The aim of implementing the Development Agency of Serbia’s Program of Support to the Manufacturing Industry’s Sectors is improving the business environment and enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs in the manufacturing four sectors: the machinery and equipment industry, the food industry, the wood and furniture industry and the rubber and plastics industry, as the first step in implementing the set strategic objectives and activities. 

Eligible to apply for and use grants are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises engaged primarily in the activities of production, processing or providing service in the processing industry (the machinery and equipment industry, the food industry, the wood and furniture industry and the rubber and plastics industry); that they are in the majority private ownership; that, at the moment of applying, they have been registered with the APR of the Republic of Serbia for at least two years; that they achieved positive business results in the previous year; that they keep books in accordance with the system of double-entry bookkeeping; that they settled tax liabilities  and contributions; that the measure of being prohibited  from undertaking activities was not pronounced  to them over the last two years;  that they did not use the incentives originating from the Budget Serbia for the same purpose in the previous year; that they are not in difficulty regarding the definition contained in the Regulation on the Rules for Receiving State Financial Assistance.

Only the project activities started upon the issuing of the public call shall be co-funded by the program.

Grants are intended for the regulation of business operations in accordance with the requirements of international standards of operation (implementation of the standards with a certificate, certification, re-certification and inspection); reconciliation of products with technical regulations and standards; improvement of the existing and development of new products; new products and packaging design; procurement and use of the specialized software; preparation of  feasibility studies for the automation of work processes through the use of ICT and smart production systems; preparation of a study on the impact of the assessment of new business processes on the environment; preparation of technical documentation for the expansion of production capacities; individual appearances at international fairs abroad.

The applicant may submit one application for participating in the Program.

The available resources are granted to individual users for each project activity as the co-financing of up to 50% of justifiable costs without VAT. The maximum amount of approved funds is 2,000,000 dinars. The total budget of the program amounts to 44,737,500 dinars.

The deadline for completing the contracted activities and receiving payments within the approved project is 12 months from the date of signing the contract with the Development Agency of Serbia.

The instructions for implementing the Program and all the accompanying forms are available on www.ras.gov.rs, while for further information, please send an e-mail to 4sektora@ras.gov.rs

Source: Development agency of Serbia and Coordination Body