In the Official Gazette No. 838 of 26 August 2022 was published Order No. 2096 /2022 of the Minister for European Investment and Projects on the approval of the State aid scheme for support through grants for investments in SMEs for the rebuilding of resilience capacity, related to the Competitiveness Operational Programme 2014-2020, priority axis 4 – “Supporting the alleviation of the effects of the crisis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its social consequences and the preparation of a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy”, investment priority 13i “Supporting the alleviation of the effects of the crisis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its social consequences and the preparation of a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy”, specific objective 4. 1 – “Strengthening the market position of SMEs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic”, action 4.1.1 “Investment in productive activities”.
According to the document, grants for investment in upgrading SMEs to restore resilience means support from external non-reimbursable funds for beneficiaries implementing investments in the current field of activity or in a different field of activity, necessary for:
- upgrading/upgrading/connecting to public utilities/energy efficiency of specific building type infrastructures related to existing production/service capacities, as well as for other categories of expenditure related to specific production/service infrastructures for which it is not necessary to obtain building permits, in accordance with the specific legislation in force;
- the provision of equipment, specific machinery, specific furniture, IT equipment, including for energy efficiency, necessary for production and service activities, and other purchases of goods of this nature which are necessary for existing production/service capacities.
Please note that the aid scheme applies from the date of publication in the Official Gazette until 31 December 2022.
The exchange rate used for the application of the provisions of this state aid scheme is the INFOREURO exchange rate valid in June 2022, i.e. 1 euro = 4,9441 lei.
The amount of aid is granted per project and beneficiary in the form of grants for investments necessary for the upgrading, with a value between 50,000 euro and 500,000 euro, up to a maximum of five times the turnover achieved in the financial year 2019, depending on the financing needs of the investment projects submitted. Aid for investments made prior to the date of notification of approval of the measure by the EC is excluded.
According to the document, beneficiaries are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises whose activity falls under:
- Section C – Manufacturing, except those falling under subdivisions 11 – manufacture of beverages, 12 – manufacture of tobacco and 254 – manufacture of arms and ammunition;
- Section F – Construction;
- Section G – Wholesale and retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
- Section H – Transport and storage; Class I – Hotels and restaurants, according to the list of eligible fields of activity set out in Annex 2 to this scheme.
The activity for which financing is requested must be related to a CAEN code authorised on 31 December 2019.