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Special Programs

for SMEs

  • Find out more about how you can access funds through the Invest Eu,
    Start-up Nation and Woman Antrepreneur programs

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Start-up Nation 2024 – UniCredit Bank supports you to turn your idea into a business

UniCredit Bank continues to be an official partner in the implementation of one of the most important support programs for entrepreneurs at the beginning of their journey.

If you dream of starting your own business, now is the time to act: you can get a grant of up to 250,000 lei to turn your idea into a real business

What is Start-up nation 2024

It is a program run by the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT), being financed through the Education and Employment Program 2021 – 2027.  Its purpose is to support young people and other categories of people who want to become entrepreneurs, offering them de minimis aid for the establishment and development of new small and medium-sized enterprises.

Now in its fourth edition, the program includes two main lines of funding:

  • Pillar I – dedicated to young people between 18 and 30 years old at the time of enrollment in the electronic application related to the program*, from all over the country, including Bucharest-Ilfov

    * At least 10% of the individuals supported for participation in the professional training module will be people belonging to the Roma minority

  • Pillar II – dedicated to young people between 30 and 35 years old at the time of registration in the electronic application related to the program, the unemployed, the long-term unemployed, people looking for a job, those who are inactive or those who are part of disadvantaged groups on the labor market, from all over the country, except Bucharest-Ilfov

The activation of the two pillars is done through the Professional Training Module 

The entrepreneurial training module is mandatory for all applicants for the non-reimbursable financial allowance.

They will complete at least 40 hours of interactive courses held by professional training providers contracted by MEDAT, in which they will learn:

  • How to Develop a Viable Business Plan
  • How to manage a start-up's budget and cash flow
  • What steps are needed to develop a sustainable strategy
  • What financial instruments can I use for business growth

At the end of the module, they will receive a recognized diploma and will be able to apply for a non-reimbursable financing through a newly established company.

How UniCredit Bank supports you

As a partner bank in the Start-up Nation 2024 Program, UniCredit Bank helps you focus on the development of your business, offering you dedicated solutions:

  • Opening a current account dedicated to the Start-up Nation Program – simple and fast, for managing project funds
  • Bridge loan: financial support to cover the expenses related to the project until the collection of non-reimbursable funds
  • Co-financing loan – support for covering own contribution of at least 10% of the value of the eligible expenses of the project
  • Financial advice – personalized support in choosing the right banking products for your business
  • Packages specially designed for start-ups – current accounts, payment solutions, digital applications and business cards adapted to the needs of beginner entrepreneurs
  • Assistance in the development of the project – information and guidance for the correct management of the financing
What expenses you can make
  • Only new goods are eligible
  • Value Added Tax (VAT)

         -  non-deductible for non-VAT applicants

  • Technological equipment, tangible assets in the category of fixed assets, fixed assets for playgrounds, sports halls, fitness, drones, x-body and force are also assimilated

          -  mechanical, electric, electronic gambling, pool tables, musical vending machines are exempted

  • Specific equipment/technologies/solutions/systems that generate renewable energy to carry out the activity for which they apply for funding. Examples: photovoltaic, wind and mini-wind panel systems, solar thermal installations, hydroelectric power plants and mini-power plants, geo-thermal installations and/or heat pumps using geo-thermal energy
  • Acquisition of digital equipment/technologies/solutions/systems/applications with an impact on resource saving. Examples: high-efficiency industrial boilers, heat pumps other than those using geo-thermal energy, ventilation systems, heating/cooling systems, industrial burners, industrial heat exchangers, uninterruptible UPS power sources, gas condensing boilers/boilers, cogeneration and trigeneration systems, utility metering and monitoring systems; Technologies/equipment/systems/solutions/services, etc. for waste collection, recycling, reuse are also eligible for this category. Examples: separate waste collection and recycling equipment, separators, waste balers, fixed or mobile shredders, composting or biodrying stations, sorting and/or mechanical/automatic waste treatment stations, integrated systems for the production of alternative fuels from waste, recycling systems
  • Expenses for the establishment of the company in the amount of maximum 1000 lei

           - This expense can be made before signing the contract for granting the non-reimbursable financing aid

  • Purchase of furniture, office equipment and systems for the protection of human and material values;
  • Salaries, utilities, accounting services and expenses related to rents for production spaces;
  • Activity presentation site, online store, domain registration expenses, website promotion expenses, software/softs necessary for carrying out the activity, electronic signature, IT equipment, PC type computing technique, central unit, server, monitor, printer/copier/multifunctional, including portable systems, licenses necessary for carrying out the activity, smart phones, tablets; 

           - The expenditure with electronic signature is eligible even before the signing of the financing agreement

  • Consultancy for the preparation of the documentation in order to obtain funding under the Program and for the implementation of the project, in an eligible amount of maximum 10,000 lei

          -  It can be carried out before the signing of the contract for granting the non-reimbursable financing aid

  • Two mandatory information plates for granting the non-reimbursable financing aid;
  • Financial expenses related to the loans/guarantees obtained for the contracted loans;
  • Means of transport, cars, buses, minibuses, bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, karts, UTVs, ATVs, caravans with or without engines, trailers and semi-trailers, platforms, isotherms and refrigerants, floating docks, passenger boats, pleasure boats, flying machines, vans and special purpose vehicles
The steps you need to follow
  1. Complete the entrepreneurial training module within the program
  2. Set up the company and develop the business plan
  3. Submit the financing application online within the period set by the authorities
  4.  After the approval of the project, you will download the contract for granting the non-reimbursable financing aid from the computer application in which you have registered, you will sign it with an electronic signature, you will reload it signed and you will send it in the application together with the proof of co-financing (bank account statement, letter of approval of the loan or credit agreement), within a maximum of 20 days from the date of receipt of the decision on admission to financing,  under penalty of rejection of funding
  5. You can apply for a bridge loan from the bank if you need money to cover the project expenses that you will reimburse from the non-reimbursable financing aid when you collect it. If you don't have enough funds for your own contribution to the project, you can also apply for an investment loan for co-financing.
  6. You will open a separate current account with the bank, which you will use exclusively for the implementation of the Program during its running period. MEDAT through the Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises and Tourism (AIMMT) can transfer immediately after contracting, to the account dedicated to this Program, a maximum percentage of 50% of the grant value, which can be used in proportion to the credit granted/own sources for financing each expense contracted with MEDAT.
  7. Within a maximum of 12 months from the moment of entry into force of the contract for granting the non-reimbursable financing aid, but no later than 18.09.2026, you will incur all the expenses and submit to MEDAT through the application, the reimbursement request together with the supporting documents
  8. The eligible expenses incurred will be certified by the on-site or online visit by the representatives of the bank or AIMMT/MEDAT.
  9. After carrying out the certifications and sending the certification report by the bank, MEDAT checks the documents, approves them and sends the bank the agreement to transfer the money to your account.

Transform your business with SME Eco-Tech program

Financing for digitalization and green transition of SMEs in the manufacturing industry

At UniCredit Bank we believe in sustainable business and in the power of technology to change the future.

That is why we are partners of the SME Eco-Tech Program launched by the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT), with the support of the Swiss contribution for Romania.

Through this program, small and medium-sized enterprises in the manufacturing industry can access an advantageous combination of investment credit and non-reimbursable grant, for investment projects that support the green and digital transformation of businesses.

What the program offers you

  • Investment loan through UniCredit Bank – covers at least 60% of the eligible expenses of the investment project, but not less than 400,860 lei

  • Non-reimbursable financial allowance – up to 40% of the eligible expenses of the investment project, but not more than 267,240 lei 

  • Minimum mandatory value of the investment project: 668,100 lei
  • Simple mechanism: "first come – first served", based on online registration
What types of expenses are eligible
  • specific equipment/technologies/solutions/systems that generate renewable energy to carry out the activity for which they apply for funding. 

-  Examples: photovoltaic, wind and mini-wind panel systems, solar thermal installations, hydroelectric power plants and mini-power plants, geothermal installations and/or heat pumps using geothermal energy

  • technologies/equipment/systems/solutions/services, etc. for collection, recycling, reuse of waste. 

- Examples: separate waste collection and recycling equipment, separators, waste balers, fixed or mobile shredders, composting or bio-drying stations, sorting and/or mechanical/automatic waste treatment stations, integrated systems for the production of alternative fuels from waste, recycling systems

  • digital equipment/technologies/solutions/systems/applications with an impact on saving resources. 

-  Examples: high-efficiency industrial boilers, heat pumps other than those using geo-thermal energy, ventilation systems, heating/cooling systems, industrial burners, industrial heat exchangers, uninterruptible UPS power supplies, gas condensing boilers/boilers, cogeneration and trigeneration systems, utility metering and monitoring systems

  • Digital package that can contain:

- activity presentation site or online store, domain registration expenses without hosting, expenses for promoting the website/online store, software necessary for carrying out the activity in the maximum amount of 15,000 lei without VAT, electronic signature, IT equipment computer technology type PC, consisting of: central unit, server, monitor, printer/copier/multifunction, including portable systems, licenses necessary to carry out the activity,  smartphones, tablets

  • Other conventional technological equipment tangible assets and fixed assets 

- mechanical, electric, electronic gambling, pool tables, musical vending machines are exempted

  • two mandatory information plates for the granting of the non-reimbursable grant

 

Steps to access non-reimbursable financing with UniCredit Bank support
  1. Check the eligibility of your company with all the requirements of the Program and make sure that the main activity falls within one of the divisions of the manufacturing industry listed in the Program
  2. Prepare the investment project and submit the online registration form within the period established by the authority, in which you will choose UniCredit Bank as the partner bank
  3. Based on the acceptance notification in principle, contact UniCredit Bank to apply for the investment loan
  4. We evaluate your loan application within 30 working days from the submission of the complete documentation related to the loan application and we will upload to the electronic platform either the loan agreement, in case of approval, or the rejection decision, in case you are not eligible for financing according to the Bank's internal rules
  5. You electronically sign the financing agreement with MEDAT, you open a separate current account for the management of the expenses related to your investment project, and we will support you in the implementation once MEDAT will transfer the grant
  6. We will make payments from the special account opened, in one or more installments, as the case may be, but without exceeding the period of completion of the investment project
  7. Do not forget that you have a maximum of 12 calendar months from the date of entry into force of the financing agreement to carry out the eligible expenses
  8. Within 7 working days from the last payment, you must upload the supporting documents related to the payments made into the computer application. Within the same period, we will upload the account statement, the payment orders and the report of the payments made to the application.

UniCredit launched the "UniCredit for CEE" initiative - an umbrella framework that offers concrete financing solutions, financial advice and account management, dedicated to supporting micro, small and medium enterprises in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

In Romania, we offer fast and advantageous solutions through the InvestEU, Recovery and Resilience Programs (RRF) - SME Competitiveness and Sustainability.

If you want to grow your business, UniCredit Bank now offers you guaranteed loans to develop and access new opportunities. Through the InvestEU programs and the Recovery and Resilience Program (RRF) - SME Competitiveness and Sustainability, you can benefit from advantageous financing, whether you need working capital or want to invest in the long term.

The InvestEU guarantee instrument

Through InvestEU, UniCredit Bank offers you working capital loans (revolving and non-revolving), and  also financing for investments, all supported by advantageous guarantees.

Find out how you can get the financing to take your business to the next level, on each component of the program!

Sustainability:

Financing up to EUR 7.5 million per transaction*.

Guarantee between 30% and 80%, with a maturity period between 12 and 48 months for revolving working capital and up to 144 months for investments.

Guarantee fee: 0.2% per year, paid quarterly.

*represents the maximum exposure of the beneficiary with FEI guarantees under the InvestEU Umbrella/ under the RRF, with the exception of Small Mid Cap clients. In the case of Small Mid Cap clients, the amount of EUR 7,500,000 represents the maximum exposure of loans with guarantees from the InvestEU Umbrella + RRF, as well as any financial aid obtained by the beneficiary from the InvestEU Fund, according to the declaration on his own responsibility (Financing Application)

Skills & Education:

Similar financing, with a guarantee of up to 70% and the same maturity conditions (12-48 months for revolving working capital and up to 144 months for investments).

Guarantee fee: 0%.

Innovation & Digitalisation:

Up to EUR 7.5 million per transaction.*

Guarantee between 30% and 80%, on a maturity of 12-48 months for revolving working capital and up to 144 months for investments.

Guarantee fee: 0.75% per year.

Cultural & Creative Setor:

Financing and guarantees similar to those in innovation and digitization.

Guarantee fee: 0.75% per year.

Benefit for your business: Reduction of the interest margin for transactions guaranteed by InvestEU, which means that you will obtain the necessary financing at a lower cost and with flexible terms. If you want to develop your business, this is the perfect opportunity!

Recovery and Resilience Program (RRF) - SME Competitiveness and Sustainability

Through the Recovery and Resilience Program, UniCredit Bank helps you access working capital loans (revolving and non-revolving), supported by EIF guarantees. If you want to grow your business and become more competitive, this program offers you the perfect solution!

 

Through this program, we offer working capital loans (revolving and non-revolving) for competitiveness projects and credit facilities for working capital investments (revolving and non-revolving) for sustainability projects.

The program is available until 13/12/2026, thus providing an extended period to access funding.

The guarantees cover between 30% and 70% of the loan value (50% for the Bucharest-Ilfov region) for which a guarantee percentage fee of 0.75% per year is applied, on the difference between the standard rate and the one granted within the program

The benefit for the client: The reduction of the interest margin, applied to the difference between the standard margin and the guaranteed one, allowing access to financing with much more advantageous conditions than the standard ones UniCredit remains a reliable partner for SMEs in Romania, offering customized solutions and support for the sustainable and competitive development of small and medium-sized businesses.

 

European Investment Bank Guarantees for Large Enterprises

These guarantees are under the State Aid and De Minimis Scheme to facilitate companies' access to financing through guarantee instruments from the Fund of Funds for Digitalization, Climate Action and other areas of interest. Information about the Guarantees Program financed by the National Recovery and Resilience Program can be found in the presentation which can be accessed here.

Do you want to develop your business? UniCredit Bank is with you!

Depending on the sector in which you operate, UniCredit Bank now offers you financing solutions adapted to your needs. If you want to grow your business, we offer loans with EIF guarantee for working capital or investments so that you can fulfill your plans.

Contact us and learn more about how you can get the right financing for your business. Let's build your success together!

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