PUBLIC CALL for grant awards under the “RETURN AND CREATE” PROGRAM – SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR STARTING AND DEVELOPING BUSINESSES FOR RETURNEES FROM ABROAD IN 2026

The Ministry of Economy, in cooperation with the Development Fund of the Republic of Serbia, is implementing the "Return and Create" Program – a support program for starting and developing businesses for returnees from abroad in 2026, aimed at supporting the launch of new businesses and the development of existing ones founded by returnees from abroad.

For the purposes of this Program, a returnee is defined as a citizen of the Republic of Serbia who, starting from January 1, 2016, has spent at least one continuous period of 24 months or more residing primarily outside the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

The total available grant funds for the implementation of the Program amount to 70,000,000.00 RSD.

Eligible applicants include:

1. legal entities registered with the Business Registers Agency no earlier than January 1, 2020, classified as micro or small enterprises in accordance with the Law on Accounting ("Official Gazette of RS", Nos. 73/19 and 44/21 - other law) based on 2025 financial statements, or those established on or after January 1, 2026;
2. entrepreneurs registered with the Business Registers Agency no earlier than January 1, 2020;

The entrepreneur, or the owner of at least a 50% stake in the applying business entity, must be a returnee, and the business entity must perform one of the activities covered by the Program.

The funds are intended for co-financing:

• new or used (no older than five years) machinery and equipment;
• new vehicles necessary for business operations;
• new computer equipment and software licenses;
• adaptation, investment, and routine maintenance of business or production premises;
• permanent working capital, which may account for a maximum of 20% of the total investment.

Grant funds may be approved in the following amounts:

• up to 40% of the investment value, with a maximum of 1,200,000.00 RSD;
• up to 50% of the investment value, with a maximum of 1,500,000.00 RSD, for returnees born in 1991 or later, or for business entities operating in local government units classified in the third or fourth development group;
• up to 60% of the investment value, with a maximum of 1,800,000.00 RSD, for returnees born in 1991 or later whose business entity operates in a local government unit classified in the third or fourth development group.

The remainder of the investment is provided from own funds or through a loan from the Development Fund of the Republic of Serbia.

The Development Fund loan is granted under the following terms:

1. loan amount: up to 1,800,000.00 dinars;
2. repayment period of up to 60 months, including a grace period of up to 12 months;
3. interest rate: 2.5% per annum, subject to a currency clause;
4. collateral:

• a pledge on the equipment/vehicle being financed or on other existing equipment of equal or greater value,
• a promissory note from the business entity,
• a personal promissory note from the founder. In cases with multiple founders, all founders must provide their own blank promissory notes, except for those with less than a 5% ownership stake or those who are foreign individuals or legal entities.
• a contractual guarantee from legal entities and entrepreneurs,
• a contractual guarantee from an individual.

The client may also offer other forms of collateral in accordance with the Fund's Program.

The public call is open until the available funds are exhausted, and no later than September 4, 2026.

Applications with supporting documentation must be submitted electronically via the Development Fund of the Republic of Serbia portal, available on the Fund's website.

The text of the Program, the Guidelines for implementing the Program, and the application documentation are available on the Ministry of Economy websites www.privreda.gov.rs and the Development Fund of the Republic of Serbia www.fondzarazvoj.gov.rs.

Unified Application Return and Create - LEGAL ENTITIES

Unified Application Return and Create - ENTREPRENEURS

Business Plan

Statement Form

Statement Form 2 on Related Parties

Statement Form 3 on Personal Data

Statement Form 4 on Personal Assets of the Founder or Entrepreneur

KYC Questionnaire - Legal Entities and Entrepreneurs

Consent for Credit Bureau Report Retrieval - Individual

Consent for Report Retrieval

Return and Create Program

Instructions

Required Documentation Checklist - ENTREPRENEURS

Documentation for Disbursement of Funds

Required Documentation Checklist - LEGAL ENTITIES

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