North Macedonia’s Innovation Agency is launching a €25 million support scheme to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) invest in green transition, improve competitiveness and expand their operations. Running from 2026 to 2030 under the European Greening Business Facility project, the programme aims to support 300 companies, mobilise €8 million in private co-financing and create 700 new jobs, according to Macedonian Information Agency (MIA).
The programme will focus on manufacturing companies and distribute funding through several application rounds, with grants ranging from €5,000 for standards and certification to €300,000 for larger green investments.
The first public call is expected to open soon and will support companies seeking to implement international and ISO standards and obtain relevant certifications. Eligible businesses will be able to receive grants of up to €5,000, with a minimum own contribution of 20% of the project cost.
Further calls will cover smaller green investments, with grants of up to €30,000, and larger investments, with support reaching €300,000. Both categories will require companies to contribute at least 50% of the total investment cost.
The phased approach will allow the programme to address different investment needs, from improving business processes and meeting international standards to financing larger-scale green upgrades.
Applications will be submitted exclusively through North Macedonia’s government services portal, uslugi.gov.mk. Paper applications and in-person document submissions will not be accepted.
Minister of Digital Transformation Stefan Andonovski said the evaluation process would be strict and rigorous to ensure impartiality and prevent subjective influence. The announcement follows a several-month pause in innovation project financing, during which previous procedures were reviewed amid suspicions of corruption and related criminal charges.
Companies interested in applying have been encouraged to begin preparing project proposals and supporting documentation ahead of the first call. Innovation and digital hubs, including Inova and DigitMak, may provide assistance during the preparation process.
The scheme provides an opportunity for manufacturers to finance improvements that may otherwise be delayed by investment costs. Depending on the grant category, businesses can access funding for certification, standards implementation and larger green investments, although substantial co-financing will be required for the higher-value grants.
For companies considering an application, the immediate priority is to identify eligible investments, prepare project documentation and assess their ability to meet the required own-contribution thresholds.
The programme’s impact will depend on the terms of the individual calls, the quality of selected projects and the extent to which the funding translates into measurable improvements in resource efficiency, competitiveness and employment. The first call will be an important step in determining how quickly the scheme moves from its announced funding targets to investment on the ground.
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