Tender Jungle: How to Find the Right Tenders
Companies often contact us with the question: "Are there any calls for subsidies?"
My first answer is actually the questions: "What stage is your company in? What are your goals? What do you want to achieve with your application?" If you search for a call for proposals without a clear goal, there is a high probability that you will spend time, energy and money - and there will be no effect.
The fact that it is difficult to find your way around the tender jungle certainly does not make matters any easier. Therefore, the purpose of this article is very practical: to show who the main tenderers are, where to look for tenders and how to think about them. We focus on tenders from Slovenian institutions.
Where to look for tenders?
When searching for tenders, don’t just ask yourself which institution is right for you. Ask yourself what you actually need at a particular stage of development. The key tenderers are listed below, and the short descriptions will help you identify the areas they cover. Their content overlaps to some extent, so more than one tender may sometimes be appropriate for a company. The final decision is always a combination of your needs and the specific conditions of the tender.
1. Beginnings, growth and development of the company:
- Slovenian Enterprise Fund (SPS) . Often the first stop for startups and MSMEs (micro, small and medium-sized enterprises). Startup incentives (P2, P2R), microloans, interest rate subsidized guarantees, vouchers, capital incentives for fast-growing companies. More: www.podjetniskisklad.si
- SPIRIT Slovenia. Support for internationalization, appearances at international fairs, promotion in foreign markets, major investment projects and programs for specific target groups (e.g. youth and women). More: www.spiritslovenia.si .
- SID Bank. Favorable loans and guarantees primarily for established companies (usually with at least 2 employees) that are making major investments or expanding into foreign markets. More: www.sid.si.
- Slovenian Regional Development Fund (SRRS) . Investments with a regional impact and support for activities that contribute to the economic development of regions (tourism, green transformation, increasing added value). More: www.srrs.si.
- Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport (MGTŠ). Research and development projects, major partnerships and strategic development calls. More: https://tinyurl.com/3hysbftc
- Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development (MKRR) . Co-financing of initial investments and new jobs in border problem areas and the inclusion of graduates in company development projects. More: https://tinyurl.com/ypzxuecx
- Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (MVZI) . Co-financing of development and innovation projects in cooperation between companies and research organizations. More: https://tinyurl.com/5emres5b
- Municipalities. Smaller tenders to support young businesses and local entrepreneurship. Among others, the Slovenj Gradec Municipality and the Ravne na Koroškem Municipality are tendering on Koroškem.
- RRA Koroška. Guarantee scheme for Koroško, intended for financing SME investments. Provides a guarantee for bank loans under more favorable conditions and a subsidized interest rate. More: www.rra-koroska.si/garancijska-shema-za-korosko
2. Energy and sustainable investments:
- Borzen. Support for renewable energy projects, energy storage and other energy investments by companies. More: www.borzen.si
- Eco Fund. Subsidies and loans for energy efficiency, renewable sources and other environmental investments by companies. More: www.ekosklad.si
3. Research and Development (R&D):
- Public Agency for Research of the Republic of Slovenia (ARIS). Financing of research and development projects, often in partnership between companies and research institutions. More: www.aris-rs.si
4. Recruitment and human resource development:
- Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia (ZRSZ) . Subsidies for employment, training and integration of certain target groups into the labor market. More: https://tinyurl.com/3aasef65
How to monitor tenders so you don't get overwhelmed?
The most effective way is to subscribe to corporate e-newsletters, which systematically collect current Slovenian tenders for companies:
- My online manual (SPIRIT Slovenia): weekly overview of tenders. Login: www.podjetniski-portal.si/moj-spletni-prirocnik .
- e-newsletter RRA Koroška: monthly overview of tenders and current business content. Sign up: www.rra-koroska.si .
- One option is specialized project offices, which, for a fee, help companies both in finding suitable tenders and in applying for tenders.
Ask yourself the right questions before applying for a job
To save time and money, it is useful to be able to roughly assess whether a tender is suitable for our needs.
For this purpose, I recently prepared an article "Method 6K - 6 key questions for a company before applying for a tender": https://rra-koroska.si/mpik/blogi-gradiva/metoda-6k-6-kljucnih-vprasanj-za-podjetje-pred-prijavo-na-razpis . In it, you will get exactly what the title promises - 6 key questions that you need to ask yourself before deciding to apply for a tender.
If you have any questions or doubts regarding specific calls, please contact RRA Koroška or MPIK. As part of our advisory and mentoring program, we will be happy to help you clarify your doubts.
Avtor: Jure Knez, RRA Koroška d.o.o. – Mrežni podjetniški inkubator Koroška
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