Call window open NW Regional Programme (PR Nord-Vest) — projects in STEP fields: digital, clean and biotechnologies (call PRNV/2026/961/1)
Call PRNV/2026/961/1 has €30.67 million for companies in the North-West Region that research, develop or manufacture STEP technologies. The project must include investment in production. Applications must be submitted in MySMIS by 2 November 2026, 10:00.
- Who can apply
- Companies established under Law No
- Total budget
- €30,671,462.98 (ERDF + state budget), the call allocation
- Submission period
- 28 August 2026, 10:00 – 2 November 2026, 10:00
Checked against official sources on · funder: North-West Regional Development Agency · official source
The call window is open. The time left until the deadline decides whether we can still build your application in time, so call today.
Who can apply
Companies established under Law no. 31/1990, with their registered office in the North-West Region (Bihor, Bistrița-Năsăud, Cluj, Maramureș, Satu Mare, Sălaj), registered no later than the first payment of the aid. Complementary STEP productive activities (Priority 1, SO 1.3) are funded for SMEs only.
What it covers
- Industrial research and experimental development (Article 25 GBER), from TRL 3 to TRL 8: own staff, contracted research, research and development infrastructure, preparatory feasibility study
- Creating, expanding, modernising or equipping production infrastructure for STEP technologies (P9, SO 1.6, Article 14 GBER). This is a mandatory activity in every project.
- Complementary STEP productive activities, for SMEs only (P1, SO 1.3, Article 14 GBER)
- Innovation for SMEs (Article 28 GBER): patents, secondment of highly qualified personnel, innovation consultancy and support services
- Energy (Article 41 GBER): renewable energy installations, storage (at least 75% of the energy stored annually must come from the directly connected renewable installation), biofuels, renewable hydrogen, high-efficiency cogeneration
- De minimis aid (EU Reg. 2023/2831): design, consultancy, information and publicity (the latter capped at 15,000 lei excluding VAT)
Apply in the current call window
- We analyse whether you qualify and under which programme exactly.
- We build the application: business plan, budget, supporting documents.
- We submit during the call window and follow the evaluation.
- We stay with you through the reimbursement file and final payment.
Frequently asked questions
Until when can applications be submitted for STEP call 961 in the North-West Region?
Applications are submitted in MySMIS 2021/2021+ by 2 November 2026, 10:00. The original deadline was 12 October 2026. Corrigendum no. 2 extended it in response to requests for an extension.
What is the budget of call PRNV/2026/961/1?
The call allocation is 30,671,462.98 euro (ERDF + state budget), according to the launch announcement of 28 August 2026. The money comes from Priority 9, SO 1.6 (100% ERDF) and from Priority 1, SO 1.3 (85% ERDF and 15% state budget).
Who can apply to the North-West STEP call?
Companies established under Law no. 31/1990 with their registered office in the North-West Region (Bihor, Bistrița-Năsăud, Cluj, Maramureș, Satu Mare, Sălaj), registered no later than the first payment, may apply. Complementary productive activities funded from P1, SO 1.3 are for SMEs only.
Is an investment in production mandatory?
Yes. Every project must include the creation, expansion, modernisation or equipping of production infrastructure for STEP technologies, funded as regional state aid (Article 14 GBER). Research, innovation and energy can be added to this component.
What technology readiness level (TRL) is required?
Research and development activities start from a minimum of TRL 3, and their outcome may reach TRL 8 at most.
Which documents should be used for submission?
Use the consolidated archive "Ghidul-Solicitantului-961_CORRIGENDUM2_ERATA_16.10.2026", published on regionordvest.ro. It includes the changes from Corrigendum no. 2 (including the financial template with the corrected InforEuro rate and the Single Declaration) and the corrections from Erratum no. 1.
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
Apply in the current call window — PR North-West — projects in STEP areas: digital, clean technologies and biotechnologies (call PRNV/2026/961/1)
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
North-East Regional Programme 2021-2027 — Investments for the modernisation of micro-enterprises, Call 2 (PR/NE/2026/P1/RSO1.3/2/1)
De minimis grants of 100,000–300,000 EUR for micro-enterprises in the North-East region. Funding covers production or service capacity, new technologies and automation, marketing and branding, and digitalisation. Budget: 20.37 million EUR. Submit in MySMIS2021 by 28 October 2026, 14:00.
Call window closedPR Bucharest-Ilfov – technological modernisation of micro-enterprises (call PR BI P1/1.8/1/2025)
Grants of 25,000–300,000 euro (maximum 90%, de minimis) for micro-enterprises in urban Bucharest-Ilfov: equipment, technologies, software and production premises. The call closed on 17 February 2025 and no new call window has been announced.
Call window openPR South-West Oltenia 2021-2027 – Support for the development of strategic technologies (STEP)
Competitive call under PR South-West Oltenia (Priority 9, STEP), open until 18 January 2027, 12:00: grants of €500,000–10,000,000 for SMEs, large companies and research organisations in Oltenia. Budget: €27,631,500 from the ERDF.