UPGRADING OF FRANCHISING COMPANIES
The announcement of an NSRF programme for the upgrading of existing SMEs of any legal form that are part of franchise networks is expected soon.
The support of businesses already integrated in networks will bring about significant and multiplier effects in the Greek economy as franchising is particularly dynamic at international and national level. According to the data of the Ministry of Economy, in 2015, 479 franchising chains with 17,098 establishments/stores and more than 100,000 employees in different economic sectors were active in Greece, with an emphasis on food trade and the provision of catering services.
The upgrading of businesses to enhance their capacities to improve the quality of products and services offered or to create new products/services will be supported by financing and implementing investment projects aimed at increasing the efficiency of operational activities, reducing costs and upgrading their infrastructure.
The programme will be implemented by the Special Management Agency of the Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Operational Programme (EAD EPANEK) and the intermediary (EFEPAE) for State aid operations.
POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES
Beneficiaries of the programme will be franchising companies that are active in the 9 priority sectors of the EAFRD (Agri-Food Industry, Supply Chain, Energy, Environment, Tourism, ICT) for the implementation of investment projects.
ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE
The starting date for the eligibility of expenditure will be the date of publication of the notice. Eligible expenditure will relate to:
upgrading of infrastructure (buildings, facilities, surroundings)
Purchase of new machinery and equipment
Investment in energy saving and environmental upgrading of the business
Development and certification of quality assurance and environmental management systems
Automation of operational activities through increased use of ICT (software, software services and ICT infrastructure)
Salary costs of employees (existing and/or new staff) using a flexibility clause
means of transport.
Costs of brand name rights are not eligible.
BUDGET - RATES OF AID
The indicative budget of the programme is EUR 25 000 000 (public expenditure). Funding for investment projects will cover 40 % of eligible expenditure, plus 10 %, rising to 50 % in the case of recruitment of new staff.
The investment projects of enterprises will be able to have a total budget of between €30 000 and €200 000.
The electronic submission procedure will be compulsory and funding applications will be submitted through the State Aid Information System. No physical file with supporting documentation will be submitted.
Supporting documents will be submitted after evaluation and provisional ranking and only for potentially eligible investment projects.
The estimated duration of the investment projects is 18 months/24 months.
The announcement of an NSRF programme for the upgrading of existing SMEs of any legal form that are part of franchise networks is expected soon.
The support of businesses already integrated in networks will bring about significant and multiplier effects in the Greek economy as franchising is particularly dynamic at international and national level. According to the data of the Ministry of Economy, in 2015, 479 franchising chains with 17,098 establishments/stores and more than 100,000 employees in different economic sectors were active in Greece, with an emphasis on food trade and the provision of catering services.
The upgrading of businesses to enhance their capacities to improve the quality of products and services offered or to create new products/services will be supported by financing and implementing investment projects aimed at increasing the efficiency of operational activities, reducing costs and upgrading their infrastructure.
The programme will be implemented by the Special Management Agency of the Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Operational Programme (EAD EPANEK) and the intermediary (EFEPAE) for State aid operations.
POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES
Beneficiaries of the programme will be franchising companies that are active in the 9 priority sectors of the EAFRD (Agri-Food Industry, Supply Chain, Energy, Environment, Tourism, ICT) for the implementation of investment projects.
ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE
The starting date for the eligibility of expenditure will be the date of publication of the notice. Eligible expenditure will relate to:
upgrading of infrastructure (buildings, facilities, surroundings)
Purchase of new machinery and equipment
Investment in energy saving and environmental upgrading of the business
Development and certification of quality assurance and environmental management systems
Automation of operational activities through increased use of ICT (software, software services and ICT infrastructure)
Salary costs of employees (existing and/or new staff) using a flexibility clause
means of transport.
Costs of brand name rights are not eligible.
BUDGET - RATES OF AID
The indicative budget of the programme is EUR 25 000 000 (public expenditure). Funding for investment projects will cover 40 % of eligible expenditure, plus 10 %, rising to 50 % in the case of recruitment of new staff.
The investment projects of enterprises will be able to have a total budget of between €30 000 and €200 000.
The electronic submission procedure will be compulsory and funding applications will be submitted through the State Aid Information System. No physical file with supporting documentation will be submitted.
Supporting documents will be submitted after evaluation and provisional ranking and only for potentially eligible investment projects.
The estimated duration of the investment projects is 18 months/24 months.
