Bank Pekao will offer entrepreneurs from the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) sector a technological loan from the European Funds for Modern Economy (FENG) program from March 23, the bank announced. The investment may receive a subsidy from the EU up to 70% of the project’s eligible costs.
“The technological loan with the EU subsidy is an excellent opportunity for companies to improve their production or service processes at a lower cost, and the pool of funds is substantial, amounting to as much as PLN 578 million. At Bank Pekao, customers are the most important, which is why we want to help them and guide them through the application process as efficiently as possible. For this purpose, we have launched free consultations for entrepreneurs, and we also offer professional services in the field of development of application documentation in cooperation with consulting companies,” said Magdalena Zmitrowicz, vice president supervising the Corporate Banking Division.
Entrepreneurs from the SME sector will be able to apply for the FENG technological loan from March 23. This is support for entrepreneurs from the SME sector who want to develop their companies based on broadly understood innovations and research and development (R&D) activities. An enterprise may apply for co-financing for the purchase of machinery and equipment and the construction of buildings and structures, provided that the project it implements is based on the implementation of a new technology developed on its own, in cooperation with a research and development unit or as part of acquired technology.
The loan is partially repaid with an EU subsidy (technological bonus), which may amount to up to 70% of the eligible costs of the project, depending on the project location and the size of the company, in accordance with the Regional Aid Map for 2021-2027.
Bank Pekao provides free consultations for entrepreneurs, as well as, in cooperation with renowned consulting companies, professional EU consulting services – from the preparation of the application to the settlement of the project.
“Importantly, the company is subject to a creditworthiness assessment at the very beginning of applying for a technological bonus, and the promise received from the bank is valid for 9 months. The long expiry date will allow the entrepreneur to wait calmly for the result of the competition at Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego. The call for applications starts on March 23, 2023 and will last until May 31, 2023. There is as much as PLN 578 million to be distributed,” the release reads.
Bank Pekao is part of the PZU group – the largest financial group in Central and Eastern Europe. Since 1998, the bank has been present on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Total assets of the bank amounted to PLN 281.14 billion at the end of 2022.