Source of Funding: Malta Enterprise

The aim of this incentive is to assist Industrial Research and Experimental Development activities required by industry for the acquisition of knowledge leading to the development of innovative products and solutions. The measure also encourages cooperation between undertakings by providing additional assistance for Industrial Research and/or Experimental Development projects.

Approved projects will mainly be supported through a tax credit but the Corporation may also consider approving support in the form of a cash grant.

These projects may include projects endorsed by the Eureka Network under its instruments (Network Projects, Eurostars, Clusters). For further information click here to be redirected to the EUREKA instruments application page.

Potential applicants looking for assurance on whether their project constitutes Research and Development are encouraged to first submit a Pre-Proposal Form to the Corporation for determination.

A complete application must be submitted to Malta Enterprise via the Corporation’s Client Portal. The application form and relevant annexes available below are to be used solely to facilitate discussions with Malta Enterprise on the compilation of the documents by contacting R&D@maltaenterprise.com. Collaborative Projects which have more than one partner applying for ME assistance are to submit separate applications by the relevant partners.

The final document is then to be formally submitted to the Corporation via the client portal by clicking on the image below. Applications not submitted through the portal shall not be processed.

Click below link for further information.

Source of Funding: The European Commission in collaboration with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)

The Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund is a 20 million Euro grant scheme created to help European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access their intellectual property rights.

Supported by the European Commission and the EUIPO, the Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund is aimed at businesses that wish to develop their IP strategies and protect their IP rights, at national, regional or EU level.

Covering IP pre-diagnostic services (IP scan) and/or trade mark and design applications, the Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund can help you power your business.

Each SME can be reimbursed up to a maximum of EUR 1 500.

75% off IP pre-diagnostic services (IP scan)*

50% off trade mark and design application fees

(*note: click here for the countries that can apply for this scheme)

In brief, SME's must:

1. apply for the grant at the EUIPO link below.
2. apply for a trademark or design registration with 30 days of receiving the grant decision from the EUIPO
3. after having paid for the application, submit a request for payment before 31 December 2021 using the link included in the grant decision.

Information source:

Source of Funding: Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs

The Innovation Fund's currently open call, with a budget of 100 Million Euro, was launched on 1st December 2020 and will be closing on the 10th March 2021 (17:00:00 Brussels time). Like the large-scale projects call, this call also focuses on the categories of renewable energy, energy-intensive industries, energy storage, and carbon capture, use and storage. However, for this call, projects must have a total capital expenditure costs below EUR 7.5 million but above EUR 2.5 million.

The emphasis is on truly innovative projects that are ready for commercial deployment, for instance delivering installations to a customer in a new market segment. Besides, three key activities are encouraged: products that substitute carbon-intensive ones, net carbon removal innovations and direct air capture.

The call text and supporting documents can be found from the Funding and Tenders Opportunities website: The link is provided he​re​​.

The European Commission organised a virtual conference on the 19th November 2020 from 10.00 to 11.30 CET. This conference included discussions on how the call for small-scale projects under the Innovation Fund could help them to take off and reach the market, innovation potential of clean tech projects, ability to achieve financial close faster, best practices, lessons learnt and more.

 You may find the recording of the session here.

During the above-mentioned virtual conference held by the European Commission, ‘Small is beautiful: How can the Innovation Fund foster innovative clean tech small-scale projects?’, an introduction to the upcoming call for proposals for small-scale projects was provided, together with general comparisons to the past large-scale projects call. The salient points of the call can be found in this power point presentation, used by the European Commission during the conference.

 Whilst one can obtain insight into the call through this presentation, we recommend using the official call texts as the reference documents.

On 9 December, the European Commission will be organising a webinar from 10.00 to 12.00 CET to present the key features of the first call for small-scale projects and guide you through the application process. You can follow the event via webs​treaming​. The recording will be made available afterwards. During the webinar, participants can ask their questions via Slido using the event code #IFSS.

The recording and presentations used can be found: here​

Interested applicants are highly encouraged to carefully read the call text and supporting documents at the earliest.

The National Contact Point (NCP) for this EU fund is the Funds and Programmes Division (FPD) within the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs. However, FPD works closely with the relevant local competent bodies to ensure adequate consultation and coordination.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the EU Funds Programme Manager, Ms. Maria Dimech on​ maria.dimech.1@gov.mt (+356 2200 1164) keeping Director General, FPD, Inġ. Anthony Camilleri in copy,​ anthony.c.camilleri@gov.mt, to obtain further guidance. 

Please refer to the national contact point (NCP) for guidance. The NCP can also assist in communication with the European Commission through the Funding and Tenders portal. Furthermore, applicants are also advised to contact the relevant national competent bodies to ensure alignment with national policies that may be applicable to their project proposal.  ​