Micro support

Support can be given for investments in product development, marketing, skills development and machinery or other equipment. The costs must not relate to the company's normal operations.

The target group is newly started or already operating small and medium-sized companies that conduct market-based operations in Norrbotten County, with the exception of companies that operate in the Luleå urban area. We take into account your entire livelihood situation so that even those who have a part-time business and work at least 50 percent in the company can apply for support.

When you seek support from us, you must be able to demonstrate that you have active sustainability work.

You can do this with the help of Almi Nord and the Sustainability Dialogue - a meeting where you as an entrepreneur have a dialogue with an advisor from Almi to inspire you and your company for continued development/next steps in sustainability.

If you have already participated in the Sustainability Dialogue, you need to submit documentation showing this in your application.

Here you can read more about The sustainability dialogue with Almi and leave your contact details

The support is means-tested and each application is assessed individually. The maximum support is SEK 30 or 000 percent of approved costs.

• Granted negligible support in the previous three years.
• The company's need for support for its investment.
• Type of investment, profitability, employment effects.
• Financing.
• Ownership and size of the company.
• Norrbotten Region's budget.
• Regional priorities.

• Companies that have a mobile nature, such as contracting operations and haulage companies.
• Companies operating in a local/regional competitive market.
• Companies operating in Luleå urban area, map of Luleå urban area.
• Large companies.
• Companies operating in agriculture or food processing have limited opportunities for regional business support. Support is primarily sought from the Rural Development Programme. Please contact us if you need further information.

The support is negligible support. The applicant must ensure that support applied for through the Norrbotten Region and other authorities/organizations, as well as reductions in employer contributions that are considered negligible support, do not exceed SEK 3 million over a three-year period. A certificate of negligible support must be attached to the application for support.

• The investment cannot be started before the application has been submitted to Region Norrbotten. If the company wishes to start the investment before Region Norrbotten has made a decision, it is done at its own risk. 
• Necessary permits linked to the investment must be completed before the investment begins.
• Support is not granted for operating costs.
• Support is not granted for your own work.
• The support is always paid in arrears. 
• The remaining financing should be in the form of equity from the company, private investors, banks or other financiers.
• Salaries and other employment benefits at the applicant company must be at least equivalent to what follows the applicable collective agreement.
• Quotes must always be attached according to the instructions in the application.

You apply digitally via the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth's e-service My Application. Direct link to the application for micro support

Here you can read more about how to apply for support and payments

When preparing, presenting and deciding on applications for regional business support, a balanced assessment is made based on four selection criteria, all of which are permeated by sustainability and take their starting point in sustainable regional development.

Regulations

Related to regional business support are regulations that set the framework for the legal scope of the support. The national regulations are central when preparing cases concerning regional business support.

• Regulation (2022:1467) on state aid for regional investments
• Regulation (2022:1468) on state aid for regional promotion of enterprises

Through both of these regulations, support, subject to the availability of funds, may be provided with the aim of promoting sustainable growth and increased competitiveness in companies and thereby sustainable regional growth.

Regional business aid may only be granted to activities that are assessed as being able to achieve profitability and sustainable employment and operate on market terms and may be granted primarily to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in accordance with EU definition of SME.

Control document

The second selection criterion is an assessment of whether the support falls within the framework of applicable steering documents. Decisions on support levels and area delimitations are also governing. The overall strategy is the Norrbotten Strategy 2040, which identifies four priority areas of intervention. In order for a company to be granted support, a connection to one of the four priority areas with associated goals and paths forward is required. 

Priority areas of intervention are:

• A life full of possibilities
• A learning and attractive county
• Innovative and competitive
• A closer look at Norrbotten

The assessment will also take into account the Smart Specialization Strategy for Norrbotten and other regional plans, programs and strategies.

Purpose, effects and context

The third selection criterion is about assessing the purpose, context and effects of the investment and whether it contributes to sustainable development.

The application focuses primarily on the needs the company sees. It is the company's responsibility to describe the challenges and needs the company faces, as well as the investments and efforts that need to be made. It is also the company's responsibility to describe the effects the efforts/investment are expected to have in the short and long term.

The region's decision-making space

The fourth selection criterion is an assessment of whether the region's decision-making space is such that the intervention/investment can be granted. If it is assessed that funds cannot be granted or that there are other sources of funding that are more relevant, the case is rejected.

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