The Government of Malta has by means of Legal Notice 50 of 2024 published the above-mentioned rules which are applicable as from 1st January 2024.
Where Malta Enterprise Corporation is satisfied that an undertaking requires aid to carry out a feasibility study in preparation of industrial research and experimental development activities, it may provide such an undertaking with financial assistance in accordance with the terms and conditions established in Guidelines published by the same Corporation.
Malta Enterprise may support an undertaking to carry out a feasibility study with a cash grant, which shall not exceed €100,000 and shall be capped at 50%, 60% and 70% of the eligible costs if the undertaking is a large undertaking, a medium-sized undertaking and a small undertaking respecively.
The scope of the feasibility study would be to evaluate the potential of an R&D project, establish its technical, operational and commercial risks, and identify the resources required to carry it through and their availability and accessibility. The study would also enable the beneficiary to review relevant current scientific or technical knowledge and to conduct searches for suitable research partners and existing Intellectual Property that could support the R&D project.
An undertaking must meet the following main criteria in order to benefit from the Scheme:
- Be registered as a limited liability company, partnership or cooperative
- If established for less than five years or if it employs less than five full time employees, to submit a business plan together with the application; and
- Must not have dues, in relation to VAT, Income Tax and Social Security, exceeding Eur1,000, unless there is an existing repayment agreement; for dues less than Eur1,000, applicant should be able to justify position and commit to regularise dues, where applicable.
Eligible costs incurred for carrying out the feasibility study shall be the following:
- Wage costs of researchers, technical personnel and other staff, to the extent and for the duration of their direct involvement in carrying out the study
- Costs of contractual research, technical knowledge and patents, as well as consultancy costs for services used exclusively for the study and
- Additional overheads and other operating expenses, incurred directly as a result of the study.
Applications must be submitted prior to the commencement of the feasibility study and supported studies must be implemented and finalised within 52 weeks from commencement date.
No aid shall be granted by Malta Enterprise in accordance with these regulations after the 31st December 2026.
If you need any help or assistance with the above-mentioned, please do not hesitate to contact us on [email protected]
