Innovation Guarantee Fund

• We provide long-term financing from €25,000 to €400,000, to upgrade your business by investing in one or more types of Innovation: i. Product Innovation, ii. Procedure Innovation, iii. Marketing Innovation, iv. Organisational Innovation, with the aim of creating/applying a new or improved product, a new process, a new marketing method, or a new or significantly improved organisational method in business practices, workplace organisation, etc.

It is not permitted to:

• Refinance/repay an existing loan or existing credit lines.
• Finance a dividend payment or share purchase plan.
• Finance acquisitions and mergers.

• The repayment period is up to 120 months, including a potential grace period between 12 and 36 months, by paying interest on the accrual date. 

• Disbursement is carried out in a lump sum or in multiple instalments within the grace period and no later than 31.12.2025. 
• The Bank will pass on to the businesses the benefit from the guarantee of the Innovation Guarantee Fund, by providing financing with particularly favourable floating rate and reduced collaterals.
• The guarantee is not subject to commission and is provided as an aid to businesses in the form of a Gross Grant Equivalent (GGE).

Loan payments

We provide flexible repayment, with monthly, 3-monthly, 6-monthly or annual instalments that pay interest and capital, or instalments that pay capital, depending on the company’s transaction-production cycle.

The business may receive a subsidy of up to 20% of the total loan amount disbursed. The subsidy is paid by HDP and decreases the outstanding capital, provided that specific criteria are met within 36 months of the first loan disbursement.

More specifically, to obtain a 15% subsidy, at least one of the following two innovation criteria must be met:

1. Expenses in research and innovation must be at least 20% of the total operating expenses, for up to 36 months from the 1st loan disbursement.
2. For start-ups that have been operating for up to 3 years, total expenses for research and innovation paid up to 36 months from the 1st disbursement must be equal to or less than 20% of the financing amount, according to the most recent certified financial statements.

 To receive an additional 5% as a subsidy, at least 3 criteria must be met simultaneously, involving at least 2 of the 3 ESG criteria categories (I, II, III):

I. Environmental Criteria:

1. Reduce the average annual energy consumption by at least 20%, documenting the reduction.
2. Increase or preserve the percentage of renewable energy used to at least 20% of the total energy consumption.

II. Social Criteria:

1. Maintain or increase the percentage of women holding high-ranking positions.
2. Increase the average annual number of employees.
3. Increase the average annual expenses for staff training.
4. Adopt a customer satisfaction policy and evaluation methodology.

III. Governance Criteria:

1. Adopt a corporate government policy.
2. Adopt a data and/or personal data security policy.

The subsidy is calculated upon approval of the financing application and taken into account in the Gross Grant Equivalent (GGE) of the financing.

The Programme is available until 31.12.2025, unless the Programme funds are used up before that time.

According to the Action planning, businesses submit an application to the State Aid Information System (PSKE), selecting ALPHA BANK as their financing bank of choice.

Find out all the required supporting documents.

For more information regarding the application process with the State Aid Information System (PSKE), contact the Alpha Bank Branch Network.