Applications open for Feasibility Study Grants for SMEs (Malta)

Deadline: 18-Sep-2026

The Feasibility Study Grant Scheme in Malta provides non-repayable financial assistance to enterprises that want to investigate the viability, sustainability, and commercial potential of a proposed business idea or new business activity. The scheme can provide grants of up to €100,000 per undertaking, with an initial overall budget of €2 million. The programme supports research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and business development during the 2021–2027 programming period. It is aligned with Malta’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) 2021–2027 and focuses on strategic sectors including health, climate-related resource use, smart manufacturing, maritime technology, aerospace, and future digital technologies. What Is the Feasibility Study Grant Scheme? The Feasibility Study Grant Scheme is a funding programme designed to help enterprises cover part of the costs associated with conducting a feasibility study. A feasibility study is a structured assessment used to determine whether a proposed business idea, product, service, technology, or investment is technically, commercially, financially, and operationally viable. The grant allows eligible businesses to research their proposed activities before making larger investments. This can help enterprises identify opportunities, understand risks, evaluate market potential, and determine whether a project has realistic prospects for success. What Does the Scheme Aim to Achieve? The scheme has several broader economic and innovation objectives.

It aims to:

- Increase research and development (R&D) expenditure. - Strengthen research and innovation capacity among Maltese enterprises. - Encourage innovation and creativity. - Promote entrepreneurship and new business development. - Support the investigation of innovative products, services, and business models. - Help enterprises make evidence-based investment decisions. - Contribute to a more competitive and smarter Maltese economy. - Encourage innovative economic transformation. - Support regional ICT connectivity and digital development. The programme therefore focuses not only on individual feasibility studies but also on strengthening Malta’s wider research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic competitiveness ecosystem. Why It Matters Conducting a feasibility study before committing significant resources can reduce the risks associated with launching a new business idea or investing in an innovative project. A feasibility study can help an enterprise determine: - Whether there is sufficient market demand. - Whether the proposed technology or solution is technically achievable. - Whether the project can be financially sustainable. - What resources and expertise are required. - What regulatory or operational challenges may arise. - Whether the proposed investment has realistic commercial potential. - Whether the business idea should proceed, be modified, or be abandoned. Grant support can make this early-stage research more accessible, particularly for enterprises that may otherwise have difficulty financing detailed feasibility work. How Much Funding Is Available? The scheme provides non-repayable grants to eligible undertakings.

Key funding information includes:

- Maximum grant: €100,000 per undertaking.

- Initial scheme budget: €2,000,000.

- Funding type: Non-repayable grant.

- Purpose: Part-financing of eligible feasibility study activities.

- Programming period: 2021–2027.

The grant is intended to part-finance eligible feasibility study costs rather than provide unrestricted business funding. What Is a Feasibility Study? A feasibility study is an evidence-based investigation into whether a proposed project or business idea is viable. Depending on the project, the study may examine areas such as: - Market demand and customer needs. - Technical feasibility. - Business and operational requirements. - Financial viability. - Commercial opportunities. - Technology requirements. - Resource availability. - Potential risks and barriers. - Sustainability prospects. - Regulatory considerations. - Opportunities for innovation and R&D. The findings can help an enterprise decide whether to move forward with a proposed investment or business activity. Priority Areas Under Malta’s Smart Specialisation Strategy The Feasibility Study Grant Scheme is aligned with Malta’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) 2021–2027. The programme identifies several strategic areas for innovation and economic development, including: - Health and Well-being - Sustainable Use of Resources for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation - Smart Manufacturing - Marine and Maritime Technology - Aviation and Aerospace - Future Digital Technologies Enterprises developing ideas within these areas may be particularly relevant to the scheme’s innovation objectives, subject to the detailed programme eligibility and assessment requirements. Who Is Eligible? Eligible applicants are undertakings carrying out economic activity in Malta.

The scheme is open to:

- Micro enterprises. - Small enterprises. - Medium-sized enterprises. - Small mid-cap enterprises. Applicants may be eligible regardless of their specific legal form, provided they satisfy the applicable registration and legal requirements. Eligible enterprises must be registered in accordance with the applicable legislation or under the Second Schedule of the Civil Code, as specified by the scheme. Meeting the basic enterprise-size and registration requirements does not automatically guarantee funding. Applicants must also satisfy the scheme’s detailed eligibility, project, expenditure, and assessment conditions. What Types of Activities Can the Grant Support? The core purpose of the grant is to part-finance feasibility studies connected with proposed business ideas or activities. A supported study may investigate whether a proposed project is: - Technically feasible. - Commercially viable. - Financially sustainable. - Operationally achievable. - Suitable for furt