RRF loans for digital transformation

Based on 2 parameters

The final percentage of the investment plan that will be financed through a loan from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) depends on:

1. The percentage of expenditures in every investment category.
2. Whether it falls within 1 or more investment categories.

Up to 50% from the RRF

Digital transformation must be financed:

• 50% maximum through an RRF loan
• 30% minimum through a co-financing loan
• 20% minimum through investor own funds

With personal guarantees or collateral

The RRF loan may be secured with assets and/or guarantees, in line with our lending policy.

The same collateral is also used for the co-financing loan, according to the pari passu principle.

Lump-sum or multiple disbursements

The RRF loan and the co-financing loan may be disbursed in a lump sum or in multiple disbursements, depending on the progress of the eligible investment.

Minimum interest rate depending on business size

The minimum interest rate of the RRF loan is determined by ministerial decision:

• 0.35% for small and micro businesses
• 1% for medium-sized and large businesses

Due to the low interest rate of the RRF loans, the total interest for financing is very competitive.

From 3 to 15 years

The RFF loan term is 3 to 15 years, depending on the nature of the investment and our lending policy.

In case you are interested in project finance, the loan term may go up to 20 years from 1st disbursement. 

Up to 5 years grace period

You may get up to 3 years grace period to repay the RRF loan and the co-financing loan.

The grace period may be extended by up to 5 years, if the eligible expenditures take up more time.

5 categories of investments

The digital transformation projects fall within 5 categories of investments:

• Digitalisation of services provided
• Digital infrastructure and databases
• Clusters
• Digital communication hubs and open digital solutions
• Digitisation of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Examples of eligible investments

The eligible investments must exclusively be private. For example, they may pertain to:

• Sale of products and services through digital media addressed to the domestic and foreign market.
• Use of online promotional systems and media (e.g. ads on search engines, social media platforms).
• Integration of emerging technologies for automated processes (e.g. Internet of Things, robotics and automation, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, prognostic maintenance).
• High-performance computing capabilities (construction and/or use of data centre to store big data).
• Use of portable devices for wireless connection to the internet.
• Development / purchase, configuration and use of software for ERP, MRP, DFRP, BPM, DMS, HRMS, performance management, asset management, project management, knowledge management and intranet portals, training, office automation, GDPR.
• 5G coverage.
• Supply and use of systems / infrastructures (including training expenses) for e-invoicing, e-bookkeeping, e-payments, creation of e-shop, e-commerce during banking transactions, cyber security, teleworking, digital office (e.g. document and project management etc.), interconnection with suppliers / clients, data analysis.
• Expenses for digital tools to optimise the customer experience (e.g. CRM, digital marketing, task automation, e-shops, omni channel solutions, customer care, content and self-care, CX, strategy design and implementation, customer journeys, UX audits, usability testing, SEO services, CRO services, content strategy) and to assist in decision-making (e.g. business analytics, business intelligence, big data analytics).

Eligible expenditures

• Purchase, use (depreciation / leasing) and landscaping of land plots
• Purchase / construction and use of buildings (depreciation / leasing)
• Purchase / construction and use of equipment (depreciation / leasing)
• Purchase and use of vehicles (depreciation / leasing)
• Purchase / construction and use of intangible assets (amortisation / subscriptions)
• Payroll linked to the investment plan
• Travel / expense report
• Third-party services
• Consumables
• Operating expenses (communication, energy, maintenance, lease payments, administrative expenses, insurance etc.)
• Cost of capital
• Working capital (operating expenses, costs linked to the company’s transaction cycle, VAT, etc.)
• Marketing and communication expenses

Have a look at the restrictions on eligible expenditures.