Business development aid
- Service
- Nationwide except the Åland Islands
- Public service
The Economic Development Centres provide funding for projects that promote the growth, renewal, and internationalisation of SMEs through business development aid.
Business development aid can be granted to projects that are assessed to have a significant impact on the company’s growth or renewal, internationalisation, innovation activities, strengthening of expertise, productivity, digital busine ...
Do the following
- Familiarize yourself with the business financing strategy and funding guidelines for your area.
- Review the call for applications. Note that funding calls can be found in two systems.
- Consider a preliminary project plan: what costs and actions the project will include, and what concrete outcome is aimed for.
- Get in touch with SME financing advisory services.
- Remember to submit the application before starting the project.
To whom and on what terms
Business development aid can primarily be granted only to SMEs. The granting of aid is discretionary. The decision is based on a comprehensive assessment of the company and the project, as well as on the funds available.
Aid cannot be granted for the primary production of fishery, agriculture, or forestry. Aid cannot be granted either for the processing of agricultural products or for the marketing of agricultural products. According to the General Block Exemption Regulation (EU No 651/2014 and Commission Regulation 2023/1315), aid cannot be granted for the transport sector, shipbuilding, the coal sector, the steel industry, the broadband sector, or for energy production, storage, transmission, distribution, or infrastructure.
In addition, the granting of aid takes into account regional business financing strategies, in which the Economic Development Centres have specified the targeting of funding.