Elinvoimakeskus funding gives SMEs the opportunity to develop their operations and expand into new markets with risk-free grant funding that does not have to be repaid. The support strengthens the company’s competitiveness, prepares it for the markets of the future and promotes responsible growth.
The ELY Centres are now elinvoimakeskus centres. The ELY Centres closed at the end of 2025, and their business funding moved to the ten elinvoimakeskus centres that started on 1 January 2026. Business funding is now applied for from the elinvoimakeskus.
Who can apply?
The business development grant is mainly granted to SMEs, meaning companies with fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of no more than €50 million or a balance sheet total of no more than €43 million. Both startups and long-established companies can apply. The company must have a valid Finnish business ID and a fixed place of business in the area of the elinvoimakeskus it applies to. As a rule, a company in difficulty or a company with tax debts or payment defaults does not receive a grant.
How much funding is available?
- Development activities, such as product development and internationalisation: up to 50% of eligible costs, or up to 60% in lump-sum projects.
- Investments, such as machinery, equipment and construction: 10–40%, depending on the size of the company and the aid area.
- Minimum amount: the grant is at least €10,000, and a call may set a higher limit.
Sales, marketing and ordinary operations are not eligible costs.
When to apply?
The grant is applied for in rounds, and the application periods and criteria are set out in each call announcement. The application must be submitted before the project starts, that is, before any binding orders, contracts or payments. Planning and applying for permits do not yet count as starting the project. The next R&D call is planned to open in early 2027, probably nationwide.
Who can apply for funding?
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in Finland
- a sole trader can also apply if it meets the conditions of the funding
- companies with a development or investment project that fits an open call and the regional priorities
- companies with the capacity to carry out the project and cover their own share of the funding
What is elinvoimakeskus funding?
Elinvoimakeskus business funding is public funding for SMEs’ development and investment projects. The elinvoimakeskus centres are the reorganised structure of the ELY Centres, and there are 10 regional elinvoimakeskus centres in Finland. Funding is granted regionally, so open calls, priorities and the activities eligible for funding vary from region to region. For this reason, whether the funding suits you always depends on both your company’s situation and the content of the project.
Elinvoimakeskus funding is mainly granted as grants, which can be used for example for business development, investments, and growth and renewal projects. In practice, what matters is that the company has a clear project that fits an open call and the priorities of that region.
Why choose elinvoimakeskus funding
Elinvoimakeskus funding suits SMEs that have a clear development or investment project and need external funding. Grant funding can support carrying out the project without diluting ownership, and the funding is directed at activities that are essential to the company’s development.
Benefits of the funding for your company:
- A lower-risk funding model elinvoimakeskus funding is mainly granted as grants, so it can complement the company’s other funding without adding to loans that must be repaid.
- Funding for concrete development projects the funding can be directed at projects that are essential to the company’s development, such as business renewal, growth, investments and strengthening competitiveness.
- Regional calls and priorities funding is granted regionally, so open calls and priorities vary between elinvoimakeskus centres. For this reason, the suitability of the funding is always assessed on the basis of the company’s situation, the content of the project and the regional call.
What can the funding be used for?
Elinvoimakeskus funding can be applied for to fund SMEs’ development and investment projects. The funding can be directed, for example, at business renewal, growth, activities that support internationalisation, and tangible and intangible investments. Eligible activities and priorities vary by region.
Funding can be applied for, for example:
- Research and development projects: for developing new products, services, operating models and solutions
- Growth and renewal projects: for business development, strengthening competitiveness and preparing new market opportunities
- Investments: in machinery, equipment, production development, information systems and other tangible and intangible acquisitions
- Projects that support the green transition: for energy efficiency, low-carbon operations, resource efficiency and other solutions that strengthen sustainable business
- Activities that support internationalisation: projects that support the company’s readiness to expand into new markets
- Projects that support security of supply and preparedness: projects that strengthen the company’s operational reliability, the resilience of supply chains, preparedness and the continuity of critical functions
National R&D call
Support for growth and renewal
Elinvoimakeskus centres also have a national call for research and development projects by micro-enterprises and SMEs. The call, which was open in Southern and Western Finland from 26 February to 24 April 2026, was aimed especially at companies that still operate mainly in the domestic market, are aiming for growth and later internationalisation, and are starting or strengthening their own research and development activities. The call had a maximum of €5 million in national funding. It has now closed; future calls are announced on the elinvoimakeskus websites.
The funding is granted as the elinvoimakeskus business development grant, for example for developing a new product, service, production method or business model, strengthening R&D expertise, and demonstrating the performance and market potential of the solutions developed in the project. The funding can also be used to demonstrate that the developed solutions work, for piloting and for assessing market potential.
Rural business funding
Support for developing rural business
Rural business funding is aimed at companies operating in rural areas, for starting a business, developing it and making investments. The elinvoimakeskus can support full-time entrepreneurship, and Leader groups can also support part-time entrepreneurship. The funding is part of Finland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027.
The funding can be used, for example, for developing business operations, investments and business renewal. Development aid mainly supports the purchase of expert services at different stages of the company’s development.
The funding can cover, among other things, the following activities:
- Investments: tangible and intangible investments that support the development of production, services or business
- Business development: new operating models, growth, improving profitability and renewing business operations
- Starting a business: starting new business activity in rural areas
- Climate and environmental solutions: solutions that support low-carbon operations, biodiversity and energy efficiency.
Read more about rural business funding (opens another website)
EU funding
What is EU funding and how can SMEs use it?
EU funding consists of European Union funding programmes that support companies’ renewal, growth, competitiveness and sustainable development. For SMEs, EU funding can offer opportunities for, for example, research and development projects, investments, green transition measures, digitalisation and projects that support internationalisation.
In Finland, SMEs can use EU funding both through national intermediary authorities and directly from EU programmes. In elinvoimakeskus business funding, the main channel is the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which funds companies’ development and investment projects as part of the Innovation and skills in Finland 2021–2027 programme. Some projects may also relate to the Just Transition Fund (JTF), depending on regional priorities.
For SMEs, EU funding is several different funding channels rather than a single form of support. Some of the funding is directed at regional development and investment projects, while some programmes, such as Horizon Europe, support companies’ product development, the scaling of innovations and international growth. In the Horizon Europe programme, projects are usually required to have European added value, and they are often carried out through international cooperation.
EU funding can be directed, for example, at the following themes:
- Green transition and sustainable development: projects that support energy efficiency, the circular economy, low-carbon operations and climate solutions.
- Research, development and innovation: developing new products, services, technologies and business models and strengthening their commercial potential.
- Climate change mitigation and adaptation: projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions, increasing renewable energy production, strengthening carbon sinks and adapting to the effects of climate change.
- Digitalisation: adopting new technologies, digital solutions and ways of working.
- Growth and internationalisation: projects that strengthen the company’s readiness to expand into new markets and develop its international competitiveness.
