Standards & Awards for SMEs

Mandy Caruana
Jul 7
2 min read

Updated: Jul 31

This scheme shall support SMEs to prepare for and achieve a recognised Standard or Award. Aid shall be granted for the engagement of a third-party for advisory services which lead to such standards or awards. The aim of the scheme is to provide SMEs with enhanced competitiveness and credibility through internationally recognised certifications or national excellence awards.

Grant value (max):	€15,000
Target Group:	Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises
Cut-off dates:	14th August, 12th September, 30th September, 17th October, 31st October, 14th November, 28th November and 12th December, 2025.

Scheme Summary

The maximum grant under this scheme is €15,000. Applicants seeking to achieve more than two standards or awards through the same service provider within a single application may be eligible for an increased maximum grant value of €20,000.

Aid Intensities

Status of undertaking	Aid Intensity
Micro and Small start-up Enterprises up to five years following registration	60%
Micro and Small enterprises exceeding five years following registration Medium-sized enterprises	50%

Projects must be concluded within 6 months from signing of the grant agreement, which is signed following project approval. All investments must be completed no later than 30^th June 2029.

Eligible Costs

Assistance is offered as a non-repayable grant to co-finance advisory services aimed at obtaining a standard or award. These services must be procured from external Service Providers that are registered with the IB and operate independently from the Beneficiary Undertaking. A quotation for such services should be submitted at application stage together with the description and need of the chosen standard or award, identification of service providers whom may provide such advisory services, also giving a reason for selection.

The assistance should provide beneficiaries with enhanced alignment with industry benchmarks and leading practices; improve quality, operational efficiency, sustainability, and innovation. The support may also lead to market expansion and foster a culture of ongoing improvement and operational excellence.

Application Process

The scheme will operate on a demand-driven basis, with the IB issuing periodic open/rolling calls for applications. Eligible applications meeting the Gateway Criteria will be awarded grants on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to budget availability.