Video 4.1 explained the instruments and the logic. This activity applies them to your territory and your scheme. Two parts:
Part A (Slides 2–3): The five EU instruments mapped to what matters for your territory — aid intensity, eligible activities, combinations. Open Activity 4.3 alongside to fill in your Funding Landscape Map as you go.
Part B (Slides 4–8): Four decisions to design your support scheme. Open Activity 4.4 alongside to fill in the Policy Toolkit as you go.
Just reading?
Navigate straight through. Use the arrows or keyboard. No writing required.
Working alongside templates?
Open Activity 4.3 now for Part A. Switch to Activity 4.4 when you reach Slide 4.
Part A · Funding Landscape Explorer
The five instruments — click each card for key facts
You know what these are from Video 4.1. This slide gives you the decision-relevant details: aid intensity by territory type, eligible activities for bioeconomy, and how to combine them. Click any card to open its detail panel.
If working alongside a template: Activity 4.3 — add each relevant instrument as a row in your Funding Landscape Map table.
ERDF
European Regional Development Fund
Infrastructure, innovation hubs, enterprise support schemes. S3 alignment required.
InvestEU + ERDF (grant for capital + InvestEU loan for operations) + EAFRD (grant de-risks InvestEU lending) + LIFE (validation before scale-up)
Part A · Funding Gap Analysis
What is missing from your territory's landscape?
The map tells you what exists. The gap analysis tells you what does not exist and what that absence costs. Three questions — think through each one for your territory.
If working alongside Activity 4.3: Answer these three questions in the Funding Gap Analysis section at the bottom of the template.
Question 1
Which enterprise stage is most under-served?
Most rural bioeconomy territories have reasonable early-stage grant coverage (LEADER, innovation vouchers) but very thin provision at the scale-up stage — between early commercial operation and full commercial viability. This is the valley of death viewed through a financing lens.
Look at your instrument map. Are there any instruments covering scale-up investments of €100K–€500K for bio-based SMEs? If not, that is your primary gap.
Question 2
What support type is most missing?
Grant instruments are typically available but often poorly calibrated (minimum thresholds too high for micro-enterprises). Service vouchers are the most commonly missing instrument type in rural territories. Guarantee schemes are typically absent at sub-provincial scale.
Ask yourself: could an enterprise in your territory access a guarantee for a €150K bio-based investment? If no, there is a missing instrument.
Question 3
What would it take to fill the critical gap?
A new instrument — requires political will, institutional capacity, state aid compliance work. Slowest but most durable.
Modify an existing instrument — adjust eligibility thresholds, add bio-based activities. Requires a managing authority relationship. Often fastest.
This gap analysis is the input to your Regional Action Plan in Module 10. The financing gap you identify here becomes the specific action your institution commits to in Module 10 — whether that is designing a new instrument, modifying an existing one, or building the referral network that connects enterprises to what already exists.
Part B · Scheme Design · Step 1 of 4
1
What market failure are you addressing?
Start with the problem, not the instrument. The market failure you identify determines everything that follows — instrument type, state aid basis, beneficiary profile, and programme structure.
If working alongside Activity 4.4: Section 1 — Problem definition and theory of change.
High early-stage risk
Technical uncertainty is too high for commercial lending. No one will finance proof-of-concept.
Grant / voucher
Andalusia: €15K–€50K innovation vouchers for olive oil by-product valorisation. 70% of supported enterprises attracted follow-on private investment within 18 months.
Baden-Württemberg: €1 of public guarantee → €4 of private lending for bio-based SME investments.
Scale-up gap
Past proof-of-concept. Too large for early-stage grants. Too risky for commercial loans at viable terms.
Soft loan
Southern Ireland: 5-year soft loan fund for shared processing facility investments at below-market rates.
Skills / TA gap
Specialist advisory services do not exist locally at affordable prices. Quality certification, market access, export expertise.
Service voucher
Central Macedonia: Quality certification vouchers reduced per-enterprise costs by 60%.
Demand signal missing
Commercially viable bio-based product. No buyer commitment. Supply could exist; market signal is absent.
Innovation procurement
Baden-Württemberg: GPP commitment for bio-based packaging in public catering attracted 2 new enterprises to the region within 3 years.
Part B · Scheme Design · Step 2 of 4
2
Choose your instrument and state aid basis
Each row maps a problem type to the instrument, state aid framework, and programme source. Find the row matching your Step 1 choice and read across.
If working alongside Activity 4.4: Sections 3 (instrument design) and 5 (state aid compliance checklist).
Problem type
Instrument
State aid basis
Programme source
High early-stage risk
GrantVoucher
GBER Art. 25 (R&D) · Art. 22 (start-up) · Art. 17 (agri-SME) Aid intensity: up to 70% small enterprise, less-developed region
ERDF · EAFRD · LEADER
Collateral gap
Guarantee
GBER Art. 21 Guarantee premium must reflect market risk. Safe-harbour rates published by Commission.
National promotional bank · InvestEU · ERDF revolving fund
Scale-up gap
Soft loanEquity
GBER Art. 17 or Art. 21 Interest rate must equal or exceed Commission reference rate. If below: subsidy element quantified as aid.
InvestEU · EAFRD revolving fund · ERDF financial instrument
Skills / TA gap
Service voucher
GBER Art. 18 (consultancy, max 50%) · ABER Art. 22 (agricultural advisory, up to 100%) For primary producers: use ABER, not GBER.
LEADER · ERDF · EAFRD
Demand signal
Innovation procurement
Outside state aid rules if procurement is competitive and at market price (PCP / PPI)
Own institutional budget · ERDF TA for procurement process design
Key compliance principle: Enterprises in difficulty (Art. 2(18) GBER) are ineligible for most GBER measures regardless of size or sector. This check must be documented in every application. De minimis threshold: €300,000 per enterprise over 3 fiscal years (€20,000 for agriculture).
Part B · Scheme Design · Step 3 of 4
3
Define your beneficiary profile
Each dimension has state aid implications. Read the guidance for each field and use it to complete Activity 4.4 Section 2.
If working alongside Activity 4.4: Section 2 — Target beneficiary profile.
Enterprise size — affects aid intensity ceiling
Micro (under 10 employees, under €2M turnover) — highest GBER aid intensities
Most rural bio-based producers and small processors
Small (under 50 employees, under €10M) — high GBER intensities
Regional cooperatives, early-stage processors
Medium (under 250 employees, under €50M) — standard GBER intensities
Established bio-based manufacturers
Cooperative / social enterprise — check legal form. Often treated as SME if criteria met.
Define in scheme eligibility rules
Sector — determines GBER or ABER
Primary agricultural production → ABER applies, not GBER
Different intensity limits and eligible measures
Agricultural processing (own production) → ABER
Enterprise processes its own agricultural products
Agricultural processing (third parties) → GBER
Enterprise processes products of others
Forestry → ABER Arts. 34–40
Check national CAP Strategic Plan for specific measures
Non-agricultural bio-based manufacturing → GBER
Bio-based materials, bioenergy, bio-chemicals
⚠️ If sector boundary is unclear (enterprise processes both own and third-party production) — seek legal advice before scheme publication.
Development stage — determines instrument fit
Pre-commercial — no commercial revenue yet
High aid intensity possible. Grants and vouchers appropriate.
Early commercial — first sales, below break-even
Grants, vouchers, and service support appropriate.
Scale-up — above break-even, investment needed for growth
Soft loans and guarantees most appropriate. Grants for specific investment categories only.
Eligibility conditions — required in every scheme
Not in difficulty — must be verified for every applicant
Art. 2(18) GBER. Ineligible regardless of size or sector.
Cumulation check — has the enterprise received other aid?
De minimis: max €300K/3 years general; €20K/3 years agriculture
Geographic scope — if territory-limited, check regional selectivity
May require notification if scope is too narrow
Incentive effect — must not have started activity before applying
Document that the aid changes the investment decision
Part B · Scheme Design · Step 4 of 4
4
Design the programme structure
The programme structure determines whether eligible enterprises can actually access the scheme, or whether administrative complexity becomes the effective barrier.
If working alongside Activity 4.4: Sections 4 (application and selection), 6 (monitoring), 8 (budget).
Application process
Two-stage process
Short expression of interest at Stage 1 (1–2 pages, max 10 fields). Full application only for shortlisted enterprises. Dramatically reduces burden on enterprises that will not be funded.
ROBIN example: Central Macedonia voucher scheme — 3-page Stage 1 form, 2-week response. 80% take-up rate by eligible enterprises.
Avoid: Legal and financial documentation at Stage 1. Paper-only submission. Response timelines over 8 weeks.
Selection criteria
Align weighting to the market failure
If addressing early-stage risk: weight innovation and circular economy contribution highest. If addressing scale-up gap: weight commercial viability and territorial impact. Do not use the same criteria template for every scheme type.
Enterprises cannot hire staff, sign contracts, or commit investments until they have a funding decision. More than 6 months from application to decision is an effective deterrent for small enterprises.
Best practice: Stage 1 decision in 3 weeks · Stage 2 evaluation in 6 weeks · Grant agreement signed within 8 weeks of Stage 2 decision. Total: under 4 months.
Grant / loan conditions
Payment schedule
For micro-enterprises: 30% advance on award + 70% on achievement of first milestone. Reduces financial risk without creating cash flow crisis for small enterprises.
Eligible costs
Exclude VAT (GBER Art. 7(1)). Costs incurred before application are never eligible. Document personnel costs with time records.
Monitoring and clawback
Proportionate reporting
A €20K innovation voucher should not require quarterly financial reports. Annual progress report + final technical and financial report is appropriate for grants below €100K.
Clawback triggers
Failure to achieve committed outputs · Relocation outside territory · Sale of supported assets within 5 years. Document triggers precisely — legal ambiguity leads to disputes.
Exit strategy
After initial funding period
Plan this from Day 1. Options: revolving fund (loan repayments fund new enterprises) · Programme continuation in next OP period (start the application process in Year 2) · Graduated exit (reduce subsidy rate over 3 years).
A programme with no exit strategy either creates dependency or abandons enterprises at the most critical moment.
Reference · State Aid Quick Reference
State aid essentials — use while completing Activity 4.4 Section 5
This is a lookup reference, not a re-explanation. Use it to complete the state aid compliance checklist in Activity 4.4.
Activity 4.4 Section 5: EU state aid basis, notification required, aid intensity limit, maximum grant amount, eligible costs, cumulation check, reporting obligations.
GBER — General Block Exemption Reg. (EU) 2023/1315
Art. 17
Agri-SME processing/marketing investment. Up to 50% small, 40% medium. Up to 65–75% less-developed regions.
Art. 18
Consultancy for SMEs. Up to 50% of eligible costs.
Art. 22
Start-up aid. Up to €200,000 micro/small.
Art. 25
R&D projects. Industrial research: up to 65% small, 55% medium.
Art. 21
Risk finance aid — guarantees and loans to SMEs through financial intermediaries.
ABER — Agricultural Block Exemption Reg. (EU) 2022/2472
Art. 17
Investment in agricultural holdings. Up to 40% small farmers, 50% young farmers / less-developed regions.
Art. 22
Advisory services. Up to 100% for knowledge transfer to agricultural holdings.
Art. 44
Cooperation in agriculture. Up to 100% for cluster development and coordination costs.
Arts. 34–40
Forestry investment, management, and value chain development. Rates vary by measure.
Enterprise processes its own production → ABER. Processes others' production → GBER. Unclear boundary → seek legal advice.
De minimis and notification
General
Max €300,000 per enterprise over 3 fiscal years. No sector restrictions. No notification. Simple recording.
Agriculture
Max €20,000 per enterprise over 3 fiscal years. Primary agricultural production only.
Notification
Required when GBER/ABER conditions are not met and de minimis is insufficient. Takes 12–18 months — plan well ahead.
Transparency
Grants above €100K must be registered in the Commission state aid transparency database within 12 months of granting.
Unlawful state aid must be recovered with interest. Budget for legal advice before launch.
Compliance sequence for every new scheme: (1) Identify regulation and article → (2) Check aid intensity for your enterprise size and territory classification → (3) Confirm cumulation with other aid received → (4) Document the incentive effect → (5) Register in transparency database after granting → (6) Keep records for 10 years. If any step is unclear — seek legal advice before scheme publication.
Module 4 · Outputs
What this module produces
Two documents that together constitute the financing dimension of your Regional Action Plan.
Activity 4.3
Funding Landscape Map
A table mapping 5–10 EU, national, and regional funding instruments relevant to bio-based investment in your territory. One row per instrument.
What you fill in per instrument:
Instrument name and managing authority · Eligible activities for bioeconomy · Eligible beneficiaries · Aid intensity (%) · Max grant/loan amount · Current call status · Application deadline · Contact person · Notes on combination with other instruments
Plus: Funding Gap Analysis — three questions answered in free text at the bottom of the template.
Activity 4.4
Policy Toolkit for Local Support Schemes
An 8-section toolkit for designing one specific support scheme for your territory. Uses your Part B decisions as the starting point.
8 sections:
1. Problem definition and theory of change · 2. Target beneficiary profile · 3. Instrument design · 4. Application and selection process · 5. State aid compliance checklist · 6. Monitoring and evaluation · 7. Communication strategy · 8. Budget and financial planning
Slides 4–8 of this Genially guide you through Sections 1–5 directly. Sections 6–8 are completed independently.
Both documents feed into Module 10. The Funding Landscape Map becomes the financing section of your Regional Action Plan. The Policy Toolkit becomes the specific financing commitment you make in your Policy Commitment Statement.