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, innovation, sustainability and digital transformation initiatives, these schemes provide support through grants, tax credits and other funding 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, helping organisations align investment decisions with the funding opportunities that may be available.
Malta's current incentive landscape comprises a range of programmes administered by Malta Enterprise and funded through both national and European Union initiatives. Collectively, these schemes contribute to Malta's wider economic and industrial development by supporting investment, innovation, competitiveness and sustainable business growth across a broad range of sectors.
While each programme has its own objectives, eligibility criteria and application process, together they support multiple categories of business investment, including capital expenditure, initial investment projects, business expansion, diversification, innovation, sustainability, digital transformation, workforce development and professional development.
The available schemes support businesses at different stages of growth and across different enterprise sizes. While several programmes are specifically designed for SMEs or provide enhanced levels of support to smaller enterprises, funding opportunities are also available for medium-sized and larger businesses undertaking qualifying investment projects. Other initiatives focus on supporting start-ups, early-stage ventures and innovative businesses seeking to develop new technologies, strengthen market readiness and expand internationally.
Workforce capability is supported through dedicated funding measures
Alongside capital investment, Malta's incentive landscape includes programmes supporting workforce training, skills development and professional qualifications.Employer-focused initiatives provide support for eligible training programmes through cash grants and tax credits covering expenditure such as trainee wage costs, trainer costs and qualifying travel expenses. EU-funded training programmes similarly provide grant funding for qualifying personnel costs, trainer fees and related travel expenditure, enabling businesses to strengthen workforce capability and address evolving skills requirements.
Professional qualifications are also supported through initiatives that provide personal income tax credits for eligible education-related costs incurred by individuals pursuing recognised qualifications relevant to industry and professional development.
Together, these programmes demonstrate that Malta's funding landscape supports investment not only in physical assets and infrastructure, but also in people, helping businesses develop the knowledge, skills and expertise needed to improve productivity, competitiveness and long-term growth. Each programme, however, applies 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 and ensure applications are submitted within the applicable timeframe.
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, enterprise size, project eligibility, funding limits, aid intensities and application requirements. As these factors differ between programmes, reviewing them at an early stage can help businesses identify the opportunities most relevant to their investment plans, maximise available support and align funding opportunities with wider commercial objectives.
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 Malta's incentive landscape, identify funding opportunities aligned to their investment objectives and integrate funding considerations into wider strategic investment planning.