Programme for encouraging innovation in the function of energy efficiency in industry for 2026

Time until closing: 26 days, 1 hour and 49 minutes

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Status

Active

Application deadline

19. October, 2026 15:00

Minimum grant

50.000€

Maximum grant

100.000€

1 About the programme

I SUBJECT OF THE PUBLIC CALL

The subject of this Public Call is the award of grants to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (hereinafter: MSMEs) in Section C – Manufacturing, within the metal industry under the Classification of Activities (KD 2025): Divisions 24, 25 and 28, for the introduction of innovative solutions and new technologies that contribute to improving energy efficiency and/or increasing the use of available renewable energy sources by enterprises, increasing the reliability and productivity of production processes, as well as their digitalisation and automation.

II OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The main objective of the Programme is to increase energy efficiency and/or increase the use of available renewable energy sources through the introduction of innovative technologies by MSMEs in the manufacturing sector, within the metal industry divisions KD 2025: 24, 25 and 28.

The total budget allocated for the implementation of the Programme for Encouraging Innovation in the Function of Energy Efficiency in Industry for 2026 amounts to EUR 500,000.00.

Grant funding may cover eligible project activities and costs up to 80% of the total project value. The Applicant is required to secure the remaining co-financing for the project from its own resources or by arranging financing in another manner.

The results expected immediately after completion of project implementation are:

a) Introduction of new digital solutions into MSME operations that contribute to improved energy management;

b) Strengthening MSME infrastructure for improving energy efficiency or the use of renewable energy sources;

c) Improvement of employees’ specific skills related to energy management and optimisation of energy consumption; and

d) Increased involvement of MSME staff in activities aimed at improving energy efficiency and/or using renewable/clean energy sources.

2 Eligible applicants

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are eligible to participate in the Programme if their principal activity is registered in Section C – Manufacturing, within the following areas of the metal industry under KD 2025:

24 – Manufacture of basic metals
25 – Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment
28 – Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.

Applicants must have been registered in the Central Registry of Business Entities (CRPS) no later than 31 December 2024.

In addition, applicants must:

operate in 100% private ownership and have their registered office in Montenegro;
have a positive financial result for 2025 and have duly submitted their financial statements, or have been granted an extension for their submission;
regularly settle their tax and social security obligations, or regularly settle reprogrammed tax liabilities;
meet the requirements concerning related parties;
have no relevant records concerning the legal entity or its responsible person in the criminal records;
not be subject to an obligation to repay unlawfully received State aid.

Important: Other areas of the manufacturing sector, apart from Divisions 24, 25 and 28, are not covered by this Public Call.

Important application rules

Applicants must act individually. Partner organisations and partnerships are not eligible.

A business entity may submit no more than one application.
The Applicant and a related party may not simultaneously be beneficiaries and suppliers of equipment, contractors and/or training providers.
Business entities that signed a Grant Agreement with the Fund under the 2024 Public Call for the Programme for Encouraging Innovation in the Function of Energy Efficiency in Industry are not eligible to participate in the 2026 Programme.

Enterprise categories

For the purposes of the Programme, MSMEs are classified in accordance with the GBER Regulation, based on the number of employees and annual turnover or total assets:

Enterprise category	Number of employees	Annual turnover	or total assets
Medium-sized enterprises	< 250	≤ EUR 50 million	≤ EUR 43 million
Small enterprises	< 50	≤ EUR 10 million	≤ EUR 10 million
Micro enterprises	< 10	≤ EUR 2 million	≤ EUR 2 million

This wording is aligned with the terminology already used in your English Public Call, including MSMEs, Section C – Manufacturing, KD 2025, CRPS, related parties, Grant Agreement and GBER Regulation.

3 Documentation

Documentation

Public Call

4 How to apply

Applications for the Public Call must be submitted electronically through the Innovation Fund of Montenegro’s portal: www.programifonda.me.

1. Register

Visit www.programifonda.me and create a user account.

2. Activate your account

Once you have registered, your account will be automatically approved. You will receive your login credentials at the email address provided during registration.

3. Submit your application

Once you log in to the portal, you will have access to the information and documentation required to prepare your application. The application must be completed and submitted directly through the portal.

Application deadline

19 October 2026, by 3:00 PM

Important

By submitting a project proposal, Applicants agree to provide, at the Fund’s request, basic information and supplementary information required for monitoring and evaluating the performance of the Programme.

Contact

Email: [email protected]
Phone: +382 20 653 891

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5 Questions & Answers

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises whose principal activity is registered under Section C – Manufacturing, within the metal industry, KD 2025: Divisions 24, 25 and 28, may apply to the Public Call. The enterprise must have been registered in the Central Registry of Business Entities (CRPS) no later than 31 December 2024 and meet the other requirements set out in the Public Call.

The Programme covers: Division 24 – Manufacture of basic metals; Division 25 – Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment; Division 28 – Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c. Other manufacturing activities are not covered by this Public Call.

The total budget of the Programme is €500,000. Individual grants range from €50,000 to €100,000, and the grant may cover up to 80% of the total project value. The remaining amount must be provided by the applicant from its own resources or through other sources.

The project must include activities from all three components: - procurement and installation of equipment that contributes to energy efficiency and/or the use of renewable/clean energy sources; - implementation of smart/digital solutions for monitoring energy consumption and optimising production processes; -capacity building for professional staff in the areas of energy management, consumption optimisation, preventive maintenance, digital management of production processes and/or the introduction of the EN ISO 50001 standard.

Yes, but not as a standalone measure. The installation of photovoltaic systems for electricity generation may be financed only in combination with other systems.

No. An enterprise may submit a maximum of one application. Partnerships and partner organisations are not eligible. In addition, the applicant and its related party may not simultaneously act as beneficiaries and equipment suppliers, contractors and/or training providers.

No. Enterprises that signed a Grant Agreement with the Fund under the 2024 Public Call are not eligible to participate in the 2026 Programme.

Among others, the costs of purchasing used equipment, passenger, freight and commercial vehicles, renting equipment, tools and materials, as well as costs incurred before the signing of the Grant Agreement, are not eligible. Other ineligible costs include, among others, the purchase of land or buildings, rent, advertising, representation expenses, and costs that have already been financed from other public sources.

Yes. The gross salary cost of a newly employed professional who will work in energy management and is engaged under a full-time employment contract is eligible.

Yes. The costs of training employees of the Programme beneficiary for energy management activities are eligible, including justified costs related to participation in training, such as travel expenses, per diems and participation fees.

No. Costs incurred before the signing of the Grant Agreement are not eligible for funding.

The evaluation is conducted in two rounds. In the first round, the project concept is assessed, including the problems addressed by the project, expected effects and the need to strengthen capacity in the area of energy management. The minimum threshold for progressing to the next stage is K1 = 3.80. For projects that pass the first round, a Feasibility Study is prepared, after which the applicant prepares a full project application for the second round of evaluation.

In the second round, the assessment covers, among other things, the technical feasibility of the proposed solution, conditions for project implementation, the capacity-building plan for employees responsible for energy management, the expected reduction in energy consumption/costs, the contribution of the technology to improving business processes, and the sustainability of project results. The minimum threshold for consideration for co-financing is K2 = 4.00.

The project implementation period is at least 6 and up to 18 months. Implementation begins upon signing the Grant Agreement.

The application is submitted electronically through the Innovation Fund of Montenegro's portal at www.programifonda.me. Applicants must first register an account on the portal. After registration, the application is submitted directly through the portal.

Applications may be submitted from 23 September until 19 October 2026, by 15:00.

6 Public call results

On the programme results page you can review the complete results of all previous public calls – from selected projects to the amounts of awarded funds and key outcomes.

Program for encouraging innovations in the function of energy efficiency in industry 2024. 1 February 2025

Results of program for Encouraging Innovations in the function of energy efficiency in industry 2023 22 September 2023

7 Public call archive

In the public call archive you will find all relevant documents: conditions, deadlines, criteria and lists of selected projects.

Program for encouraging innovations in the function of energy efficiency in industry 2024. 11 November 2024

Archived

Program for encouraging innovations in the function of energy efficiency in industry 2023. 31 October 2023

Archived

Published: 23 September 2026