Grant for knowledge-intensive activities of Ida-Viru enterprises
We support the diversification of the Ida-Viru economy and the creation of positions with high value added
Projects that are being realised by Ida-Viru companies or companies that invest in Ida-Viru County may receive the grant.
The programme consists of advising and supporting companies.
The minimum grant amount to be applied for in the application stage is 100,000 euros and the maximum amount is 5,000,000 euros.
The total budget of the application stage is 25,000,000 euros.
The grant is funded with the Just Transition Fund resources.
Projects can apply for grants in two application rounds:
- For projects that only involve research and development the grant per project is 100,000 to 2 million euros and the total budget for the 17 July-14 September (16:00) round is 10 million euro.
- For projects that handle pilot infrastructure the application is ongoing until the allocated resources (15 million) are exhausted and the maximum grant per project is 5 million euro.
A prerequisite of submitting an application is the receipt of a positive preliminary project plan assessment.
Who is the main target of the grant
- This programme is for companies that wish to develop innovative technologies, processes, products or services, test new materials or gather knowledge about technological feasibility
- A company will be able to apply independently or in cooperation with other companies, scientific establishments, testing laboratories or intellectual property experts
- Companies entered in the Estonian business register irrelevant of their size and history of operations who plan to implement their project in Ida-Viru County or to invest in Ida-Viru County can apply for this grant: The company must not be in difficulty
What kinds of projects are we expecting?
Only projects whose field of activity falls within the following Estonian financial branch (henceforth EMTAK) sections can apply for this grant:
- mining industry – EMTAK section B, except subsections 05, 06 and 091
- manufacturing – EMTAK section C, except subsections 102, 12, 19, 242, 243, 2446, 2452 and 2591
- electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply – EMTAK section D except subsection 35111
- water supply, sewage, waste and pollution management – EMTAK section E
- The biomass used in projects must meet the sustainability criteria set out in the Renewable Energy Directive (REDII, 2018/2001/EU)
- Only investment projects by large enterprises as described in Appendix B of the Territorial Agenda of the SEA can be supported
- the decommissioning or construction of nuclear power plants
- making, processing and marketing of tobacco and tobacco products
- firms in difficulty as defined in article 2 clause 18 of Commission Regulation (EU) No. 651/2014 (1), except where this is allowed according to temporary State aid rules established to deal with exceptional circumstances or in the context of de minimis aid, to support investments that reduce energy costs in the context of the energy system transformation process
- investments related to the production, processing, transport, distribution, storage or combustion of fossil fuels
What qualifies for a grant?
Proportion of applied research grant depending on the size of the company:
- 70% (small business)
- 60% (medium)
- 50% (large)
Proportion of applied research grant depending on the size of the company in the context of effective cooperation:
- 80% (small)
- 75% (medium)
- 65% (large)
Proportion of product development grant depending on the size of the company:
- 45% (small)
- 35% (medium)
- 25% (large)
Proportion of product development grant depending on the size of the company in the context of effective cooperation:
- 60% (small)
- 50% (medium)
- 40% (large)
Conducting feasibility studies as a preliminary step for conducting applied research or developing products. Grants are only given to feasibility studies that precede applied research or product development activities.
- 70% (small)
- 60% (medium)
- 50% (large)
Primary protection of intellectual property can be applied for only if the project also contains applied research or product development activities.
- the percentage of this grant is 50%
- 45% of eligible costs for a small entrepreneur
- 35% of eligible costs for a medium-sized entrepreneur
- 25% of eligible costs for a large entrepreneur
Rate of support as specified in the National aid authorisation
- 45% of eligible costs for a small entrepreneur
- 35% of eligible costs for a medium-sized entrepreneur
- 25% of eligible costs for a large entrepreneur
What will change in the company?
An increase in income through scientific activities and product development
An increase in international competitiveness
Increased number of employees involved in R&D
Assistance for applicant
Read more about the terms and conditions in the grant regulation:
Other cross-cutting legislation and instructions for the period 2021-2027 (in Estonian)
An activity will be considered effective collaboration within the meaning of the General Block Exemption Regulation, if the project is conducted:
- between independent undertakings, at least one of which is an SME (a small or medium-sized enterprise), or the project is carried out in at least two European Union Member States or a European Union Member State and a country involved in the Agreement on the European Economic Area and neither undertaking carries over 70% of the eligible costs
- or between an undertaking and at least one R&D institution, which bears at least 10% of all eligible costs and has the right to publish the results of their activities
Find more information about the previous projects and the grants they received here:
Funded projects database