PoCIDIF 1.3.2: €13.35 million for RDI specialists brought in from abroad, deadline 30 Sept.

The PoCIDIF call for Measure 1.3.2, "Attracting personnel with advanced skills from abroad to create centres of excellence", closes on 30 September 2026. That means only three days are left. The total budget is EUR 13,351,703 from the ERDF, and SMEs, including micro-enterprises, and research organisations in the national RDI system can take part in the call. Funding applications are submitted in MySMIS2021, and the exact cut-off time must be checked in the platform.

In brief

• Programme: Smart Growth, Digitalisation and Financial Instruments Programme 2021-2027 (PoCIDIF), Priority 1, Action 1.3, Measure 1.3.2
• Authority: the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, through the PoCIDIF Managing Authority (AM PoCIDIF). The state aid scheme is administered by the National Research Authority, as the Intermediate Body for Research.
• Beneficiaries: SMEs, including micro-enterprises, and research organisations classified under Articles 7 and 8 of OG 57/2002
• Total budget: EUR 13,351,703 (ERDF), split into two calls: one for more developed regions and one for less developed regions
• Intensity: up to 100% for research organisations, whether public or private law, except those whose economic activity exceeds 20% of their total activity
• Submission period: 31 July 2026, 10:00 – 30 September 2026
• Status: competitive call with a fixed submission deadline, open until 30 September 2026. The deadline is less than 7 days away.

What does the call fund?

The measure supports organisations in Romania that want to bring in specialists with advanced skills from abroad. Centres of excellence in research, development and innovation are to be built around these specialists. The call is part of Action 1.3, which aims to integrate the national RDI ecosystem into the European Research Area.

The guide was approved by MIPE Order no. 1190/23.07.2026. Before that, it went through public consultation between 29 April and 20 May 2026. The aid is granted under the state aid scheme for RDI approved by MIPE Order no. 3284/2023 and the de minimis scheme approved by MIPE Order no. 605/2024. For de minimis aid, the ceiling is EUR 300,000 per single undertaking over any period of 3 years.

Who can apply?

• SMEs, including micro-enterprises, that meet the definition in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC. Undertakings in difficulty cannot apply.
• Research organisations in the national research and development system, under Articles 7 and 8 of OG 57/2002. They may be public or private law bodies.

The minimum and maximum value of a project does not appear on the MIPE pages consulted. The ceilings and aid intensity for SMEs are set in the applicant's guide, in sections 3.4 "Co-financing rate" and 5.5 "Amount of co-financing granted", and must be checked there.

What changed after the launch?

On 26 August 2026, AM PoCIDIF issued a clarification note on the co-financing rate. In section 3.4, the guide provided for funding of up to 100% only for "public law research organisations". The note states that the phrase "public law" was a clerical error. The rule of up to 100% applies to all research organisations, public or private. The exception is research organisations whose economic activity exceeds 20% of their total activity. The note specifies that this is a clarification, not a substantive change to the conditions.

What obligations arise after funding?

• The core activity must account for at least 50% of the project's eligible budget and be directly linked to its objectives.
• The lasting nature of the investment must be maintained for 3 years for undertakings and 5 years for research organisations, from the final payment.
• Research organisations that also carry out economic activities must account for them separately.
• The project must comply with the DNSH principle and the horizontal principles set out in the guide.

What this means for your business

Our recommendation: with three days left before the deadline, submitting is realistic only if you already have the specialist identified and their written agreement, a budget based on the categories in the guide, and a working MySMIS2021 account with a valid electronic signature. An RDI project written from scratch in a few days has little chance of passing the quality threshold.

If you are not ready, use this call as practice for a possible future call window:

• identify the specialist now, and the smart specialisation area in SNCISI 2022-2027 that the project falls under;
• check whether the company qualifies as an SME and whether it still has room under the EUR 300,000 de minimis ceiling;
• if you work with a research organisation, clarify access to the results from the outset. The guide prohibits preferential access for the undertakings that control it.

MIPE has not officially announced a next call window for this measure. Follow the PoCIDIF calendar of calls. If you do not know which programme your company fits, start with the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

Until when can projects be submitted under PoCIDIF 1.3.2?

Projects are submitted in MySMIS2021 until 30 September 2026. Submission opened on 31 July 2026 at 10:00. The exact cut-off time must be checked in the platform, and after closure applications are no longer accepted.

Can a micro-enterprise apply?

Yes. The guide lists SMEs, including micro-enterprises, among the eligible applicants, provided they meet the SME definition and the other eligibility conditions, such as not being undertakings in difficulty.

Do private research organisations receive 100%?

Yes, according to the AM PoCIDIF note of 26 August 2026. Funding of up to 100% applies to research organisations regardless of legal status, except those whose economic activity exceeds 20% of their total activity.

What is the call budget?

The total budget is EUR 13,351,703 from the European Regional Development Fund. It is split into two calls, one for more developed regions and one for less developed regions.

Will there be a new call window?

As of 26 September 2026, no next call window has been officially announced for Measure 1.3.2. MIPE will publish the information on the PoCIDIF programme page.

Official sources

• MIPE – Applicant's guide, Action 1.3, Measure 1.3.2
• MIPE – Announcement of the launch of the PoCIDIF 1.3.2 calls
• AM PoCIDIF note of 26.08.2026 on the co-financing rate for research organisations
• MIPE Order no. 1190/23.07.2026 approving the guide
• Applicant's guide, Measure 1.3.2 (archive)

Information checked on 26 September 2026. Conditions may be amended by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.