SME Eco-Tech: rejected firms can submit a second application, grant of up to 267,240 lei

The Ministry of Economy has amended the procedure of the SME Eco-Tech programme: firms whose application was rejected can submit a new application in the same call window, and funding can also be requested for activities carried out under secondary CAEN codes. The amendment was published in Monitorul Oficial No. 906 of 30 October 2026, and applications remain open until 30 December 2026, 20:00.

In brief

• Programme: SME Eco-Tech, green and digital transformation of SMEs, funded from the second Swiss contribution to Romania
• Authority: Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT)
• Beneficiaries: micro-enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises in production, trade and services
• Total budget: 288.84 million lei (54 million Swiss francs)
• Support: a grant of up to 40% of eligible costs, capped at 267,240 lei, plus at least 60% as an investment loan from a partner bank (not less than 400,860 lei)
• Submission period: until 30 December 2026, 20:00, exclusively online at sme-ecotech.gov.ro
• Status: open, on a “first come, first served” basis

What has changed?

There are two changes. The first is the “second chance”: a firm that was initially rejected can submit a new application in the same call window. According to the ministry, the new application will also be assessed on a “first come, first served” basis, will go through the same procedural stages and will receive a new position in the list of applications, with assessment carried out within the remaining budget.

The second change: funding can also be requested for activities under secondary CAEN codes, provided the seniority criterion set by the programme is met. The announcement does not detail this criterion, so it must be checked in the procedure currently in force.

Who can apply?

The programme is aimed at micro-enterprises and SMEs in production, trade and services, except for the fields excluded by European and national legislation on de minimis aid. The application is submitted exclusively online, on the sme-ecotech.gov.ro platform. The financing bank is chosen from the partner banks: Banca Transilvania, BRD, CEC Bank, ProCredit Bank and UniCredit Bank.

How does the funding work?

The support is mixed. The non-refundable grants cover no more than 40% of eligible costs and cannot exceed 267,240 lei. The remainder, at least 60%, is an investment loan from the partner bank, of at least 400,860 lei. Allocation follows the order of submission, so an exhausted budget may close the programme before the deadline.

What this means for your business

Recommendation: if you were rejected, do not submit a second application without finding out the reason for the rejection. If the reason was the CAEN code of the investment activity, the new rule may solve your problem. If it was missing documents or the loan, repeating the same application will not help.

Recommendation: a second application receives a new position in the queue, so you lose the priority from your first submission. Prepare the complete file and obtain the bank's loan commitment in good time; do not wait for the last days of December.

Recommendation: if your main activity was not eligible, but you have an eligible secondary activity that has been registered for long enough, reassess your eligibility. Check the seniority criterion with a consultant before submitting. You can do a quick check with the eligibility check; you will find details about the programme on the SME Eco-Tech page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I submit a second application if I was rejected?

Yes. According to the MEDAT announcement of 30 October 2026, rejected firms can submit a new application in the same call window. It receives a new position in the list of applications and is assessed within the remaining budget.

Can I request funding for a secondary CAEN code?

Yes, provided the seniority criterion set by the programme is met. The exact seniority required must be checked in the implementation procedure currently in force.

Until when can I submit the application?

Until 30 December 2026, 20:00, exclusively online, at sme-ecotech.gov.ro. If the budget is exhausted earlier, submission may be closed.

How much do I receive as a grant?

Up to 40% of eligible costs, but no more than 267,240 lei. At least 60% must be secured through a loan from a partner bank.

Official sources

• MEDAT – SME Eco-Tech: rejected firms can submit a new application, and funding can also be requested for secondary CAEN codes
• MEDAT – SME Eco-Tech programme
• MEDAT – SME Eco-Tech category

Information checked on 30 October 2026. Conditions may be changed by the managing authority — check the guide in force before you submit.