Romanian govt. allots EUR 430 million for Start-up Nation program

The 2018 session of the Start-up Nation program will have a budget of RON 2 billion (EUR 430 million) and will provide non-reimbursable financing worth up to RON 200,000 (EUR 43,000) to up to 10,000 local startups. The program should start by the end of May. The eligible expenses that will be covered by this state-aid scheme are equipment acquisitions, work spaces, transport means, furniture and office supplies, salaries and utilities, website creation, patents, licenses, training courses, consultancy services, as well as expenses related to loans and collateral. The program was launched last year and some 19,300 projects were submitted for financing in the first year. Of these, some 8,400 were selected and financed. Almost 1,300 Romanian start-ups get state financing in nine months editor@romania-insider.com