EU funding for SMEs in 2026: which programmes are open and how to prepare

The 2021-2027 programming period has entered its second half, which means two things for an entrepreneur in Romania or the Republic of Moldova: the money still exists, but calls open and close quickly, often within weeks. Whoever waits for the call to open before starting preparation usually misses the deadline. The article below summarises what we have seen in the files we prepared over the last year and what we expect for 2026.

The programmes that matter in 2026

Regional Programmes. Each development region has its own programme, with calls for micro-enterprises and SMEs: equipment, digitalisation, production capacity expansion, energy efficiency. For the North-East region (Botoșani, Suceava, Iași, Neamț, Bacău, Vaslui), support intensity reaches 70-90% of project value, with typical grants of 50,000-200,000 EUR for micro-enterprises and up to 1.5 million EUR for SMEs.

Recovery and Resilience Facility – digital and green transition components. These calls have strict deadlines, because all funds must be spent by August 2026. If you have a digitalisation project ready (ERP, CRM, IT equipment, electronic signatures, cybersecurity), this is the last window.

National schemes: Start-Up Nation, Micro-industrialisation, Trade and Services. Financed from the state budget, with grants of 50,000-500,000 RON, they are more accessible to young companies and those without a financial track record. Scoring depends heavily on jobs created and own contribution.

Republic of Moldova. Through our sister company in Chișinău we follow the ODA (Organisation for Entrepreneurship Development) programmes, EU4Business and credit lines with a grant component. Romanian-owned companies in Moldova can also access internationalisation programmes.

What you can finance, in practice

• Production equipment and machinery, including second-hand in certain calls.
• Software, licences, IT equipment, websites and online shops, CRM/ERP systems.
• Construction or modernisation of production premises and points of sale.
• Photovoltaic panels, energy-efficiency systems.
• Consulting services, ISO certifications, participation in international trade fairs.
• Salaries for newly created jobs, under the national schemes.

An often-overlooked point: expenses for the website, visual identity and promotional campaigns are eligible in most digitalisation and internationalisation calls. A package such as START Digital can be included in full in the project budget.

The scoring criteria that make the difference

Once you pass eligibility (active company, no debts, profit or positive equity in the last year, eligible activity code), the battle is fought on points. The heaviest criteria, in the order we see them in scoring grids:

1. Jobs created and maintained for at least 2-3 years after implementation.
2. Own contribution above the required minimum – every extra 5% earns points.
3. The green and digital component of the project (efficient equipment, software).
4. Field of activity: manufacturing and creative services score better than trade.
5. Location: companies in less-developed areas receive a bonus.

The realistic timeline of a project

From the decision to receiving the money:

• Preparation (4-8 weeks): eligibility, business plan, equipment quotes, documents from the tax authority and the Trade Register.
• Submission: calls often last only 2-4 weeks, and some close on the first day, on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Evaluation (2-6 months): clarifications, verification visits, contracting.
• Implementation (6-24 months): procurement, reimbursement claims, reporting.

This is why we insist: the file is prepared before the call opens, not after. A well-built business plan (see the Business Plan Pack) can be quickly adapted to the scoring grid of any call.

The mistakes that lead to rejection

• Incomplete equipment quotes or quotes from suppliers without a valid tax number.
• Mismatch between the project's activity code and the company's real activity.
• Unbalanced budget: too much consulting, too little productive investment.
• Unrealistic cash flow – evaluators check whether you can sustain your own contribution and VAT until reimbursement.
• Impossible implementation deadlines for construction and permits.

How we help

We run a free eligibility pre-assessment within 48 hours. If the project has real chances, the EU Funding Pack (from 590 EUR) covers the complete writing of the file, and the success fee is charged only on approval. We also accompany the project through implementation: compliant procurement, reimbursement claims, reporting. Details on the EU Funding & Non-repayable Financing page.

If you have a project in mind, even just an idea, write to us. For many funding lines, 2026 is the last year with real money in the current financial framework.