The Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT) launched the „SME ECO-TECH” Program on Wednesday, May 6th, during a conference.
„Our more than 10 years of experience working with the Swiss side clearly shows us that these instruments work when they respond to real economic needs and are built more around companies than procedures. In previous programs, over 600 Romanian SMEs managed to develop their activities and create more than 1,600 jobs, which is proof that when funding reaches its intended destination, it transforms into growth, stability, and real opportunities for people. On this foundation, we continue today with the SME Ecosystem program.” declared Irineu Darău, Minister of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism.
The program is financed through the second Swiss contribution to Romania (Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme – SRCP 2) and continues the bilateral collaboration initiated in 2010, which has generated concrete results in supporting SMEs, including through the PREIMM program.
With a total budget of 288.8 million lei (over 54 million CHF), including a Swiss contribution of 70%, „SME ECO-TECH” aims to support the green and digital transformation of SMEs in the manufacturing sector.
Financial support is provided in the form of grants (up to 40%) and bank loans (at least 60%) through five partner financial institutions. The program funds investments in green technologies, energy efficiency, and digitalization, helping to boost the competitiveness of the Romanian economy.
Investments of over 100 million CHF and the creation of at least 800 new jobs are projected.
At the end of December 2025, the contract was signed with the developer of the electronic program implementation platform. Currently, the entire project team is working directly with the developer in multiple sessions to develop and test the platform's functionalities.
The project call will be open for 30 days, with selection based on a „first-come, first-served” principle.
„Our role as ministers is to support this transition and provide functional tools, but the final outcome depends on the business environment and the decisions that entrepreneurs make in the coming period. We are confident that they will seize this opportunity, because real economic development is not built through programs, but through companies that choose to invest, grow, and move forward.”, the minister conchis.