Programme for the EU Funds’ investments in 2021–2027 for Lithuania

The Programme brings together the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, and the European Social Fund to support Lithuania’s sustainable growth and transformation.

Focus on "Smarter Lithuania"

Under the first policy objective, Smarter Lithuania, EU funds will drive the transformation of Lithuania’s economy into a higher value-added economy, enhancing competitiveness and digital connectivity.

Supporting SMEs and financial innovation

A key focus of the Programme is improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Support includes the development of innovative financial instruments such as crowdfunding platforms. These platforms aim to encourage SMEs to invest in essential infrastructure projects and other growth opportunities.

Addressing market needs in key sectors

The policy will address market failures in critical sectors, including infrastructure, transport, culture, social and health services, education, ICT technologies, and water management.

Boosting peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding

An important feature of the Programme is leveraging peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding platforms as financial intermediaries. These tools will play a vital role in financing infrastructure projects, the prosumer market, and other SME-related sectors. This approach will unlock new opportunities for growth, encourage innovation, and contribute to the sustainable development of Lithuania.

Regional SMEs Competitiveness Plan 2021–2023: Driving Entrepreneurship and Business Growth

The plan serves as the primary regional instrument for fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing business policies and focuses on key areas to empower SMEs and boost their competitiveness:

• entrepreneurship
• business growth
• accessibility of financing
• equality and sustainable development
• business competitiveness through digitalisation

Focus on accessibility of financing

One of the plan's central objectives is to improve accessibility to alternative financing instruments. This goal is achieved through targeted actions that support entrepreneurs and businesses in securing financing opportunities:

Training and advisory support: facilitating access to and successful utilization of collective financing, such as crowdfunding.

Promotion of private investment: organizing training programs, networking events with investors, mentoring projects, and offering support to navigate and secure private investment.

Entrepreneurial training: educating entrepreneurs and business owners on how to identify and utilize alternative financing instruments effectively.

Specialized advisory services: providing expert guidance and tailored support to enhance access to alternative financing.

Comprehensive financial training: delivering courses of varying formats, durations, and specialization levels to build knowledge on financing options and improve financial management skills.

Development of tools and resources: creating instruments and tools to improve understanding and access to diverse financing solutions.

Startup Innovation Fund (SIF) and Participatie Fonds (PCP): supporting early-stage growth

The Startup Innovation Fund (SIF) and Participatie Fonds (PCP) are innovative funding mechanisms co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Province of Utrecht. These funds are designed to foster growth and innovation in startups and scale-ups within the Utrecht region.

SIF is the successor to the successful Proof of Concept Fund. The initial Proof of Concept Fund is now fully invested, having focused on supporting early-stage startups and scale-ups. SIF builds on this legacy, providing critical funding for companies in their initial growth phases.The first investment from SIF was made in January 2024, marking the start of a new chapter in supporting innovative businesses.

SIF:Targeting early-stage start-ups

SIF focuses on companies in Technology Readiness Level (TRL) phases 4–6. Key features include:

• Funding range: €50,000 to €500,000 per deal.
• Requirement: A co-investor must be on board.

This structure ensures that early-stage startups have the support needed to validate and develop their ideas, laying a solid foundation for future growth.

PCP: Supporting Later-Stage Development

The Participatie Fonds (PCP) targets companies in TRL phases 6–9, enabling further development and scaling of mature innovations. Key features include:

• Minimum co-investment: €1 million from a private investor.

This fund bridges the gap between early-stage growth and full market entry, ensuring companies have the resources and partnerships required to scale successfully.

Inclusive Economy Action Plan 2020–2024: supporting social entrepreneurs

The Province of Antwerp's Inclusive Economy Action Plan 2020–2024 aims to foster a sustainable and inclusive economy by providing targeted support to social entrepreneurs through the Trividend Province of Antwerp fund. This initiative focuses on achieving the following key objectives:

• Increasing the integration of disadvantaged groups into the labor market.
• Generating new ecologically sustainable activities.
• Promoting collaboration between the social economy and the regular economy.
• To qualify for investment support, projects must address at least two of these objectives.

Trividend Province of Antwerp: bridging the financing gap

The Trividend Province of Antwerp  fund was established by Trividend  and the Province of Antwerp to complement other policy tools, such as grants. It focuses on social enterprises that:

• Have progressed beyond the stage of qualifying for grants.
• Are not yet eligible for traditional bank financing or larger investments.
• The fund provides subordinated loans of up to €50,000 per investment. These loans serve as a first external investment, helping entrepreneurs develop their social enterprises to a stage where they can access bank loans or attract larger investors.

Application and assessment process

Social enterprises seeking funding can apply through the Province of Antwerp. The process includes:

• Assessment by the investment committee (IC): applications are evaluated by the IC of Trividend cv.
• Final decision by the board of directors: the IC submits its advice to the Board of Directors of Trividend Province of Antwerp, which makes the final funding decision.

Building a sustainable and inclusive future

By supporting social enterprises through accessible financing, the Inclusive Economy Action Plan strengthens the social economy and fosters ecological sustainability. It helps entrepreneurs overcome financial barriers, scale their impact, and contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable region.

Regional Operational Programme of Central Macedonia 2021–2027: advancing innovation and competitiveness

The Regional Operational Programme (ROP) of Central Macedonia 2021–2027 aims to foster innovation, competitiveness, and smart economic transformation. Through Priority Axis 1: “A More Competitive and Smarter Europe,” the programme drives regional growth by promoting advanced technologies and enhancing regional ICT connectivity.

Priority axis 1 is structured around three specific objectives:

• Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the adoption of advanced technologies (RSO1.1).
• Reaping the benefits of digitization for citizens, businesses, research organizations, and public authorities (RSO1.2).
• Enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs, along with job creation, through productive investments (RSO1.3).

Strategic goals

The primary goals are to:

• Strengthen the specialization of the regional economy in sectors with comparative advantages.
• Improve the competitiveness and extroversion of businesses by increasing their capacity to integrate into international value chains.
• Foster the development of new innovative products and services.

Supporting SMEs and alternative financing

While ROP provides critical funding to SMEs and organizations, EU funds alone are often insufficient to fully realize the potential of these enterprises. To address this gap, the programme emphasizes the importance of alternative funding sources, including crowdfunding, to enhance financial accessibility.

To achieve this, the programme offers:

Good practice examples: demonstrating successful use of alternative financing tools.

Training and networking opportunities: empowering SMEs and organizations with the knowledge and connections needed to secure funding.

Digital tools for crowdfunding: facilitating access to alternative financing channels and expanding opportunities for innovation and growth.

Driving innovation and economic transformation

By combining traditional funding with alternative financing strategies, the ROP of Central Macedonia aims to unlock the full potential of regional SMEs and organizations. This approach not only enhances competitiveness and innovation but also ensures sustainable economic growth and job creation, positioning Central Macedonia as a leader in smart economic transformation.

ERDF Regional Operational Program (ROP) 2021–2027: Strengthening the Marche Region

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the Marche Region is implemented through the Regional Operational Program (ROP), which sets priority objectives for regional growth and development. The program focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of the "Marche System" by boosting innovation, protecting environmental and cultural resources, and fostering territorial cohesion.

Global objectives of the ERDF ROP

The overarching goal of the ERDF ROP is to:

• Increase competitiveness and innovation within the regional production system.
• Protect and enhance the region's environmental and cultural assets.
• Promote territorial cohesion by addressing regional disparities.

Financial overview of the 2021–2027 programming period

For the current programming period, more than €1 billion is allocated to the Marche Region through:

• The Regional Operational Program (ROP).
• The Complementary Operational Program (COP).
• The ROP, financed by EU-State-Region resources has a budget of €585.68 million dedicated to regional development.

Key objectives and strategic priorities

The 2021–2027 ERDF programming focuses on the development and strategic relaunch of the Marche region's economic and social fabric by promoting sustainable investments. The program aligns with the three strategic priorities of the European Union, with a particular emphasis on:

Strategic Objective 1:

A Smarter and More Competitive Europe:

• 55% of the budget is directed toward smart specialization of the regional economy.
• Actions prioritize innovation, digital transformation, and economic competitiveness.

Driving growth and sustainability

Through a collaborative process involving stakeholders, the ERDF ROP 2021–2027 is designed to position the Marche Region as a leader in innovation and sustainable development. With targeted investments, the program seeks to build a resilient, competitive, and cohesive regional economy.

North-West Regional Operational Program (ROP) 2021–2027: A Smarter and Competitive Europe

The North-West Regional Operational Program (ROP) 2021–2027 is a strategic initiative aimed at driving innovation, digitalization, and economic growth within the region. Under Priority Axis 1: A Competitive Region Through Innovation, Digitalization, and Dynamic Enterprises, the program focuses on fostering a smarter and more competitive Europe.

Specific objectives of priority axis 1

The program addresses four key Specific Objectives (SO):

• Developing and increasing research and innovation capacities:focuses on adopting advanced technologies to enhance regional innovation (SO i).
• Leveraging the benefits of digitalization:promotes digital solutions for citizens, companies, research organizations, and public authorities (SO ii).
• Boosting sustainable growth and SME competitiveness:supports job creation and productive investments to strengthen SMEs (SO iii).
• Developing skills for Smart Specialization:focuses on skills for industrial transition and entrepreneurship (SO iv).

Addressing specific objective SO (iii)

The project aligns with SO (iii): Boosting Sustainable Growth and SME Competitiveness, providing targeted actions to:

• Develop skills for entrepreneurial discovery processes:enhance the capacity of entities involved in identifying and leveraging entrepreneurial opportunities.
• Train employees of innovation and technology transfer entities:equip staff in accredited organizations with the competencies needed to foster innovation.
• Strengthen administrative capacity:improve the ability of stakeholders to develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate smart specialization strategies effectively.

Driving regional innovation and competitiveness

Through its focus on boosting SME growth and enhancing skills, the North-West ROP 2021–2027 lays the groundwork for a dynamic, innovation-driven economy. By addressing gaps in capacity and fostering collaboration among regional actors, the program contributes to sustainable economic development and a competitive North-West region.

Regional Development Strategy for the West Pomeranian Voivodeship Until 2030: Fostering Entrepreneurship and Investment

The Regional Development Strategy for the West Pomeranian Voivodeship Until 2030 serves as a strategic framework for coordinating and activating entrepreneurship and investment across the region. This policy instrument is pivotal in guiding the utilization of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) to drive regional growth and innovation.

Key focus areas

The strategy emphasizes the following:

• Support for large and medium-sized innovative enterprises:enhancing investment attractiveness and providing access to financial instruments through ESIF funds.
• Strengthening economic networks:developing cross-border and macroregional economic ties to boost collaboration and trade.
• Promoting internationalization: encouraging stronger investment and export relations and fostering the internationalization of regional entities.
• Addressing regional challenges:balancing the region’s peripheral limitations by establishing systematic connections with the global economy and improving economic conditions.

Goals and priorities

The local government’s primary goals are:

• Increasing investment and export relations: expanding the reach and competitiveness of regional businesses in international markets.
• Boosting economic activity:supporting enterprises with comprehensive services and tailored financial products to address market gaps.
• Sustaining economic growth amid reduced EU funding: mitigating the anticipated reduction in EU funds by developing innovative financial instruments for diverse entities.

Supporting entrepreneurship

The strategy places a strong emphasis on the development and availability of new financial instruments to empower economic entities. By enhancing access to entrepreneurial support mechanisms, the region aims to stimulate innovation and economic resilience.