HRK 76 mn grant for 20 projects within Economy Ministry programmes

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts Martina Dalic on Tuesday awarded grant agreements valued at HRK 76 million for 20 projects within 3 programmes by the ministry, with a total value of HRK 156.3 million.

Two grants of HRK 40 million for projects valued at HRK 57.8 million were awarded as part of the "Increasing the development of new products and services resulting from research and development," programme. Four projects related to the "Innovation of newly founded SMEs," received HRK 5.2 million in grants while their total value is HRK 6.1 million. Thirteen agreements related to financing projects within the "Competencies and development of SMEs," with a total value of HRK 92.4 million, and they will receive HRK 30.6 million in grants.

Speaking about the absorption of funds, Dalic told reporters that over the past few months, administrative activities have been accelerated and as a consequence, larger quantities of money arriving in the final phases has occurred and that is the phase of awarding grants which means that these projects can now actually be launched.

This year, the ministry has published calls for applications for the entire sum of 970 million euro at its disposal, she said and added that a little more than HRK 650 million has been contracted.

She in particular drew attention to two projects that relate to research and development and one that concerns innovativeness of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds Gabrijela Zalac said that it was important for Croatia's entrepreneurship and economy to encourage innovation and new enterprises and the grant agreements signed today were a key instrument to promote innovativeness in the business sector.

Text: Hina

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