Businesses planning investment in Malta may wish to consider the range of Malta Enterprise and European Union funding programmes available to support qualifying expenditure. Covering capital investment, workforce development, business growth and sustainability initiatives, these schemes provide funding through grants, tax credits and other support mechanisms, subject to individual eligibility criteria and programme requirements.
Investment planning extends beyond identifying commercial opportunities and capital requirements. For many businesses, understanding the funding opportunities available for qualifying expenditure also forms part of the wider investment assessment.
Malta's current incentive landscape comprises a range of programmes administered by Malta Enterprise and funded through both national and European Union initiatives. While each scheme has its own objectives, eligibility criteria and application process, collectively they provide support across several categories of business investment, including capital expenditure, workforce development, business transformation, sustainability and professional development.
Funding opportunities extend across different types of investment
The available programmes support a broad range of qualifying business expenditure rather than focusing on a single area of investment.
Businesses undertaking capital investment may identify schemes supporting expenditure on tangible and intangible assets, including buildings, machinery, equipment, plant and intellectual property. Depending on the relevant programme, support may also extend to qualifying wage costs associated with job creation, with funding delivered through tax credits, cash grants, interest-rate subsidies or loan guarantees for eligible SMEs.
Separate programmes support investment intended to improve sustainability, environmental performance and digitisation, while additional funding is available for SMEs investing in productive assets linked to expansion, diversification, innovation and initial investment. Businesses undertaking wider development projects may also identify support for qualifying expenditure relating to advisory services, digital technologies, lease and rental costs, construction-related expenditure and employee relocation where provided for under the relevant programme.
Rather than applying to every investment project, each programme addresses specific categories of qualifying expenditure and operates within its own funding parameters.
Workforce capability is supported through dedicated funding measures
Alongside capital investment, Malta's incentive landscape includes programmes supporting workforce training and professional development.
Malta Enterprise's Skills Development Scheme provides support for eligible training programmes through cash grants and tax credits, covering expenditure such as trainee wage costs, trainer costs and qualifying travel expenses. The ESF+ Investing in Skills Scheme similarly supports eligible employer-led training programmes through grant funding for qualifying personnel costs, trainer fees and related travel expenditure.
Professional qualifications are also supported through the Get Qualified initiative, which provides personal income tax credits for eligible education-related costs incurred by individuals pursuing recognised qualifications.
Together, these programmes demonstrate that the available funding landscape includes support for both physical investment and workforce development, with each scheme applying its own eligibility requirements and funding conditions.
Individual programme requirements remain an important consideration
Although the available incentives cover a broad range of business activities, each programme operates independently.
Eligibility requirements vary according to factors including enterprise size, business activity, project type and qualifying expenditure. Individual schemes also apply their own funding limits, aid intensities, exclusions and compliance requirements, including, where applicable, tax and social security obligations.
Application requirements also differ between programmes. Some schemes require approval before project implementation begins, while others operate through fixed application deadlines or rolling calls that remain subject to available budgets. As a result, reviewing programme requirements during the planning stage can help businesses determine which funding opportunities may be relevant to their proposed investment.
Incorporating funding into investment planning
The breadth of Malta's current incentive landscape means businesses may wish to consider funding opportunities alongside the wider planning of qualifying investment projects.
Assessing which programmes may be relevant requires consideration of the objectives of the proposed investment, the categories of qualifying expenditure, programme eligibility criteria, funding limits and application requirements. As these requirements differ between schemes, reviewing them at an early stage can assist businesses in identifying the programmes that may be applicable to their circumstances.
How BDO Malta can help
Understanding the available incentive landscape is only the first step. Determining which programmes may apply to a particular investment requires a detailed assessment of project activities against the eligibility criteria and requirements of individual schemes.
BDO Malta works with businesses throughout the investment lifecycle to assess planned projects against the available Malta Enterprise and EU-funded incentive programmes. Our multidisciplinary team supports clients by identifying funding opportunities that may be relevant to their proposed investments, reviewing eligibility requirements, assisting with the preparation and submission of funding applications, and providing ongoing tax and advisory support throughout project implementation.
By combining expertise across tax, business advisory and funding support, BDO Malta helps businesses navigate the available incentive landscape and align funding opportunities with their wider investment objectives.