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.
- Who can apply
- Both active and newly established enterprises, whether SMEs or large enterprises, that make a…, can apply
- Total budget
- 759 million
- Funding amount
- Eligible costs must be at least 50 million
- Submission period
- 15 October 2026 – 25 November 2026, 17:00
Checked against official sources on · funder: Ministry of Finance · 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.
Who can apply
Both active and newly established enterprises, whether SMEs or large enterprises, can apply if they make an initial investment in Romania in one of the manufacturing sectors listed in Annex 1 to the HG. Newly established companies must have a subscribed share capital of at least 100,000 lei, and their shareholders must not have held control (over 50%) of another company in the same sector in the last 2 years. Active companies must have positive profitability and positive equity. The company must not be in difficulty, have enforcement proceedings under way, have an outstanding decision to recover state aid, or have carried out a relocation in the last 2 years.
What it covers
- Costs of the initial investment in tangible assets, excluding VAT
- Intangible assets, up to 30% of eligible costs
- Construction, up to 40% of eligible costs
- Building or expanding production capacity in the sectors listed in Annex 1 (food industry, textiles, wood and paper, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery manufacturing, the automotive industry, etc.)
We prepare your application before the window opens
- 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
What is the minimum investment for the HG 486/2026 scheme?
The project's eligible costs must be at least 50 million lei (approximately 10 million euro), excluding VAT. The amount refers to the initial investment in tangible and intangible assets. Construction may account for no more than 40%, and intangible assets for no more than 30%, of total eligible costs.
Can newly established companies apply to the scheme for products with a trade deficit?
Yes. Newly established companies can apply if they have a subscribed share capital of at least 100,000 lei. In addition, their shareholders must not have controlled more than 50% of another company in the same sector in the last 2 years.
What form does the state aid under HG 486/2026 take?
The company chooses between a grant, meaning non-refundable funds from the state budget, and a tax credit. The tax credit is granted over 7 years after the investment is completed and can be extended by 2 years if the company records losses. The chosen form cannot be changed after the funding agreement has been issued.
What is the deadline for applications in the first HG 486 call window?
Applications for a funding agreement must be submitted exclusively online, through the Ministry of Finance's Big Project 486 application, between 15 October and 25 November 2026, 17:00. Applications sent after the deadline will not be considered. 759 million lei is available for this call window.
How much must the company contribute from its own resources?
The beneficiary must cover at least 25% of eligible costs from its own resources or from external financing that contains no public aid. In addition to this contribution, the company must secure financing for the investment until the aid is received.
What obligations does the company have after funding is approved?
The company must start works worth at least 3% of the investment value within 6 months of the funding agreement being issued. The investment must be maintained for at least 5 years after completion, and the company submits audited reports certifying compliance with the conditions.
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 the call opens — State aid scheme for products with a trade deficit in the manufacturing industry (HG no. 486/2026)
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
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 openJust 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.
Call window closedJust Transition — investments for SMEs in the Jiu Valley ITI and Mureș county (relaunch)
Grants of 300,000–5,000,000 euro (Jiu Valley) or 300,000–8,000,000 euro (Mureș) for productive investments by SMEs that create jobs. The relaunched call closed on 28 February 2026; no new call window has been announced.