROP) is analysing a possible re-launch of Axis 2.2 – Improving the Competitiveness of SMEs, for a financing line  dedicated to large investments – with a non-reimbursable financing between 500,000 and 5 million Euro per project.

Here are the main features of these types of projects.

The following types of activities are funded:

• Construction, extension of the production/ services areas;
• Acquisition of tangible (equipment, tools etc), intangible assets (patents, licenses etc), including e-commerce tools;
• Implementation of certification of products, services, or different specific processes, quality environmental or health management systems;
• Participation to international fairs and exhibitions, trade missions etc.

Non-reimbursable financing rate can be up to 70% or up to 90% from the eligible expenses value, depending on the types of activities, the size of the company and the implementation region.

The projects implemented in the Bucharest – Ilfov region are not eligible.

The Ministry of European Funds announces the launch for public consultation of the Applicant’s Guide Specific Conditions “Internships for high-school students”.

The Guide is in public consultation until 15.10.2018.

The call is dedicated to increase the participation rate of high-school students from secondary and tertiary non-university education (qualification levels 3, 4 and 5) to workplace learning programs,  through measures such as:

• Developing partnerships / conventions between organizers (educational units) and practice partners;
• Organizing and conducting workplace learning programs (internship / traineeship, practical training, technology lab, etc.);
• Organizing professional competitions, competitions on jobs, competitions and fairs for exercise firms;
• Providing counseling and professional guidance services for high-school students;
• Creating a coordinated information system between the private sector and the network of educational units;
• Creating innovative solutions to facilitate practice, innovative counseling tools, guidance, competence assessment;
• Conducting Internships in EU Member States.

Who can apply?

Types of eligible applicants and partners in this call:

• Ministry of Education and relevant structures / agencies / subordinated / coordinated by it;
• Employers (as practice partners);
• Professional Associations;
• Chambers of commerce and industry;
• NGOs;
• Public and private providers of professional guidance and counseling;
• Trade union organizations and employers’ organizations.

For project proposals aiming activities of learning at work, eligible applicants and partners are:

• County School Inspectorates (as structures under MEN);
• Professional Associations;
• Employers as practice partners;
• NGOs as practice partners.

Other informations:

The grant application must be submitted in partnership. The transnational partnership is eligible.

What is the call allocation?

• 30.552.000 euro

What is the maximum value of the project?

• Maximum 500.000 euro, of which the percentage of non-reimbursable financing is between 85-100% depending on applicant type. Maximum project value cannot exceed the result of the following formula: 1.500 euro x number of target group participants.

How long does it take to implement a project?

• Minimum 9 months, maximum 24 months.

Who can be a part of the target group?

• Students (ISCED 2 – 3, qualification level 3 – 4)
• Students (ISCED 4, qualification level 5, enrolled in post-secondary schools / masters organized at the level of educational units)

For more information click here.

The Ministry of European Funds launched on 20^th of September the call for projects “Improving the level of knowledge / competencies / skills for employees”. Deadline for project submission period 20.12.2018

The call is dedicated to the development of human resources in companies through measures such as:

• training programs (initiation, qualification, re-qualification, improvement or specialization programs);
• evaluation and certification of professional competences;
• developing and introducing workplace learning programs in companies;
• employers’ awareness campaigns on the importance and necessity of employee participation in continuous training programs;

Who can apply?

• Employer organizations;
• Business Associations;
• Chambers of Commerce and Industry;

In partnership with other relevant entities (eg trade unions and / or training providers).

What is the call allocation?

• 89.361.701,88 euro

What is the maximum value of the project?

• 1 million euro, of which the percentage of non-reimbursable financing is between 85-100% depending on applicant type.

How long does it take to implement a project?

• maximum 18 months.

Which employees can be involved in the project (target group)?

• Employees from enterprises that carry out their main or secondary activity in one of the priority sectors or enterprises that intend to adapt their main or secondary activity to at least one of these sectors (see the List of eligible CAEN codes).

Other target group provisions:

• Employees must work and have their domicile / residence outside Bucharest-Ilfov region;
• People who provide strategic management in companies and HR department staff can not be target group – for them there is another dedicated call;
• Minimum target group: 250 people.

For more information click here.

There are the following calls for projects of particular interest to private companies, open in the following period:

POCU 3.8 – “Professional Romania – Competitive Enterprises” – open call (30 July – 31 October 2018)

• Finance: training, coaching, seminars, workshops, conferences, lectures, etc. for managers and HR staff from large companies
• Maximum eligible amount of the project: 500.000 euro, of which: 50% non-refundable but not more than 250.000 euro
• Eligible applicants: Large companies with activity in priority areas
• More details here.

POCU 4.16 – “Support for the establishment of social Enterprises” – open call (27 August – 27 November 2018)

• Applicants will receive funding that they will use as follows: to provide micro-grants to establish social economy entities (up to 100.000 euro/business plan), for training, counseling, monitoring, and actions to develop social economy
• Maximum eligible project value: 3 million euro, of which: between 95-100% non-refundable, depending on the type of applicant/expenditure
• Eligible applicants: Entities of the social economy; Providers of training / employment services / social services; Trade union and patronage organizations; Professional associations; NGOs; Chambers of commerce and industry
• More details here.

POCU 4.4 – Community grandparents: “Integrated Services for the elderly” – open call (26 July – 26 October 2018)

• Financing: setting up social services or developing existing social services and providing social services without accommodation (day care centers, home care services, street services, etc.)
• Maximum eligible project value: 600.000 euro, of which non-reimbursable: between 85% -100%, depending on the applicant’s type.
• Eligible applicants: Accredited social service providers; Local public authorities
• More details here.

The Ministry of European Funds launched the call for projects “Support for the establishment of social enterprises”.

Project submission period: 27.08 – 27.11.2018

Eligible applicants/partners:

• Social economy entities;
• Accredited public and private training providers;
• Authorized public and private employment services providers;
• Social services providers;
• Trade unions and employers;
• Professional Associations; NGOs;
• Chambers of commerce and industry

Eligible activities:

1.Scheme for the establishment of social economy entities

The Beneficiary / Project partnership must provide the target group with:

• Specific entrepreneurship training (ANC training: Entrepreneur in social economy or Social enterprise manager) and other relevant training courses;
• Counseling in the field of entrepreneurship / social entrepreneurship in the implementation of the business plan;
• Monitoring the operation and development of the enterprise;
• A micro-grant of up to 100.000 euro / business plan;

2.Actions aimed at developing the social economy domain

• Creating and strengthening partnerships with relevant actors to increase engagement in providing services to vulnerable groups;
• Creating support networks, partnerships to disseminate good practices, information, know-how transfer, etc.
• Developing tools for a better knowledge of the sector and improving the visibility of the social economy;

Maximum project value: 3 mill. euro, of which min. 70% for granting subsidies (de minimis aid) for setting up social enterprises;

Non reimbursable financing:

• 100% for minimis aid costs.
• for other expenses:
  • 100% for NGOs;
  • 95% for private beneficiaries;
  • 98% / 85% of public institutions;

Target group:

• People wishing to set up social enterprises;

Implementation level: exclusively in less developed regions (Center, South-East, South Muntenia, North-East, North-West, West, South-West Oltenia)

For more information click here.

The Ministry of European Funds has launched the second call for proposals “Professional Romania – Competitive Enterprises” through which LARGE companies can finance their training for managers and HR personnel.

The projects can be submitted in the period: 30 July – 31^st of October 2018

The tender is dedicated to the improvement of LARGE enterprises’ management and human resourcesmanagement through: training, coaching, seminars, workshops, conferences, lectures, etc.

Total call allocation:

• 14,378 mil. euro

Maximum eligible project value:

• 500.000 euro, of which: 50% non refundable (or maximum 60% if the training is addressed to disabled or disadvantaged employees) but not more than 250.000 euro.

Project implementation:

• maximum 12 months;

Eligible applicants:

Employers (large enterprises):

• from economically competitive sectors identified by Romania’s National Competitive Strategy: tourism/ ecotourism, textiles/ leather, wood/ furniture, automotive and components for automotive, IT and communications, beverage/ food processing, energy/ environment, health/ pharmaceutical, bio-economics/ bio-pharmaceuticals/ bio-technologies, creative industries

Employers may have their headquarter in any development region of Romania (including Bucharest-Ilfov), as long as the projects are implemented in the territory of a less developed region of Romania (at headquarter / place of business / agency / branch / subsidiary of the applicant).

Employees that can be targeted by the project (target group):

• management & leadership positions;
• human resources departments staff;

Persons from the target group must have their work place located in one of the less developed regions of Romania (outside Bucharest-Ilfov).

Minimum target group: 50 persons;

For more information click here.