This depends on the scheme you are applying for. However, most schemes require you to be a registered undertaking (irrespective of the legal form), that carries out an economic activity in Malta. Applicants must also be up to date with their reporting obligations and taxes. Every scheme has its own “Guidance Notes” which provide details on applicants’ eligibility, among other items.

The application process varies from one scheme to another, but that’s where we at NM Group come in! We can apply for the scheme on your behalf and take care of the submission procedure from beginning to end.

Some schemes only disperse funds on a tax credit basis, others via a cash grant (in advance or in arrears). Others offer the flexibility to applicants of choosing either.

The maximum funding cap of some schemes is higher than others – the amount requested can be as low as a few hundred Euro and goes up to the millions. Many schemes operate under the standard State Aid regulation (“De Minimis”), which has a funding ceiling of €200,000 every three years.

Many schemes nowadays prioritise certain projects over others, and they are generally threefold: those that are (1) sustainable, (2) innovative and/or (3) submitted by smaller companies. In fact, the new State Aid regulations (“GBER”) were released specifically to support such endeavours. Unlike the De Minimis regulation, the GBER does not have a funding cap.

Most of them are open rolling calls, which means that you can apply for them anytime throughout the duration of the programme. However, some schemes are only issued through periodic calls, which are open for a limited period of time.

Funding schemes are either national or EU in origin.

This greatly varies by scheme.  Some of the eligible costs that may be covered include: payroll costs, relocation costs of personnel, lease and rental of real estate, business operations, consultancy and training fees, rights, patents, and licenses, procurement of tangible and intangible assets and utility costs.

Generally, preferred projects are those that are: of high quality, sustainable, commercially, financially and technologically feasible, likely to have an impact in the market, likely to boost employment, and backed up by applicants of a good track record.