EU Grants 2026 for Micro and Small Businesses
Poland receives EUR 76 billion from European Funds for 2021-2027 — a significant portion goes to micro and small businesses. In 2026, several calls are open with grants from PLN 25,000 to PLN 1 million.
Most popular programs in 2026
FENG (European Funds for Modern Economy) — innovation and R&D, grants up to PLN 1M. FERS (Social Development) — employee training, up to PLN 200K. FEnIKS (Infrastructure) — investments in renewable energy and efficiency. Regional ROPs — equipment purchase co-financing, up to PLN 500K.
Requirements and procedure
SME status (up to 250 employees, EUR 50M turnover). Own contribution 15-50% depending on program and region. Application electronically via SL2014. Evaluation 60-90 days, project execution 12-24 months. Final report and audit after completion.
Tax consequences
Investment grants (fixed assets) — exempt from PIT/CIT, but reduce the asset's depreciation base. Operating grants (training, marketing) — exempt from PIT/CIT, but grant-financed expenses are not tax-deductible. VAT generally does not apply to grants.
Summary
Regularly check funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl and regional ROPs. Preparing a good application takes 4-8 weeks — consider using an EU consultant.