Funding from the Competitiveness Programme ESPA 2021-2027 was secured for the Action “Starting an Entrepreneurial Business”, with a total public expenditure of 70.000,000 euros.

This was done by a decision of the Deputy Minister National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis.

The Action is open to graduates of higher education, either as sole traders/entrepreneurs or by setting up small and micro enterprises. Beneficiaries must have obtained their first degree from a higher education institution (HEI/TEI) after 1 January 2016.

The Action is implemented using the simplified cost method, without requiring the submission and certification of corresponding invoices and proof of payment of costs.

Specifically, applications for business plans with a subsidised budget of 13.000 for a sole proprietorship (lump sum) for the 18-month operation of a new business and EUR 21,000 for a partnership/multi-stakeholder scheme (lump sum). Also subsidised are the salary costs for the creation of new jobs/jobs with a dependent employment relationship of 15.000 (unit cost).

The rate of public funding is 100% of the total subsidised budget for each business plan. The evaluation of funding applications will be comparative.

In the context of the implementation of the Action, the important aspect is that it incorporates geographical and social equity, so that declining and economically lagging regional units will be given increased priority. In addition, a premium criterion is foreseen in case of certified disability (regardless of the percentage).

The Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance said, “With the “Get Started Entrepreneurially”, this new initiative funded by NSRF resources, the government is coming to actively support entrepreneurship and young people, this time as many as have a higher education degree. In addition to the fact that the public funding amounts to 100% of the total subsidised budget, I also emphasise the specific social and geographical criteria, so that, in addition to entrepreneurship, social cohesion and regional development will be enhanced.”

The detailed call for proposals of the Action describes the conditions of participation, the required supporting documents, the way of submitting funding applications, the procedure for their examination and evaluation, their approval for funding, the eligible costs, the way of submitting funding applications, the procedure for controlling and monitoring the implementation, the obligation of the beneficiaries in relation to increasing productivity and the other obligations and conditions of the Action.

The starting date for the eligibility of expenditure is defined as the date of commencement of the business in the AADE. The duration of the implementation of the investments financed shall be 12 or 18 months from the date of the start of activity.

The starting date for the electronic submission of applications for funding in the Integrated State Aid Information System (ISIS) is 6/5/2026 at 15:00:00 with a closing date of 30/6/2026 at 15:00. Applications not submitted electronically will not be eligible for support. No application for funding will be accepted after the deadline for the electronic submission of applications for funding.

The call for proposals for this action has been published in the DIAUGEIA programme and is available on the web pages of the EEAS Competitiveness Programme (http://www.antagonistikotita.gr), the NSRF (https://www.espa.gr) and EFEPARE (http://www.efepae.gr). The action is co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF+).

Detailed information and updates are provided by the Information Office of the EIF Competitiveness Programme at telephone number 801 11 36 300, contact email: infoepan@mou.gr, and by EFEPAE at telephone number 210 6985210, contact email: info@efepae.gr, as well as by EFEPAE partners.