The Ministry of Economy has officially launched the SME Eco-Tech program, funded by the second Swiss non-reimbursable contribution. The scheme combines a grant of up to 267,240 EUR with a mandatory bank loan, and registrations closed on July 24, 2026.
The program was launched through a conference organized on May 6, 2026, in Bucharest. The total budget is 288,843,072 EUR, the equivalent of approximately 54 million Swiss francs, of which 70% represents the contribution of the Swiss Confederation.
The financing structure is mixed, and this was, in fact, the main reason for reluctance from companies. The grant covers a maximum of 40% of the investment value, capped at 267,240 EUR. The remaining minimum of 60% must be contracted as a loan from a partner bank of the ministry. Companies without access to bank credit were, in practice, excluded.
The core condition is the orientation of the investment. At least 40% of the eligible expenses must be green or digital investments: photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, recycling equipment, digitalization solutions, IT equipment.
Romanian SMEs were eligible, with an emphasis on the manufacturing industry. Throughout the session, the ministry successively relaxed the eligibility conditions, expanding access for micro-enterprises through Ordinul 1065 (Order 1065) and removing, on August 12, 2026, another condition that was blocking many micro-firms.
These repeated adjustments had a clear cause: demand was below expectations. The platform opened on May 21, registrations began on May 26, and the deadline was extended until July 24, 2026, at 8:00 PM, on a first-come, first-served basis.
The low interest of companies in a program with 288 million EUR available says something about the financing market in Romania. The obligation to contract a bank loan for at least 60% of the investment transforms a grant program into a subsidized banking product. For many SMEs, the obstacle was not the grant, but the inability to obtain the loan.
The macroeconomic context aggravated the situation. With high interest rates and banks being cautious in evaluating SMEs in the manufacturing industry, the credit component became the real filter. The lesson for future mixed schemes is that their success depends less on the size of the grant and more on the actual availability of credit for the targeted segment.
What you need to know
- Budget: 288,843,072 EUR, approximately 54 million CHF, of which 70% is the Swiss contribution
- Financing: grant maximum 40% of the investment, capped at 267,240 EUR, plus a bank loan of at least 60%
- Key condition: at least 40% of eligible expenses must be green or digital investments
- Period: May 26 - July 24, 2026. Session closed
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