PDDTJ: €100,000–300,000 for new social enterprises in Gorj, Hunedoara and Dolj

Under the Sustainable Development and Just Transition Programme (PDDTJ, formerly the Just Transition Programme), newly established social enterprises in Gorj, Hunedoara, the Valea Jiului micro-region and Dolj can receive between 100,000 and 300,000 euro as de minimis aid. The money is not requested directly from the ministry, but through "scheme administrators": universities, local authorities (UAT) and NGOs. The call for these administrators, with a budget of 27,073,357 euro, closed on 2 March 2026. On 18 September 2026, the amendment to the scheme was published in the Official Gazette.

In brief

• Programme: PDDTJ 2021-2027, action "Development of enterprises and entrepreneurship", support for establishing social enterprises (relaunch)
• Authority: Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE), through the programme's Managing Authority
• Beneficiaries: scheme administrators (universities, local authorities (UAT), NGOs with experience in the social economy, or partnerships between them); final beneficiaries are new social enterprises in the micro-enterprise category
• Total budget: €27,073,357, of which €18,951,350 is de minimis aid for social enterprises
• Value per project / intensity: at least €2 million per administrator's project; between €100,000 and €300,000 for each social enterprise, up to 95% of eligible costs
• Submission period: 28 January 2026, 16:00 – 2 March 2026, 16:00 (for administrators)
• Status: call closed; the de minimis scheme remains valid until 31 August 2029 and was amended by MIPE Order no. 1.426/2026

How does the two-level funding work?

The scheme was approved by MIPE Order no. 5.775/2025, published in the Official Gazette no. 1093 of 26 November 2025. Funding is awarded in two stages:

1. The scheme administrator submits a project of at least 2 million euro, won through MIPE's competitive call. Up to 30% of the project value can go to costs that are not de minimis aid (for example, training future entrepreneurs and selecting them).
2. The social enterprise is set up after taking part in the training and winning the business plan selection run by the administrator. It then signs a grant contract with the administrator for 100,000–300,000 euro.

The indicative allocations for de minimis aid are: €6,300,000 in Gorj, €5,493,377 in Hunedoara (outside Valea Jiului), €2,957,973 in ITI Valea Jiului and €4,200,000 in Dolj. The scheme estimates a maximum of 80 beneficiaries.

Who can receive the money for a social enterprise?

The final beneficiary must meet all of the conditions below:

• it is a newly established social economy entity (for example a cooperative society, association, foundation or another legal person that complies with the principles of the social economy) and qualifies as a micro-enterprise;
• it obtains the social enterprise certificate from the AJOFM (County Employment Agency) within 4 months of signing the grant contract, but no later than the first instalment;
• it has its registered office and place of implementation in the call area. For Valea Jiului, the place of implementation may only be in Uricani, Lupeni, Vulcan, Aninoasa, Petroșani or Petrila (including their component villages);
• it does not operate in excluded sectors, such as primary agricultural production, fishing and primary aquaculture, or export-related activities.

What are the job obligations and which costs are funded?

Each enterprise creates at least 2 new jobs, with working hours of at least 8 hours a day and for an indefinite period. The jobs are maintained for 24 months during implementation and for at least 12 months during the sustainability period. At least 75% of employees must have their domicile or residence in the call area. At least 30% must come from the target categories: people affected by the transition, young people up to 29 years old, people over 55, women, disadvantaged or disabled workers. The AJOFM must be consulted for recruitment.

Among other things, the following are funded:

• construction, modernisation or extension of production or service premises;
• equipment, machinery, furniture and IT classed as fixed assets. Means of transport are not eligible, except for machinery for transporting and lifting;
• equipment that contributes substantially to environmental objectives (the scheme requires at least 10% of the eligible value of the investment);
• intangible assets (licences, software, trademarks), up to 20% of the value of tangible assets;
• professional training, ISO certifications, design, implementation consultancy (up to 7%) and publicity.

Salaries, including contributions, may represent up to 20% of the aid granted. The beneficiary provides co-financing of at least 5%, and higher co-financing earns additional points. The money is paid in up to 3 instalments, and the first instalment is a maximum of 50% of the aid. Land, purchased buildings, leasing, second-hand equipment and equipment running on fossil fuels are not eligible.

What changed in September 2026?

MIPE Order no. 1.426 of 14 September 2026, published in the Official Gazette no. 792 of 18 September 2026, amends the scheme as follows:

• the programme's name becomes "Sustainable Development and Just Transition Programme 2021-2027";
• items in the category of inventory objects with a value of over 2,500 lei and a normal operating life of over one year also become eligible, if they fall within the Catalogue of fixed assets. Means of transport remain excluded.

On the official MIPE pages we did not find, at the time of checking, an announcement on the results of the administrator selection or the schedule of the business plan competitions. Separately, the PDDTJ call for developing already existing social enterprises (direct support, €24,642,314) closed on 7 August 2026.

What this means for your business

Our recommendation: if you want to set up a social enterprise in these counties, now is the time to prepare your business idea. Do not wait for the competition announcement. Selection is based on business plans, and the deadlines set by administrators are usually short.

• Follow the announcements of universities, town halls, county councils and NGOs in the area that have submitted projects. They will organise the training and selection.
• Calculate realistically the cost of the 2 jobs over at least 36 months. Salaries are reimbursed only up to 20% of the grant, so the rest must be covered from revenue.
• Plan "green" equipment from the start. The minimum 10% condition is checked in the project.
• For local authorities (UAT) and NGOs: the scheme administrator model could be repeated in future calls. Experience in the social economy and administrative capacity are eligibility conditions.

If you do not know which category your organisation falls into, use the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

Can an ordinary SRL company receive this grant?

No, not if it remains an ordinary SRL. The beneficiary must be a newly established entity that obtains the social enterprise certificate under Law no. 219/2015 and complies with the principles of the social economy, for example a cooperative society or an association.

Can projects still be submitted to the 27 million euro call?

No. The call for scheme administrators closed on 2 March 2026 at 16:00. The opportunity for future social entrepreneurs is the business plan selection organised afterwards by the funded administrators.

How much can a social enterprise receive and how much must it contribute?

Between 100,000 and 300,000 euro, up to 95% of eligible costs. The own co-financing is at least 5%, and higher co-financing is awarded additional points. The de minimis ceiling of 300,000 euro over 3 years for a single undertaking also matters.

What happens if the enterprise loses its certificate?

If the enterprise ceases its activity or loses its social enterprise certificate during the sustainability period, it must repay the aid received in full, with interest. A job that becomes vacant can be filled within 30 days without financial corrections.

Official sources

• MIPE – Just Transition Programme / PDDTJ guides
• Applicant's guide – Support for establishing social enterprises (relaunch)
• MIPE Order no. 5.775/2025 – De minimis aid scheme (Official Gazette no. 1093 bis/2025)
• MIPE announcement – Order no. 1.426/2026 amending the scheme
• MIPE Order no. 1.426/2026 (Official Gazette no. 792 of 18 September 2026)
• MIPE – PDDTJ news

Information checked on 27 September 2026. Conditions may be amended by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.