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Support Measures & Other Services
Business Start
Business Start provides early seed funding for small start-ups that have an economically feasible business concept to further develop their business proposal prior to seeking further funding or third-party equity. Eligible startups may receive an initial grant of up to € 10,000 following an evaluation of their business concept.
Micro Invest
The scheme encourages undertakings, including Start-ups, family businesses and self-employed, to invest in their business, so as to innovate, expand and develop their operations. Undertakings benefitting from this measure will be supported through a tax credit calculated as a percentage of eligible expenditure, which also covers increased in wage costs.
Start-up Finance
Start-up Finance aims to support Small Start-up Undertakings demonstrating viable business concepts and commitment to expanding economic activity in Malta, offering assistance starting from € 500,000.
ACCELERATE 2024
Accelerate supports undertakings in their first seven years by part-financing participation in Malta Enterprise recognised accelerator programmes. It targets ventures with strong growth potential, helping them develop technically sound innovations into market-ready solutions.
INVEST – Support for Initial Investment Projects
INVEST supports enterprises undertaking initial investment projects that contribute to Malta’s industrial and economic development. Eligible projects may involve setting up a new establishment, expanding capacity, diversifying operations, fundamentally changing a process or acquiring assets from an establishment that would otherwise have closed.
Innovate – Innovation Aid for SMEs
This scheme aims to support SMEs in strengthening their innovation capacity by funding the secondment of highly qualified personnel, as well as innovation advisory and support services that facilitate the development of new or improved products, processes, and organisational practices. The scheme provides grants of up to €250,000 per project, covering up to 50% of eligible costs, and is available to SMEs with growth potential that are compliant with tax, VAT, and social security obligations.
Business Development Scheme
The Business Development Scheme aims to support value-added projects contributing to the regional development of Malta, including new business initiatives, startups, expansions, and transformation activities. Supported projects are expected to generate new business opportunities, skilled employment, increased competitiveness, or expanded market reach, with a maximum support of €300,000 per Single Undertaking over 3 years covering up to 75% of eligible costs.
Research & Development
The aim of this incentive is to support industry in undertaking Industrial Research and Experimental Development (R&D) activities. R&D projects should address scientific or technological uncertainties, and the knowledge acquired through the research is expected to lead towards the development of innovative products and solutions. This support measure also encourages cooperation between organisations by providing additional assistance for collaborative research projects.
Skills Development
Businesses are encouraged to invest in their employees by providing skills and training to have a knowledge-based workforce. Through the Skills Development scheme business undertakings may be supported to provide training with the scope of developing and updating the skills and knowledge of their workforce thus aiding them to perform more effectively. The training provided shall upgrade existing skills of employees, address skills shortages, facilitate re-skilling, tackle skill gaps and strive towards developing a knowledge-based workforce.
Smart & Sustainable Investment Grant
This grant supports businesses undertaking investments of at least €10,000 in sustainable and digitally enabled operations. The scheme aims to improve environmental performance, optimise resource use, and enhance enterprise competitiveness.
Patent Box Deduction
The Patent Box Deduction is a fiscal incentive designed to encourage innovation by providing a tax deduction on income derived from qualifying intellectual property, including patents and copyrighted software. The deduction is calculated as a percentage of qualifying IP income rather than as a fixed grant amount and is available to companies, including small companies with patentable inventions, that have incurred qualifying expenditure related to the development of the intellectual property.
Business Reports for SMEs
This Grant Scheme seeks to support SMEs through the provision of non-repayable Grants in the form of a lump sum to part-finance a business report procured from external Consultancy Service Providers which are registered with the IB and which are autonomous and unrelated to the Beneficiary Undertaking.
Marketing Strategy for Micro & Small Enterprises
This ERDF advisory support scheme aims to improve enterprise efficiency, competitiveness, and credibility by part-financing external services for the development of a Marketing Strategy.
Digitalise your SME
This incentive supports SMEs through non-repayable grants to part-finance investments in digitalising operations—enhancing resilience, efficiency, productivity, and customer experience across areas such as design, procurement, supply chain, and after-sales processes.
Internationalisation Strategy for SMEs
This ERDF advisory support scheme aims to enhance enterprise efficiency, competitiveness, and credibility by part-financing external services for the development of an Internationalisation Strategy.
Standards & Awards for SMEs
This ERDF advisory support scheme aims to improve enterprise efficiency, competitiveness, and credibility by part-financing external advisory services that help businesses prepare for and achieve recognised standards or awards.
Tailored Facility for Businesses
The Tailored Facility provides favourable financing for bankable projects, with a particular focus on SMEs especially those driving innovation, digitalisation, and competitiveness, as well as socially oriented initiatives in areas such as education, health, and inclusion. It also supports investments addressing environmental challenges, including water and waste management, and projects that promote sustainability and the circular economy.
MDB Sustainability
The MDB Sustainability-themed products aim to increase positive environmental impact in Malta by supporting sustainable investments. They cover: Green investments (climate action, circular economy, natural resource management, biodiversity), Social accessibility initiatives and SME investments aligned with eco-labels, green business models, or environmental certifications.
Go-To-Market Loan Assistance Programme
This programme supports innovative SMEs and start-ups in commercialising market-ready products and services through a blended finance model. It provides loans of up to €500,000, with grant support of up to €100,000 (or 20% of the loan amount) covering interest subsidies, up-front contributions, and collateral support. The programme is available to Malta-based SMEs and start-ups with innovations at TRL 8–9 operating in eligible sectors.
Guaranteed Co-Lending Scheme
This scheme supports SMEs with larger financing needs by providing loans between €1 million and €10 million through joint financing by the Malta Development Bank (MDB) and participating commercial banks. The scheme offers lower interest rates, reduced collateral requirements, and repayment terms of up to 15 years to finance business expansion, new investments, market growth, and related working capital.
Business Plan Voucher
The Business Plan Voucher supports researchers with approved applied research grants (TRL 5+) in developing strategic business plans. Offering up to €12,000 in funding (90% reimbursement), it helps transform prototypes into market-ready ventures. This initiative strengthens Malta’s innovation ecosystem by bridging research and commercialization.
European Innovation Council Programmes
The European Innovation Council (EIC) programmes include Pathfinder, Transition, Accelerator, and Advanced Innovation Challenges.
Applicants can access support through:
- Option A – Proposal Development Grant: up to €10,000 for grant writing support
- Option B – Business Coach Grant: up to €5,000 for Accelerator (Stage 1) coaching
- Option C – Pitch Coach Grant: up to €2,000 for presentation and interview preparation
Eligibility depends on the EIC programme and application stage.
Research Networking Scheme
This scheme supports local public and private entities in strengthening Malta’s research ecosystem through networking, knowledge exchange, and collaborative initiatives. The scheme provides funding of up to €8,000 per project, with an additional €2,000 available for projects involving a Diaspora Researcher.
Transdisciplinary Research Programme
This programme supports collaborative, cross-sectoral research that addresses Malta’s key societal challenges in line with the Horizon Europe Missions. The programme is open to consortia comprising academia, private and public entities, and civil society organisations working together on innovative, mission-oriented research initiatives.
Prototype to Minimum Viable Product (P2M) Programme
The programme supports SMEs and start-ups in transforming prototypes into market-ready minimum viable products (MVPs) within six months. The programme provides funding of up to €30,000 to support product validation, market testing, and early commercial traction.
Access2 Partnership (A2P) Scheme
The scheme supports Malta-based researchers participating as self-funded partners in Horizon Europe Partnerships, enabling collaboration across areas such as health, climate, energy, digital, food, and the environment. It provides funding of up to €300,000 per project for eligible Malta-based entities joining a Joint Transnational Call (JTC) consortium.
Intellectual Property Registration (IPR) Voucher
The IPR Voucher helps inventors protect their creations by funding national, EU, and international IP registration. It supports trademarks, copyrights, patents, designs, and trade secrets, with up to 90% reimbursement. Eligible technologies must be at prototype stage (TRL 5+) and backed by a Xjenza Malta-approved research grant.
HIPAS - Horizon Internationalisation Partnership Award Scheme
The scheme supports Maltese entities applying as coordinators for Horizon Europe proposals by funding proposal writing support services (local or international), with up to €8,000 available per project.
ERC Support Scheme 2026
This scheme assists Malta-based researchers in preparing competitive European Research Council (ERC) grant applications by funding mentoring and proposal-writing support. The scheme provides up to €5,000 for mentoring under Option A, while Option B supports proposal-writing training.
NCP_WIDERA.NET Travel Grants
The scheme supports participation in Horizon Europe Pillar II brokerage and matchmaking events by covering travel and accommodation costs of up to €1,000 per applicant. It is available to personnel of Maltese legal entities intending to participate in Pillar II proposals as a partner or coordinator.
Market Discovery Plan (MD) Voucher
The scheme supports FUSION grant beneficiaries in preparing for investment by funding activities that enhance investor readiness, including pitch development and participation in relevant platforms and events. It provides funding of up to €4,000 for projects at TRL 5+ with an approved business plan.
Horizon Europe Networking Support Scheme (T2HE)
The scheme provides financial support to Maltese stakeholders participating in Horizon Europe networking, brokerage events, and European Commission Info Days overseas to facilitate consortium-building and collaborative opportunities. Funding is provided on a case-by-case basis to cover eligible travel and participation costs.
Technology Sandbox
A technological sandbox is an innovative concept which provides a safe environment for individuals or companies developing solutions based on Innovative Technologies such as Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence or solutions deployed in critical environments, to enable the correct nurturing of such solutions in line with recognised standards. Alignment in the early phases of deployment proves to be cheaper than rectification in a post-development stage.
The Digital Innovation Hub (DiHubMT) is dedicated to nurturing research and innovation, providing comprehensive support services such as Test Before Invest, Digital Entrepreneurship Support, Mentorship, and Advanced Digital Skills Training.
Malta Venture Capital Fund
The Malta Venture Capital Fund Scheme aims to support promising start-up ventures with viable business concepts and a commitment to scaling up, while also encouraging domestic and international investors to participate in Malta’s venture capital ecosystem. The scheme provides support through equity shareholding of up to €500,000 per start-up and will continue indefinitely until the allocated budget of €10m is fully utilised and/or as further funding may be provided to the Malta VC fund.
