Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
THALIA: Foundations of Change, Prosperity, Equality and Development
Programme “THALIA 2021-2027” constitutes a multi-annual, multi-fund development Programme that was drawn up in accordance to the Article 22 of the Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 (Common Provisions Regulation – CPR), outlining the development strategy for the utilisation of the resources allocated to Cyprus through the Cohesion Policy Funds, for the period 2021-2027.
The total budget of the Programme amounts to €1.81 billion, of which €968 million comes from the EU Cohesion Policy Funds, while the remaining €842 million is the national contribution.
Call
Summary
The Scheme aims to encourage investments in digital entrepreneurship and to strengthen the degree of integration of digital technology in existing or new SMEs, that are established or to be established in areas controlled by the Cyprus Government. The main objectives of the Scheme are:
- The contribution to the digital transformation of the Cypriot economy
- The promotion of digital entrepreneurship.
- The increase in the number / percentage of small and medium enterprises that use information and communication technologies, including the field of e-commerce.
- Strengthening the digital identity of businesses.
- The creation of new opportunities for businesses through digital transformation.
The promotion of digital technology actions and advanced digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Blockchain, cloud computing and big data.
Closing date of call: until the exhaustion of the amount of €14 million
Detailed Call Description
The Scheme is included in the THALEIA 2021-2027 Programme and is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the EU and the Republic of Cyprus, under the Cohesion Policy in Cyprus.
The total amount that will be allocated for the financing of the Scheme, during its implementation period, amounts to €14 million, which includes savings from the first call of the scheme.
The minimum amount of the eligible total budget of a proposal (eligible expenditures) is set at €5.000. The intensity of the subsidy (% subsidy) amounts to 50% of the eligible budget of the proposal with a maximum subsidy amount of €50.000.
In the case of companies that are established or will be established in mountainous and disadvantaged areas, the intensity of the subsidy (% subsidy) amounts to 70% of the eligible budget of the proposal
with a maximum subsidy amount of €70.000.
The potential beneficiaries of the Scheme are existing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that will implement expenditures in the category of digital upgrading (including e-commerce), as well as new small and medium-sized enterprises whose investment proposal necessarily includes e-commerce and/or the application of advanced digital technologies.
Businesses should be established or established in areas controlled by the Cyprus Government.
The companies that can receive a subsidy under the Scheme are those that undertake the implementation of investment in eligible sectors and activities and as such are those that are not included in Annex I of the EU Treaty. Therefore, the following economic activities are excluded:
- Business activities related to the primary production or processing or marketing of agricultural products as listed in Appendix I of the Treaty of the European Union.
- Activities related to the fishing and aquaculture.
The Scheme is adapted and will be implemented based on Regulation (EU) No. 2023/2831 of 13 December 2023 on the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to de minimis aid (hereinafter referred to as “Regulation (EU) 2023/2831”) and all its amendments/corrections.
The period of application of the Regulation expires on 31 December 2030.
Based on Regulation ((EU) 2023/2831 (Article 3, point 2), the total amount of de minimis subsidies that can be subsidized to a single company over a three (3) rolling years amounts to € 300.000.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The grant is given as a percentage on the entire eligible investment (50%) with a maximum grant of € 50.000 per enterprise.
In the case of businesses that are established or will be established in mountainous and disadvantaged areas, the grant is given as a percentage on the entire eligible investment (70%) with a maximum grant of €70.000 per enterprise.
Thematic Categories
- New Entrepreneurship
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
Eligibility for Participation
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Eligibility For Participation Notes
New or existing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Industry & Technology Service
Emmanouela Katsi
Officer for Schemes (fixed-term employee)
Τelephone: 22867284
Email: ekatsi@meci.gov.cy
Fax: 22867253
Elena Demosthenous
Officer for Schemes (fixed-term employee)
Τelephone: 22867282
Email: edemosthenous@meci.gov.cy
Fax: 22867253