Enterprises (SMEs) Regulations, 2022

L.N. 79 of 2022

MALTA ENTERPRISE ACT

(CAP. 463)

Innovation Aid for Small and Medium Sized

Enterprises (SMEs) Regulations, 2022

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by article 5 of the Malta

Enterprise Act, the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable

Development, after consultation with the Malta Enterprise Corporation

has made the following regulations:-

(1) The title of these regulations is Innovation Aid for Citation and

commencement.

Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Regulations, 2022.

(2) These regulations shall be deemed to have come into force

on 1 st September 2021.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires

Interpretation.

"Act" means the Malta Enterprise Act;

"Corporation" means

the

Malta

Enterprise

Corporation

established under the Act;

"Guidelines" means the Guidelines as may be published by the

Corporation from time to time in terms of the Act;

"research and knowledge dissemination organisation" shall have

the same meaning as assigned to it by Commission Regulation (EU)

No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid

compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and

108 of the Treaty, as amended ;

"small and medium sized enterprise (SME)" or "(SMEs)" shall

have the same meaning as assigned to it by Annex 1 of Commission

Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain

categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of

Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty;

"undertaking" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in

the Act.

(1) An SME may seek support from a research and Qualifying

knowledge dissemination organisation to actively engage in enterprises.

innovation activities, to access expertise, knowledge and resources to

develop new, innovative and improved products, processes and

services.

(2) Where the Corporation is satisfied that an SME is carrying

out an innovative project, the Corporation may provide such an

undertaking with financial assistance in accordance with the terms and

conditions set out in the Guidelines.

(3) An eligible undertaking shall only qualify for a cash grant

if such project leads to the creation, development and implementation

of a new product, process or service with the aim of improving

efficiency, effectiveness or competitive advantage.

The eligible costs shall be costs related to the secondment

of highly qualified personnel, innovation advisory services and

innovation support services required, specifically incurred for the

implementation of the innovative project as further prescribed in the

Guidelines.

(1) The aid intensity shall not exceed fifty per cent (50%)

of the eligible costs. The maximum support per business research

partnership shall be of one hundred thousand euro (€100,000).

(2) In the case of aid for innovation advisory and support

services, the aid intensity can be increased up to one hundred per cent

(100%) of the eligible costs provided that the total support for

Innovation advisory services and innovation support services shall be

capped at two hundred thousand euro (€200,000) per undertaking

within any three (3) year period.

(1) Applications for assistance under these regulations

shall reach the Corporation before the 31st August 2023.

(2) No assistance under these regulations shall be awarded by

the Corporation after the 31st December 2023.

€0.18