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PDDTJ Priority 8 — STEP scheme: loans with a grant for critical technologies in 6 counties

Companies in Gorj, Hunedoara, Dolj, Galați, Prahova and Mureș that invest in critical STEP technologies can take out loans of between 300,000 and 50 million euro. 70% of the loan carries zero interest, and up to 50% of the amount can be written off once the investment is completed.

Who can apply
Companies established under Law no
Total budget
260,724,758 euro, of which 188,731,176 euro is PTJ public contribution and 71,993,582 euro is the private contribution of the financial intermediaries…
Funding amount
A loan of between 300,000 and 10,000,000 euro for SMEs and between 1,500,000 and 50,000,000 euro for…
Submission period
Not yet announced; the scheme applies from its publication in the Official Gazette until 29 March 2030

Checked against official sources on · funder: Ministry of Investments and European Projects · official source

The guide has not been published yet, but good applications are built before launch. Those who start when the call window opens usually miss out on it.

I want to be ready at launch 0755 167 167
The PDDTJ STEP scheme: €260.7 million in loans with a grant element for companies in 6 counties

Who can apply

Companies established under Law No. 31/1990 can apply, whether SMEs (including micro-enterprises) or large enterprises. They must have their registered office or a working point in Gorj, Hunedoara, Dolj, Galați, Prahova or Mureș by the first payment at the latest. The investment must develop or produce critical STEP technologies: digital and deep-tech, clean technologies, biotechnologies or dual-use defence technologies. The project must create at least 2 new jobs (FTE) at SMEs and at least 15 at large enterprises.

What it covers

  • Land: maximum 10% of the public contribution, or 15% for abandoned or former industrial sites that include buildings
  • Buildings, construction works, site preparation and utilities
  • New equipment and machinery (only exclusively electric equipment is funded, not equipment running on fossil fuels)
  • Intangible assets (patents, licences, know-how, software), up to 50% of eligible costs
  • Miscellaneous and contingency costs, maximum 10%
Full analysis The PDDTJ STEP scheme: €260.7 million in loans with a grant element for companies in 6 counties Conditions, steps and pitfalls, with official sources →

We prepare your application before the window opens

  1. We analyse whether you qualify and under which programme exactly.
  2. We build the application: business plan, budget, supporting documents.
  3. We submit during the call window and follow the evaluation.
  4. We stay with you through the reimbursement file and final payment.

Frequently asked questions

Can you already submit projects under the PDDTJ STEP scheme?

No. The document published by MIPE is a draft order under public consultation. The scheme enters into force only after approval and publication in the Official Gazette. The financial intermediaries through which the loans are granted have not yet been selected, and the date from which the project sheets can be submitted has not been announced.

How much of the STEP loan can become a grant?

The draft scheme provides for a capital rebate of up to 50% of the loan amount. It is applied by reducing the principal after the investment has been completed and validated, by 30 November 2030 at the latest. Total aid cannot exceed the county's maximum intensity, between 60% and 75% depending on the county and the size of the company.

What interest is paid on the STEP scheme loan?

For the 70% of the loan coming from PDDTJ, the interest rate is 0%. For the 30% financed by the partner bank, you pay market interest, set according to the bank's rating methodology. The maximum loan term is 144 months, with a grace period of up to 36 months.

Can a company without a registered office in the six counties apply?

Yes, if it registers a working point for tax purposes in Gorj, Hunedoara, Dolj, Galați, Prahova or Mureș by the first aid payment at the latest, and the investment is made there. The jobs created must be maintained in these counties for at least 12 months.

What happens if the investment is not ready on time?

If the investment is not completed by the deadline in the contract, the company loses the grant (capital rebate). It can keep the reduced interest rate only with a well-founded justification approved by the financial intermediary and provided that the project is completed and put into operation by 31 December 2030. Otherwise, the aid is recovered in full.

How do you submit a project under the STEP scheme?

The company first submits a summary project sheet to BID and receives a preliminary answer on compliance with the PTJ and STEP objectives and on creditworthiness. It then submits the PTJ aid application to BID, with the technical documentation. Finally, it chooses a financial intermediary from the list provided by BID. The intermediary checks eligibility, calculates the aid and signs the loan contract.

How long does it take to prepare the application?

It depends on the complexity of the project and the documents you already have. The first step is the eligibility analysis, which tells you what needs to be prepared.

What happens if I do not qualify?

We tell you before any contract is signed, and if another suitable programme exists, we point you to it.

Next step

We prepare your file until it opens — PDDTJ Priority 8 — STEP scheme: loans with a grant element for critical technologies in 6 counties

Fill in the form and we will tell you whether you qualify. If you do not qualify under this programme, we will tell you which other one you could apply for — or that there is none, if that is the case.

or call us directly on 0755 167 167

Other programmes

Opening soon

State aid scheme for products with a trade deficit in the manufacturing industry (HG no. 486/2026)

State aid from the Ministry of Finance, in the form of a grant or tax credit, for SMEs and large enterprises with initial investments of at least 50 million lei in the manufacturing industry. The first call window has 759 million lei.

 Opening soon

PRO INFRA — raw materials, materials and products for transport infrastructure

State aid from the Modernisation Fund (budget of 100 million euro, up to 15 million euro per beneficiary) for companies that produce raw materials, materials and products for transport infrastructure projects. The scheme is approved, but the call has not been launched.

 Call window open

Just Transition Participation Fund (FPTJ) – a STEP financial instrument managed by the EIB

A loan in RON from EIB partner banks, with 0% interest on 70% of the amount and a grant of up to 50% (principal reduction) once the investment is completed. For new investments in strategic STEP technologies in Dolj, Gorj, Prahova, Mureș, Hunedoara and Galați.