VAPRO

The “Innotech Student” financing line for entrepreneurship among students will be opened between June 15th and August 31st, 2020.

Project’s activities will be realized in three stages:
Stage I (maximum 12 months duration):
1.1. Information campaign;
1.2. Selection of the target group;
1.3. Training – Entrepreneurial skills (ANC accredited);
1.4. Selection of the business plans that will be financed within the project;
1.5. Organizing and carrying out the simulated enterprise activity;
1.6. Carrying out internships (min. 40 hours);
1.7. Counseling / consulting / mentoring;
1.8. Establishment and start of the financed enterprises.
Stage II (12 months duration):
2.1. Reimbursement of grants related to the implementation of business plans;
2.2. Monitoring the functioning and development of the financed businesses.
Stage III (6 months duration):
3.1. Ensuring the sustainability of business plans.

Who are eligible applicants?

• Authorized public and private traning providers;
• NGOs;
• Chambers of commerce and industry;
• Professional associations;
• Trade unions and employers’ organizations;
• Accredited public and private higher education institutions;
• Doctoral and graduate schools with legal personality, including partnerships between them and the private sector / RDI centers;
• Accredited research institutes / centers, including research institutes of the Romanian Academy;
• Romanian Academy;
• Institutions and member organizations of the Regional Pacts and Local Partnerships for Employment and Social Inclusion;
• Members of Sectorial Committees and Sectoral Committees with legal personality.

Who can be the target group?

• Students, bachelor’s or master’s degree (ISCED 5-7) – enrolled, on the date of entry into operation, in the last year of study;
• PhD students;
• Postdoctoral researchers;
• Students (ISCED 4, qualification level 5, enrolled in colleges organized at the level higher education institutions) – enrolled, at the date of entry into operation, in the last year of studies.

Project implementation area:
The target group can reside anywhere in Romania. The target group residing in the more developed region Bucharest-Ilfov must set up their companies in less developed regions (North-East, South-East, South Muntenia, South-West Oltenia, West, North-West and Center).
Project’s activities can take place in any region, including Bucharest-Ilfov, if the above condition is fulfilled.

Target group:

• Minimum 300 people.

Project’s eligible value is maximum 2.000.000 euros, of which:

• minimum 65% grant for business establishment (under the incidence of minimis aid) – with a non-reimbursable financing of 100% is calculated by adding:
  • no. of established companies with min. 2 jobs created x max. 40,000 euros
  • no. of established companies with min. 3 jobs created x max. 60,000 euros
  • no. of established companies with min. 4 jobs created x max. 80,000 euros
  • no. of established companies with min. 5 jobs created x max. 100,000 euros
• maximum 35% grant (for the other expenses of the project) with non-reimbursable financing of:
  • 100% for NGOs;
  • 95% for private beneficiaries;
  • 98% / 85% public institutions.

The number of established companies cannot be less than 14.
Project’s maximum implementation period is 30 months.
For more informations click here.

A NEW financing line dedicated to SME-s will be open very soon, with grants between 2 to 6 milion euro, for investment projects in any region except for Bucharest-Ilfov.
The draft guide is published for consultation by 29th of May, and following this period the line for projects submission will be opened.
Eligible investments:

• creating a new production /service unit (location), construction space;
• expanding the capacity of an existing unit by increasing the production volume for at least one product /service;
• diversification of a unit through products /services that were not previously manufactured in that unit.

The grant value is between 2 mil. euro and 6 mil. euro with a maximum financing rate of:

• 60% for medium–sized enterprises (between 50 and 249 employees and turnover of up to 50 million euros), except for investments made in the West region where financing is 45%;
• 70% for small enterprises (between 10 and 49 employees and turnover of up to 10 million euros), except for investments made in the West region where financing is 55%.

Eligibleapplicants are companies that fulfil the following minimum criteria:

• Are classified as SMEs (= less than 250 employees and up to 50 million euro turnover and / or have total assets of up to 43 million euros);
• Have at least 1 year of activity (to be established no later than January 2019) and registered an operating profit (> 0 lei) in the previous fiscal year;
• Have an investment project located, in urban areas, any region except for Bucharest-Ilfov (only medium size companies can do investments in rural areas).
• The investment must be on an eligible field of activity, main or secondary – see the list of financed CAEN codes here.
• The project must include an initial investment in tangible assets such as: construction/extension of capacity and/or equipment purchasing.

Find more details here.

The Managing Authority for the Human Capital Operational Program launched in public consultation until May 18tth, 2020 the “Future for young NEETs” guideline.

“NEETs” category refers to young people aged between 16 and 29 Not in Education, Employment or Training.
NEETs classification by Public Employment Service includes the levels:

• Level A – “Easy to employ”;
• Level B – “Average difficulty to employ”;
• Level C – “Hard to employ”;
• Level D – “Very difficult to employ”.

What are the eligible activities?

• Information and promotion campaign in order to identify young NEETs ca be part of the target group;
• Organizing and carrying out professional training programs for young people with employability level B, C and D – it is mandatory to complete at least one ANC accredited course that is found in the National Training Plan for 2020. Other types of courses can be chosen (ANC accredited or not), justifying their need through an analysis of employers’ needs.
• Evaluation and certification of professional competencies obtained in non-formal and / or informal ways for young people with employability level B, C and D;
• Providing specialized services for employment stimulation (labor mediation) – for all NEETs categories;
• Supporting entrepreneurship – only for young people with employability level A, by:
  • Support for setting up a business (consulting, support for developing the business plan, support in setting up the company, etc.)
  • Grants (of maximum 25,000 euros/business plan) for setting up new businesses.
• Accompanying activities – only for young NEETs with employability level C and D.

Who are the eligible applicants?

• Authorized providers of trainings for adults;
• Accredited providers of specialized services for employment stimulation;
• NGOs;
• Authorized centers for evaluation and certification of professional skills obtained in other ways than formal;
• Trade unions and employers’ organizations;
• Youth organizations;
• Chambers of Commerce and Industry;
• The Public Employment Service (PES) including the units with legal personality under its subordination;
• Ministry of Youth and Sports and subordinate / coordinated institutions;
• Business associations.

Who can be in the target group?

• NEETs aged between 16 and 29, registered and profiled by the Public Employment Service, who have their domicile or residence in one of the eligible regions.

Implementation area:The projects can be implemented at least in one of the South-West Oltenia, South-East and South Muntenia regions.
Target group size:

• minimum 250 persons – for small projects;
• minimum 950 persons – for large projects.

Maximum eligible value:

• 1,000,000 euros – for small projects;
• 4,000,000 euros – for large projects.

Percentage of non-reimbursable financing:

• 100% for NGOs;
• 95% for private beneficiaries;
• 98% / 85% public institutions.

Project’s maximum implementation period is 24 months.
For more informations click here.

Representatives of POCU Management Authority declared today, during an online working meeting organized by the European Financing Working group of CCIFER and NRCC, that they estimate the launch of calls for employee trainings in mid-May 2020, respectively:

• May 19th – estimated date for launching the call for large companies employees trainings;
• May 14th – estimated date for launching the call for SME employees trainings.

In both projects, the trainings must aim at employees’ digital skills acquiring through internal courses, recognized at company / industry level or courses with international recognition, etc., such as: digital / IT-ICT skills, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, etc.), network creation, programming, operating systems, cybersecurity, data center, data storage, databases, web design; or ANC accredited courses.
It can also finance the evaluation and certification of professional competencies in the IT field in order to obtain certificates recognized at company’s level (eg. Microsoft, Linux, Cisco, Oracle certification, etc.).

1. Projects for large companies employees trainings:

• The maximum value of a project is 500.000 euros with a non-refundable value of 250.000 euros (50%);
• Only large companies operating in priority sectors such as: IT&C, creative industries, automotive, health, pharma, energy, etc. can apply. You can consult the complete list of funded CAEN codes here.
• Courses must be attended by a minimum of 75 employees with an individual employment contract working outside Bucharest-Ilfov region.
• A project’s implementation period is up to 18 months.
• For more information click here.

2. Projects for SME employees trainings:

• The maximum value of a project is 1.000.000 euros;
• Only business associations, chambers of commerce and employers’ organizations that will organize courses for employees of SMEs operating in priority sectors can apply – find the complete list of CAEN codes for priority sectors here.
• Courses must be attended by a minimum of 250 employees with an individual employment contract working outside Bucharest-Ilfov region.
• A project’s implementation period is up to 18 months.
• For more information click here.

Until June 25th, 2020, projects can be submitted within the financing line for a pilot program to stimulate participation in education for children with parents working abroad. 

Who can apply?

• NGOs;
• Public and private providers of guidance, counseling, school mediation and alternative services;
• Public and private educational institutions (ISCED 0 – 3) accredited, from the national school network;
• Social partners from pre-university education (eg trade unions);
• Religious institutions and associations;
• Government institutions / agencies with attributions in the social inclusion field;
• Local public administrations with attributions in the field of pre-university education.

What are the eligible activities?
1. Integrated package of services for preschoolers and students (age between 3-16 years) consisting of:

• Educational support services (School-after-school programs, additional and / or complementary educational support, communication and language skills, development activities, social skills related to learning, etc.).
• Psycho-social support services – activities for developing emotional and social interpersonal skills, independent life skills for childrens, social counseling, facilitating children’s communication with abroad parents, emotional / psychological support, vocational counseling, etc.
• Recreational and social activities – creative workshops, development of manual and musical skills, sports activities, visits, trips, hikes, camps, etc.

2. Support for children who participate in activities from point 1 and who are enrolled in a form of education (kindergarten / school) by providing food, supplies and educational materials, providing equipment and materials for recreational / sports activities, or other forms of support.
3. Providing parental education and social counseling services for children’s representatives, such as: support for understanding children’s needs, parental skills development, support in obtaining social benefits, support in carrying out the legal procedure for parental authority delegation, communication with parents left abroad.
4. Development of partnerships and consultative structures between schools, local authorities, local institutions, NGOs and community to contribute to a better identification, protection and monitoring of children in this situation.
5. Campaign to inform and raise awareness for parents, tutors, specialists, children and the general public regarding parent’s obligation to temporarily delegate the parental authority when leaving the country.

Who can be in the target group?

• Preschoolers (children 3-5 years);
• Students from primary (6 – 10 years), secondary (11-14 years) and upper secondary (14-16 years);
• Parents / guardians / person taking care of the child whose parents work abroad.

Preschoolers and students are eligible for the target group, if at the time of entry into the project, at least one of the parents can prove that he has left the country for at least 6 months.

Target group size:

• For small projects: minimum 30 students and preschoolers;
• For large projects: minimum 90 students and preschoolers.

Maximum eligible value:

• for a small project 300,000 euros;
• for a large project 1,000,000 euros.

Percentage of non-reimbursable financing:

• 100% for NGOs;
• 95% for private beneficiaries;
• 98% / 85% public institutions.

Area of implementation:
All the less developed regions of Romania are eligible, the Bucharest-Ilfov region is exempted from financing.
Project’s maximum implementation period is 36 months.

For more informations click here.

The call for investments in SMEs was launched today, May 4th, 2020. Projects can be submitted until June 4th, 2020. The grant for a project is up to 1 mil. EUR.

Eligible regions for investment are only South-East, South-Muntenia and South-West Oltenia (any other region is not eligible under this call).
Eligibile counties are: Arges, Calarasi, Dambovita, Giurgiu, Ialomita, Prahova, Teleorman, Braila, Buzau, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea, Vrancea, Dolj, Gorj, Mehedinti, Olt, Valcea.

Eligible investments:

• creating  a new production /service unit (location),  construction and endowment space;
• expanding the capacity of an existing unit by increasing the production volume for at least one product /service, without fundamentally changing the production process;
• diversification of a 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 project proposal must include an initial investment in tangible assets such as: construction /extension of capacity and/or equipment purchasing.

Eligible applicants are companies that fulfil the following minimum criteria:

• Are classified as SMEs, including microcompanies (= less than 250 employees and up to 50 million euro turnover and / or have total assets of up to 43 million euros);
• Have at least 1 year of activity (to be established no later than January 2019);
• Have an investment project located in urban areas (only medium size companies can do investments in rural areas).
• Have registered an operating profit (> 0 lei) and an average number of 3 employees in the previous fiscal year.

Implementation period – maximum 36 months, but not later than December 31st, 2023.
The grant value is: minimum 200.000 euro and maximum 1.000.000 euro.

Non-reimbursable financing rate:

• For state aid scheme:
  • Medium enterprises: 60%;
  • Small and micro enterprises: 70%;
• For minimis component – 90% from the eligible value (limited to 200.000 EUR).

 Find more details here.

The Ministry of European Funds launched the guideline “Innotech Student” for public consultation until May 4th, 2020. The call is destined to finance entrepreneurship among students.

Project’s activities will be realized in two stages:
Stage I (with an 8 months duration):
1.1. Information campaign;
1.2. Selection of the target group;
1.3. Training – Entrepreneurial skills (ANC accredited);
1.4. Selection of the business plans that will be financed within the project;
1.5. Organizing and carrying out the simulated enterprise activity;
1.6. Carrying out internships (min. 40 hours);
1.7. Counseling / consulting / mentoring;
1.8. Establishment and start of the financed enterprises.
Stage II (with an 12 months duration):
2.1. Reimbursement of grants related to the implementation of business plans;
2.2. Monitoring the functioning and development of the financed businesses.

Who are eligible applicants?

• Authorized public and private traning providers;
• NGOs;
• Chambers of commerce and industry;
• Trade unions and employers’ organizations;
• Professional associations;
• Accredited public and private higher education institutions;
• Doctoral and graduate schools with legal personality, including partnerships between them and the private sector / RDI centers;
• Accredited research institutes / centers, including research institutes of the Romanian Academy;
• Romanian Academy;
• Institutions and member organizations of the Regional Pacts and Local Partnerships for Employment and Social Inclusion;
• Members of Sectorial Committees and Sectoral Committees with legal personality.

Who can be the target group?

• Students, bachelor’s or master’s degree (ISCED 5-7) – enrolled, on the date of entry into operation, in the last year of study;
• PhD students;
• Postdoctoral researchers;
• Students (ISCED 4, qualification level 5, enrolled in colleges organized at the level higher education institutions) – enrolled, at the date of entry into operation, in the last year of studies.

Project implementation area:
The target group can reside anywhere in Romania, except for the Bucharest-Ilfov region.
Project’s activities can take place in any region, including Bucharest-Ilfov, if the above condition is fulfilled.

Target group:

• Minimum 300 people.

Project’s eligible value is maximum 2.000.000 euros, of which:

• minimum 70% grant for business establishment (under the incidence of minimis aid) – with a non-reimbursable financing of 100% is calculated by adding:
  • no. of established companies with min. 2 jobs created x max. 40,000 euros
  • no. of established companies with min. 3 jobs created x max. 60,000 euros
  • no. of established companies with min. 4 jobs created x max. 80,000 euros
  • no. of established companies with min. 5 jobs created x max. 100,000 euros
• maximum 30% grant (for the other expenses of the project) with non-reimbursable financing of:
  • 100% for NGOs;
  • 95% for private beneficiaries;
  • 98% / 85% public institutions.

The number of established companies cannot be less than 14.

Project’s maximum implementation period is 20 months.

For more informations click here.

Ministry of European Funds postponed the deadline for projects submission regarding the pilot program to stimulate participation in education for children with parents working abroad. The new deadline for projects submission is set for June 25th, 2020.
What are the eligible activities?
1. Integrated package of services for preschoolers and students (age between 3-16 years) consisting of:

• Educational support services (School-after-school programs, additional and / or complementary educational support, communication and language skills, development activities, social skills related to learning, etc.).
• Psycho-social support services – activities for developing emotional and social interpersonal skills, independent life skills for childrens, social counseling, facilitating children’s communication with abroad parents, emotional / psychological support, vocational counseling, etc.
• Recreational and social activities – creative workshops, development of manual and musical skills, sports activities, visits, trips, hikes, camps, etc.

2. Support for children who participate in activities from point 1 and who are enrolled in a form of education (kindergarten / school) by providing food, supplies and educational materials, providing equipment and materials for recreational / sports activities, or other forms of support.
3. Providing parental education and social counseling services for children’s representatives, such as: support for understanding children’s needs, parental skills development, support in obtaining social benefits, support in carrying out the legal procedure for parental authority delegation, communication with parents left abroad.
4. Development of partnerships and consultative structures between schools, local authorities, local institutions, NGOs and community to contribute to a better identification, protection and monitoring of children in this situation.
5. Campaign to inform and raise awareness for parents, tutors, specialists, children and the general public regarding parent’s obligation to temporarily delegate the parental authority when leaving the country.

Who are eligible applicants?

• NGOs;
• Public and private providers of guidance, counseling, school mediation and alternative services;
• Public and private educational institutions (ISCED 0 – 3) accredited, from the national school network;
• Social partners from pre-university education (eg trade unions);
• Religious institutions and associations;
• Government institutions / agencies with attributions in the social inclusion field;
• Local public administrations with attributions in the field of pre-university education.

Who can be in the target group?

• Preschoolers (children 3-5 years);
• Students from primary (6 – 10 years), secondary (11-14 years) and upper secondary (14-16 years);
• Parents / guardians / person taking care of the child whose parents work abroad.

Preschoolers and students are eligible for the target group, if at the time of entry into the project, at least one of the parents can prove that has left the country for at least 6 months.

Target group size:

• For small projects: minimum 30 students and preschoolers;
• For large projects: minimum 90 students and preschoolers.

Maximum eligible value:

• for a small project 300,000 euros;
• for a large project 1,000,000 euros.

Percentage of non-reimbursable financing:

• 100% for NGOs;
• 95% for private beneficiaries;
• 98% / 85% public institutions.

Area of implementation:
All the less developed regions of Romania are eligible, the Bucharest-Ilfov region is exempted from financing.
Project’s maximum implementation period is 36 months.

For more informations click here.

The financing line aimed at providing professional training programs exclusively for digital and ITC skills for large companies employees will be opened soon.
This financing line addresses all of company’s employees, regardless of their position in company and there are no restrictions on training types (they can be internally recognised as well), except that the training is aimed at IT / digital skills.
To be eligible, large companies must operate in priority sectors such as: IT&C, creative industries, automotive, health, pharma, energy, etc. You can find if your company’s activity is eligible here.
Maximum value per project is 500,000 euros, with a EU grant of 50% for the following activities:

• Any type of course in ITC and digital fields, both with national /international certification or with recognition at company / industry level, such as: digital / ITC skills, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, etc.), programming, operating systems, cyber security, data center, data storage, databases, web design, etc.
• Evaluation and certification of professional competences in IT field regarding obtaining certificates recognized within the company (eg: Microsoft, Linux, Cisco, Oracle, etc.).

Costs that can be included in the budget with 50% reimbursement:

• any expenses generated by training – with training companies or expenses for internal trainers’ salaries;
• training rooms, catering, consumables, travel, licenses, etc.;
• salaries of employees (with all taxes) – if the trainings take place during working time thus a large part of company’s co-financing is ensured.

The project can have an implementation period of up to 18 months (estimated starting date is 2nd Semester of 2020) and must include trainings for minimum 75 employees with individual employment contract, that work outside Bucharest-Ilfov region (could be headquarters, work place or branch of the company, etc).
For more informations click here.

This is, most probably, the last financing line for large companies within the 2014 – 2020 programming period.

The financing line for the pilot program to stimulate participation in education for children with parents working abroad is open. Projects can be submitted until May 25th, 2020.
What are the eligible activities?
1. Integrated package of services for preschoolers and students (age between 3-16 years) consisting of:

• Educational support services (School-after-school programs, additional and / or complementary educational support, communication and language skills, development activities, social skills related to learning, etc.).
• Psycho-social support services – activities for developing emotional and social interpersonal skills, independent life skills for childrens, social counseling, facilitating children’s communication with abroad parents, emotional / psychological support, vocational counseling, etc.
• Recreational and social activities – creative workshops, development of manual and musical skills, sports activities, visits, trips, hikes, camps, etc.

2. Support for children who participate in activities from point 1 and who are enrolled in a form of education (kindergarten / school) by providing food, supplies and educational materials, providing equipment and materials for recreational / sports activities, or other forms of support.
3. Providing parental education and social counseling services for children’s representatives, such as: support for understanding children’s needs, parental skills development, support in obtaining social benefits, support in carrying out the legal procedure for parental authority delegation, communication with parents left abroad.
4. Development of partnerships and consultative structures between schools, local authorities, local institutions, NGOs and community to contribute to a better identification, protection and monitoring of children in this situation.
5. Campaign to inform and raise awareness for parents, tutors, specialists, children and the general public regarding parent’s obligation to temporarily delegate the parental authority when leaving the country.
Who are eligible applicants?

• NGOs;
• Public and private providers of guidance, counseling, school mediation and alternative services;
• Public and private educational institutions (ISCED 0 – 3) accredited, from the national school network;
• Social partners from pre-university education (eg trade unions);
• Religious institutions and associations;
• Government institutions / agencies with attributions in the social inclusion field;
• Local public administrations with attributions in the field of pre-university education.

Who can be in the target group?

• Preschoolers (children 3-5 years);
• Students from primary (6 – 10 years), secondary (11-14 years) and upper secondary (14-16 years);
• Parents / guardians / person taking care of the child whose parents work abroad.

Preschoolers and students are eligible for the target group, if at the time of entry into the project, at least one of the parents can prove that has left the country for at least 6 months.
Target group size:

• For small projects: minimum 30 students and preschoolers;
• For large projects: minimum 90 students and preschoolers.

Maximum eligible value:

• for a small project 300,000 euros;
• for a large project 1,000,000 euros.

Percentage of non-reimbursable financing:

• 100% for NGOs;
• 95% for private beneficiaries;
• 98% / 85% public institutions.

Area of implementation:
All the less developed regions of Romania are eligible, the Bucharest-Ilfov region is exempted from financing.
Project’s maximum implementation period is 36 months.

For more informations click here.