GINOP Plusz 2.1.1-24 “Support for Focus Area Innovation Projects”
The purpose of the call is to encourage research, development, and innovation activities of domestic small, medium, and large enterprises, strengthen the renewed socio-economic innovation ecosystem, and support research, development, and innovation projects that focus on social and economic utilization aspects in line with renewal principles, through the development of marketable products, technologies, and services.
From the total budget, HUF 60 billion will be announced in 2024, of which HUF 50 billion is allocated for less developed regions and HUF 10 billion for the developed region (Budapest). In 2025, HUF 46.88 billion will be announced, of which HUF 39.88 billion is allocated for less developed regions and HUF 7 billion for the developed region (Budapest).
Only applications from small, medium-sized, and large enterprises will be accepted if they meet the following conditions:
- have at least two full, closed financial years with published financial statements
- the average statistical headcount in the last fully closed business year is at least 12 employees
- the total project cost must not exceed the revenue stated in the last fully closed (365-day) financial year’s published annual report
- the requested grant amount must not exceed the equity amount stated in the last fully closed (365-day) financial year’s published annual report
A key new provision is that applicants cannot use services from higher education institutions or legal entities owned by them, nor can they involve them as consortium members.
Companies that have not yet submitted their final payment request for a project supported under the GINOP Plusz 2.1.1-21 call, or that have received funding under the 2023-1.1.1-PIACI_FÓKUSZ or the 2024-1.1.1-KKV_FÓKUSZ calls, are not eligible to apply.
Main Parameters of the Call
A single applicant can win between HUF 300 million and HUF 800 million. This year, forming a consortium is not mandatory to secure higher amounts, but the investment's total cost and the requested grant amount must be proportionate to the company's revenue and equity.
The focus remains on covering personnel-related expenses (gross wages and contributions). For employees employed under the project, the average salary based on KSH (Central Statistical Office) FEOR classification must be applied, with a deviation of up to 50% allowed in justified cases.
Additionally, material costs, equipment procurement, services, and lump-sum expenses are also eligible. It is crucial that the costs of equipment procurement can only be accounted for in proportion to their use and duration during the implementation period of the research and development project (depreciation).
The grant intensity depends on various factors, but in general:
- Small enterprises: up to 70%
- Medium-sized enterprises: up to 65%
- Large enterprises: up to 55%
Submission Phases for Grant Applications
- 1. Phase: November 26, 2024 – January 29, 2025
- 2. Phase: November 26, 2024 – January 29, 2025
- 3. Phase: November 26, 2024 – January 29, 2025
- 4. Phase: May 6, 2025 – May 20, 2025
- 5. Phase: May 28, 2025 – June 11, 2025
- 6. Phase: June 12, 2025 – June 26, 2025
The maximum project implementation period is 24 months, while for healthcare-related projects, it is up to 36 months.
GINOP Plus 2.1.3-24 “Support for SMEs' Innovation Capabilities”
The purpose of the call is to encourage micro and small enterprises, particularly those that have not yet engaged in innovation, by supporting their market-oriented innovation projects. Within the project, business process innovation must be implemented, meaning the development of a new or improved business process that significantly differs from the company’s previous business processes and is introduced, applied, and maintained after the project's physical completion.
The planned budget for support is HUF 40 billion for the 1st phase announced in 2024, HUF 15 billion for the 2nd phase announced in 2025, and HUF 20 billion for the 3rd phase (from the total budget, HUF 15 billion will be allocated to the developed region and HUF 60 billion to the less developed region). There are no territorial restrictions, meaning applications can be submitted even from Budapest.
Grant applications can be submitted by micro and small enterprises in three phases:
- November 4 – November 12, 2024
- April 8 – April 22, 2025
- September 9 – September 23, 2025
A single applicant can receive a minimum of HUF 20 million and a maximum of HUF 50 million in non-refundable support. The maximum grant intensity is 70%.
Eligible Applicants
Micro and small enterprises registered in Hungary with a headquarters or branch office and keeping double-entry bookkeeping (medium and large enterprises are not eligible):
- Have at least one full, closed business year with published financial statements
- The average statistical headcount in the last fully closed business year is at least 3 employees
- The total project cost cannot exceed 50% of the applicant’s revenue from the last fully closed (365-day) business year’s published annual report
- The requested support amount cannot exceed the applicant’s equity from the last fully closed (365-day) business year’s published annual report
Companies that have received funding under the GINOP Plus 2.1.1-21, 2023-1.1.1-PIACI_FÓKUSZ, or 2024-1.1.1-KKV_FÓKUSZ calls are not eligible to apply.
Supported Activities
Independently eligible activities:
- Production and/or manufacturing process innovation activities
- Marketing and/or sales innovation activities
- Logistics innovation activities
- Organizational innovation (administrative and management development) activities, provided that the applicant’s average statistical headcount in the last closed, full business year was at least 20 employees
Mandatory, non-independently eligible activities:
- Investment related to business process innovation
- Project preparation activities (procurement of innovation consulting services for project preparation)
- Activities supporting the innovation project (project management, hardware procurement, mandatory publicity, overhead costs)
Eligible Costs
- Project preparation costs – external expert consultation or advisory services
- Implementation costs – personnel-related expenses (wages, contributions, benefits)
- Costs related to professional activities – innovation consulting
- Investment costs – equipment investments, intangible assets
- Rental fees – related to the professional implementation of the project (e.g., cloud services)
- Lump-sum costs – hardware and software procurement, project management, overhead costs
For employees hired within the project, the KSH (Central Statistical Office) FEOR classification average salary must be applied, with a justified deviation of up to 50% allowed.
The maximum implementation period for the project is 18 months.