Grant to support Startups and Startup Facilitators in Albania

Deadline: 5-Jun-22

The Minister of State for Entrepreneurship Protection is offering grants with an aim to support startups and startup facilitators, who develop innovative projects in priority areas for the development of the country, support for initiatives that have a positive environmental impact, empowerment of youth, empowerment of girls and women entrepreneurship, strengthening social inclusion, diversity and social impact and other priorities.

The grant for support of startups and startup facilitators has a significant impact on facilitating the creation, market entry and operation of startups.

The objective of this initiative is to help create a favorable climate for attracting, including and retaining talent and human resources, facilitating and supporting access to financial resources and social inclusion and diversity in defense of democratic values, promoting and introducing innovation in economic sectors.

This grant is expected to benefit startups belonging to three main categories: startups in the initial phase, in the growth phase and in the expansion phase, as well as facilitators of startups in categories such as academia, which includes private universities, and public, municipalities, secondary and vocational education, incubators and accelerators, workspaces, which include providers of work facilities and equipment and event organizers for startups.

Categories

This grant will support 2 categories of applicants such as startups and startup facilitators:

• For startups:
  • Startups in the initial stage;
  • Startups in the growth phase;
  • Startups in the expansion phase.
• For startup facilitators:
  • Academy, which includes public and private universities;
  • Facilitators, such as incubators and accelerators;
  • Common workspaces, which include premises and equipment providers of work;
  • Municipalities, except the Municipality of Tirana;
  • Event organizers;
  • Pre-university education, which includes high schools and vocational schools public and private.

Funding Information

The grant will financially support applicant projects that meet the criteria, up to the maximum levels set out below:

• For Startups:
  • Startups in the initial phase receive financial support up to a maximum of 1,500,000 (one million five hundred thousand) ALL per project and cover a maximum of 80% of eligible and approved costs.
  • Startups in the growth phase gain financial support to the maximum extent 3,000,000 (three million) ALL per project and cover a maximum of 80% of eligible and approved costs.
  • Startups in the expansion phase receive financial support up to a maximum of 5,000,000 (five million) ALL per project and cover a maximum of 80% of eligible and approved costs.
• For Facilitators:
  • The Academy, which includes public and private universities, receives financial support up to a maximum of 10,000,000 (ten million) ALL per project and covers a maximum of 90% of eligible and approved costs.
  • Facilitators, such as incubators and accelerators, benefit from financial support up to a maximum of ALL 10,000,000 (ten million) per project and cover a maximum of 80% of eligible and approved costs.
  • Workspaces benefit from financial support up to a maximum of 10, 000, 000 (ten million) ALL per project and cover a maximum of 80% of eligible and approved costs.
  • Municipalities, except the Municipality of Tirana, receive financial support up to a maximum of 20,000,000 (twenty million) ALL per project and cover a maximum of 90% of eligible and approved costs.
  • The organizers of the events, benefit financial support up to a maximum of 10, 000, 000 (ten million) ALL per project and cover a maximum of 80% of eligible and approved costs.
  • Pre-university education, which includes high schools and public and private vocational schools, benefits financial support up to a maximum of 10, 000, 000 (ten million) ALL per project and covers a maximum of 90% of eligible and approved costs.

Eligibility Criteria

Startups that will be financially supported by this grant must meet the following criteria:

• Have completed self-declaration in the electronic register of startups and have been provided with a startup passport;
• Start – up start- ups must have completed or been pursuing an incubation / acceleration program during the grant grant application period;
• Startups in the growth phase should be registered in the trade register from 0 – 1 year;
• Startups in the expansion phase should be registered in the commercial register from 1 – 5 quick;
• Be an Individual, natural or legal person, local or foreign, including digital nomad, who carries out activities in Albania;
• Have fulfilled the payment of tax obligations at the time of application;
• An applicant may not apply for this call more than once.

For more information, visit https://sipermarrja.gov.al/dokumentet-e-aplikimit/