Action
The Action "E-retail - Subsidy of existing SMEs in the retail sector, for the development / upgrade and management of an e-shop" aims to subsidize SMEs in the retail sector for the development / upgrade and management of an electronic shop (e-shop) in order to support their operation during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, to strengthen their degree of digital integration, as well as their digital transformation and to avoid overcrowding indoors.

Grant 100%

A. BUILDING an e-shop

• Amount up to €5,000 for each business with a separate VAT number.
  Implementation period for the construction of the e-shop: 6 MONTHS after approval

B. UPGRADE e-shop

• An amount of €1,500 for each business with a separate VAT number.
  For upgrading, the purchase of hardware such as computers, laptops, etc. is NOT eligible.

The program funds 100% software

• Design, development / upgrade and management services of the e-shop – it will work in 2 languages, as well as in a mobile device environment – mobile responsive or dedicated mobile version and will integrate functions of ordering (basket), warehouse (quantity of items) and secure electronic payments (redirect to a banking environment).
• Eligible expenditure is also the purchase of software in the form of Software as a Service (SaaS) as long as it is necessary for the operation of the e-shop. In the case of acquisition in the form of Software as a Service (SAAS), the cost for one year is eligible.
• Development and/or certification of a digital security policy.(1)

In addition, the purchase of hardware is subsidized up to 30% ONLY in the case of e-shop CONSTRUCTION:

• Servers for hosting applications - software (with keyboards, screen, etc.) and the operating system. Acquisition in the form of Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS) is also allowed for one year.
• Computers (Desktop / Laptop).
• Other technological equipment related to the creation/upgrade and operation of the e-shop (e.g. Network equipment, Bar code readers, printers, etc.). The cost of supplying tablets, mobile phones and televisions is not eligible.(2)

Beneficiaries of the Action

• Medium, small and very small businesses operating in the retail sector, maintaining a physical store and their operations have been suspended for at least one day from Wednesday 18 March 2020 onwards.

The companies are divided into:

• Existing, as long as they have been established up to 30/09/2019
• Newly incorporated, as long as they have been incorporated from 1/10/2019 to 12/2/2021 (date of announcement of the Action).

Terms and conditions
The basic conditions for the participation of businesses that submit a proposal are:

• Have RETAIL TRADE as their MAIN Activity (KAD 47 and its Analyticals, as described in Appendix X)
• Either as the MAIN Activity, at the head office or in the branch, or as the activity with the largest income.
• To maintain a Physical Retail Store, in a separate area of their home, i.e. a commercial area that welcomes and serves customers.
• The operation of the eligible activity at the company's headquarters and/or branches has been suspended for at least one (1) day from Wednesday, March 18, 2020 onwards.
• Existing businesses must have a reduction of at least 20% in their turnover during the 4th quarter of 2020 compared to the corresponding quarter of 2019. For newly established companies, the reduction will be considered 100% in their turnover.
• To meet the conditions of application of Reg. 1407/2013 (De Minimis) – Total aid of minor importance up to 200,000 within the last three years (2019, 2020, 2021).

Grant limit
Maximum aid amount for each business: €5,000, 100% subsidy.
If expenses have been incurred since March 18, 2020, they are retroactively eligible.

Invitation Budget
The total Public Funding of the call amounts to €8,000,000

Submit the application
The start of submission is 09/07/2021 at 13:00 and ends Wednesday 29/09/2021 at 15:00.

(1). Caution! The requested financing should be documented by the e-shop construction technicians.

(2). Caution! Funding requested should be documented. It is good to forward to us the technical characteristics of the equipment you intend to purchase.