PUBLIC CALL - Support program for companies to enter the supply chains of multinational corporations

DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF SERBIA through the implementation of the multi-year Program for supporting companies in entering the supply chains of multinational companies, aims to build the capacity of companies for the purpose of integrating them into the international value chains of multinational companies.

DURATION OF THE PUBLIC CALL – APPLICATION DEADLINE

The public call was published on September 28, 2026, and applications for participation in the Program may be submitted no later than November 26, 2026.

AVAILABLE FUNDS

The budget allocated for the implementation of this program is 100,000,000.00 RSD.

Available funds are granted individually to Beneficiaries to finance eligible costs related to the implementation of activities within the approved intervention measures, with the total amount of state aid granted not exceeding 15,000,000.00 RSD.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Business entities that meet the following conditions are eligible to participate:

• General conditions:

1. that at the time of submitting the Application, they are registered with the Business Registers Agency (APR) as a legal entity or entrepreneur, no later than January 1, 2023;
2. that at the time of submitting the Application, it is classified as a micro, small, or medium-sized legal entity in accordance with the Accounting Law, based on the latest available financial statement;
3. that the share of public ownership is below the prescribed threshold for significant participation as defined by the Law on Business Companies;
4. that it is majority-owned by a domestic legal or natural person, or by a foreign legal entity if the ultimate beneficial owner is a domestic natural person, as defined by the Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing;
5. that it has settled all due tax and contribution liabilities;
6. that it is not in difficulty as defined by the regulations governing the granting of state aid;
7. that it is not affiliated with the buyer or a potential buyer as defined by the Law on Business Companies;
8. that it does not meet the conditions for acquiring the status of an MNC, nor is it affiliated with a group that meets those conditions, in accordance with the criteria established in the Law on Business Companies.
9. that it has not been awarded a grant under the 2025 Support Program for Companies to Enter Multinational Company Supply Chains.

An applicant who participated in previous Support Programs for Companies to Enter Multinational Company Supply Chains (from 2019 to 2024) may also apply for participation in this Program, provided that they have implemented all intervention measures from the previous Support Program for Companies to Enter Multinational Company Supply Chains, i.e., if their completed activities have been verified and the approved funds have been paid out..

• Specific conditions:

Technical capacity:

1. that it has an implemented ISO 9001 quality management system or a valid certificate for a standard that includes the requirements of the ISO 9001 quality management system.

Business capacities:

1. that it has established cooperation with an MNC or an MNC Supplier, or is in the process of evaluation for selection as a qualified supplier by an MNC;
2. that its primary business activity involves the production of direct or indirect materials, components, systems, and subsystems for products belonging to the Supported Value Chains.

Human resources capacity:

1. that it has a minimum of 5 employees on the payroll as of the date of the Public Call announcement, according to the CROSO records.

Financial capacities:

1. that in the 2025 fiscal year, it generated revenue from the sale of products and services of no less than 35,000,000.00 RSD (based on the income statement item AOP 1005 - Revenue from the sale of products and services);

If the Applicant has a partnership with an MNC that possesses production capacities within the territory of the Republic of Serbia, or with its supplier, or is in the process of establishing such a partnership, the minimum revenue generated from the sale of products and services must be at least 20,000,000.00 RSD.

1. that in the 2025 fiscal year, the share of revenue from the sale of products and services in the total sales revenue was greater than or equal to 50% (this share is calculated using the following formula: AOP 1005 - Revenue from the sale of products and services / (AOP 1002 - Revenue from the sale of goods + AOP 1005 - Revenue from the sale of products and services));
2. that the value of fixed assets as of December 31, 2025, is not less than 35,000,000.00 RSD (this value is calculated as the difference between the positions AOP 0009 - Property, plant and equipment and AOP 0012 - Investment property in the balance sheet);

If the Applicant has a partnership with an MNC that possesses production capacities within the territory of the Republic of Serbia, or with its supplier, or is in the process of establishing such a partnership, the value of fixed assets must not be less than 20,000,000.00 RSD;          

1. that no bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings have been initiated against the Applicant.

PURPOSE AND AMOUNT OF GRANT FUNDS

Supported intervention measures

This program supports the financing of eligible costs incurred in implementing activities within the following intervention measures, which serve to establish or expand cooperation with an MNC or an MNC Supplier:

1. support for investment in tangible assets;
2. support for investment in intangible assets;
3. consulting support for improving business performance.

1. Intervention measure: Support for investment in tangible assets

1.1. Purchase and installation of high-performance production and processing equipment (including, but not limited to, industrial robots, production lines, CNC machines, packaging machines, and similar), up to three years old as of the date of the Public Call announcement.

Grant funds for the specified activity may be approved in the following scope:

• For micro and small enterprises and entrepreneurs: in the amount of up to 60% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 8,000,000.00 RSD;
• For medium-sized enterprises: up to 40% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 8,000,000.00 RSD.

1.2. Purchase of equipment for incoming raw material inspection, in-process quality control, and finished product quality control, up to three years old at the time of the Public Call announcement.

Grant funds for the specified activity may be approved in the following scope:

• For micro and small enterprises and entrepreneurs: up to 60% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 5,000,000.00 RSD;
• For medium-sized enterprises: up to 40% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 5,000,000.00 RSD.

1.3. Purchase of specific new tools or equipment

Grants for this activity may be approved in the following amounts:

• For micro and small enterprises and entrepreneurs: up to 60% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 3,000,000.00 RSD;
• For medium-sized enterprises: up to 40% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 3,000,000.00 RSD.

1.4. Purchase and installation of autonomous learning robots and cobots, up to three years old at the time of the Public Call announcement.

Grants for this activity may be approved in the following amounts:

• For micro and small enterprises and entrepreneurs: up to 60% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of RSD 10,000,000.00;
• For medium-sized enterprises: up to 40% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of RSD 10,000,000.00.

2. Intervention measure: Support for investment in intangible assets

2.1. Certification of management systems and technical compliance with industrial and sector-specific standards (such as IATF 16949, ISO 13485, VDA, and CEN standards) specific to the Supported value chains, as well as management system certification according to international standards (ISO 14001, ISO 18001, ISO 50001, etc.).

Grants for the specified activity may be awarded in the amount of up to 50% of the value of eligible costs for the activity in question, up to a maximum grant contribution amount of RSD 1,500,000.00.

2.2. Implementation of software solutions or software purchase and implementation, with the aim of optimizing and ensuring the transparency of existing production and business processes.

Grants for this activity may be awarded in the amount of up to 60% of the value of eligible costs for the activity in question, up to a maximum grant contribution of 5,000,000.00 RSD.

2.3. Costs for developing prototypes or trial product series, which includes costs for product design and engineering, as well as testing and evaluation of the trial model or product.

Grants for this activity may be awarded in the amount of 50% of the value of eligible costs for the activity in question, up to a maximum grant contribution of 1,500,000 RSD.

2.4. Covering costs for annual listing on reference interactive platforms designed to connect suppliers from target sectors.

Grants for this activity may be awarded in the amount of up to 70% of the value of eligible costs for the activity in question, up to a maximum grant contribution of RSD 300,000.00.

Listing costs eligible for grant funding include annual subscription fees for interactive platforms that provide full access to the selected platform, allowing for the viewing of all content, as well as the ability to view demand and list the Applicant's product range as a supplier.

An applicant may submit an application for annual listing on up to 3 different platforms simultaneously.

The interactive platform for which listing costs are being claimed must be international in nature, independent, and reputable.

2.5. Reimbursement of insurance premium costs, with insurance companies registered in the Register of Insurance and Reinsurance Joint-Stock Companies at the National Bank of Serbia.

For the implementation of this activity, grant funds may be approved to reimburse premium costs only for the following types of insurance:

- general liability insurance;

- professional liability insurance for damages caused to third parties;

- product liability insurance;

- product recall insurance.

Grant funds for this activity may be awarded in the amount of up to 70% of the value of eligible costs for the activity in question, up to a maximum grant contribution of RSD 2,500,000.00.

3. Intervention measure: Consulting support for business performance improvement

3.1. Consulting support for the optimization of production and business processes aimed at improving efficiency, productivity, and quality. This specifically includes production line optimization, the establishment of serial production, and the implementation of quality control.

Grants for this activity may be approved in the following amounts:

• For micro and small enterprises and entrepreneurs: up to 60% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 1,000,000.00 RSD;
• For medium-sized enterprises: up to 40% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 1,500,000.00 RSD.

3.2. Consulting support for the introduction or improvement of corporate governance, which includes, but is not limited to, activities aimed at strengthening management structures, strategic and operational planning, and familiarization with business principles in international value chains.

Grants for this activity may be approved in the following amounts:

• For micro and small enterprises and entrepreneurs: up to 60% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 1,000,000.00 RSD;
• For medium-sized enterprises: up to 40% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 1,500,000.00 RSD.

3.3. Consulting support for the improvement and optimization of human resources management processes through the definition of company organizational profiles and corporate culture, and the use of automated tools for employee career guidance and recruitment selection.

Grant funds for this activity may be awarded in the amount of up to 60% of the value of eligible costs for the subject activity, up to a maximum grant participation amount of 1,000,000.00 RSD.

3.4. Consulting support for alignment with ESG business principles, green industry requirements, regulations, and sustainable business obligations, through one or more of the following areas:

• ESG reporting (introduction or improvement of rules, procedures, and reporting related to ESG factors);
• Supply chain due diligence (establishing an internal system for documentation, management, and reporting in accordance with the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act);
• Preparation of technical documentation, studies, and reports, including activities focused on decarbonization and the reduction of industrial emissions, as well as familiarization with the requirements and obligations arising from the European CBAM regulation.

Grants for this activity may be approved in the following scope:

• For micro and small enterprises and entrepreneurs: up to 60% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 1,000,000.00 RSD;
• For medium-sized enterprises: up to 40% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 1,500,000.00 RSD.

3.5. Consulting support for the implementation of management systems and technical compliance with industrial and sector-specific standards (such as IATF16949/IRIS/CE-3A/VDA 6.3/ISO 13485 and CEN standards) specific to the value chains supported by this Program.

Grants for this activity may be approved in the following scope:

• For micro and small enterprises and entrepreneurs: up to 60% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 1,000,000.00 RSD;
• For medium-sized enterprises: up to 40% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 1,500,000.00 RSD.

3.6. Consulting support for audit preparation by the MNK (requirement identification, compliance with standards, audit simulation).

Grants for the specified activity may be approved in the following scope:

• For micro and small enterprises and entrepreneurs: up to 60% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 1,000,000.00 RSD;
• For medium-sized enterprises: up to 40% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 1,500,000.00 RSD.

3.7. Consulting support for planning the implementation of software solutions, or mapping processes that precede the implementation of software solutions.

Grants for this activity may be approved in the following scope:

• For micro and small enterprises and entrepreneurs: up to 60% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 1,000,000.00 RSD;
• For medium-sized enterprises: up to 40% of eligible costs, up to a maximum amount of 1,500,000.00 RSD.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are submitted electronically by creating a user account at the following link: https://prijave.ras.gov.rs/dobavljaci/ and verifying your email address.

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES

Regarding the implementation procedure for the 2026 Program for Supporting Companies to Enter Multinational Supply Chains, as well as the terms and conditions for its execution, please review the following document in detail: Guidelines for the Implementation of the 2026 Program for Supporting Companies to Enter Multinational Supply Chains.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTATION:

Required documentation:

1. Form 1 – Program Application Form;

2. Form 2 – Statement of fulfillment and acceptance of the Program participation terms (issued under full material and criminal liability);

3. Form 3 / Form 3a – Statement that the Applicant and their legal representatives have not been convicted of economic offenses or criminal acts against the economy;

4. A copy of a certificate from the competent tax authority confirming that the Applicant has settled all due tax and contribution liabilities, issued no more than one month prior to the date of application;

5. A copy of a valid ISO 9001 quality management system certificate or a standard that incorporates the ISO 9001 quality management system (issued by a certification body accredited by the Accreditation Body of Serbia (ATS) or an accreditation body in the country where the certificate issuer's headquarters are located);

6. A signed and properly completed Letter of Recommendation from an MNC and/or an MNC Supplier, using the form prescribed by the Agency. If submitting a Letter of Recommendation from an MNC Supplier, the Applicant must also provide proof of an active commercial relationship between the MNC Supplier and the MNC (a statement from the MNC in the prescribed format or a valid contract confirming the nature of the commercial relationship).

Additional documentation (not a mandatory requirement for Program participation)

Applicants may also submit the following documentation with their application:

1. Proof of issued IATF 16949, IRIS, or industry-specific standards from the CEN group, which entitles the Applicant to 20 points;

2. Non-disclosure agreement signed by the Applicant's legal representative.

For more detailed information, you may contact RAS via email at: dobavljaci@ras.gov.rs.

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS AND FORMS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS PROGRAM AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES:

Public Call text

Guidelines for the implementation of the Program for supporting companies to enter the supply chains of multinational companies in 2026

1. Form 1 – Program Application Form;
2. Form 2 – Statement on meeting and accepting the conditions for participation in the Program (issued under full material and criminal liability);
3. Form 3 / Form 3a – Statement that the Applicant and its legal representatives have not been convicted of economic offenses or criminal acts against the economy;
4. Form 4 – MNC Letter of Recommendation;
5. Form 5 – MNC Supplier Letter of Recommendation;
6. Form 6 – Statement by the MNC confirming the nature of the commercial relationship with the MNC Supplier;
7. Form 7 – Business Assessment – Diagnostics;
8. Form 8 – Improvement Plan;
9. Form 9 – Request for disbursement of approved grant funds;
10. Annex 1 – Methodology for determining criteria and weights for evaluating eligible applications;
11. Diagnostic Guidelines;
12. Verification Guidelines.

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