New NSRF 2026 for businesses with at least 100 different employees in 2025, with a subsidy rate of 50% and an eligible budget for training plans of up to €1.200.000.
A new grant opportunity for employee training is offered to Greek businesses by the action ‘In-company Training of Employees in Strategic Technologies STEP and Defence & Security Sectors (Defence)’, within the ‘Competitiveness’ Programme of the NSRF 2021–2027.
The call, published on 13 October 2026, has a total budget of 20 million euro and aims to upgrade the knowledge and skills of employees in strategic technology sectors.
Through the new NSRF action, businesses can invest in the training of their human resources, strengthen their expertise and meet the demands of digital and technological transition, significantly reducing the related cost.
How much subsidy does NSRF 2026 provide for employee training?
The programme funds Operational Training Plans with an eligible budget from €150.000 to €1.200.000, providing a subsidy rate of 50%.
Public funding can therefore range from €75.000 to €600.000 per approved plan, while the remaining amount is covered by the business.
For example, a business implementing an eligible training programme worth €400.000 can receive a grant of €200.000.
The funding is provided under Article 31 of the General Block Exemption Regulation (EU) 651/2014, which concerns training aid.
Which businesses are eligible for the employee training grant?
The action is addressed to existing businesses that operate legally in Greece and meet the conditions of the call.
One of the main participation requirements is that the business must have employed at least 100 different employees during the calendar year 2025.
What applies to the criterion of 100 employees?
For the assessment of this criterion, individual employees are taken into account and not Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs).
Therefore, the condition may also be met by businesses with seasonal employment, provided that the relevant terms of the call are satisfied.
Which NACE codes are eligible in the new NSRF programme?
In addition to the employment criterion, the relevance of the business activity to the technological sectors supported by the action is examined.
The call includes a specific Annex II with indicative eligible Activity Classification Codes (KAD).
However, the fact that a KAD is not included in that table does not necessarily mean exclusion, provided that the business can sufficiently substantiate the relevance of its activity to the training subjects.
Which technologies are covered by the employee training grant?
The new NSRF action focuses on strategic STEP technology sectors and defence and security sectors, which are linked to competitiveness, innovation and the technological autonomy of the European Union.
The training subjects include, among others:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced digital technologies
Machine Learning, Big Data, Cloud Computing, cyber security, robotics and automation.
Industry 4.0 and advanced manufacturing
Internet of Things (IoT), digital twins, smart production systems and advanced industrial application technologies.
Clean and energy technologies
Renewable energy sources, energy storage, energy efficiency and innovative environmental technologies.
Biotechnology and health technologies
Bioinformatics, medical technology applications, pharmaceutical and biotechnological technologies.
Defence and security (Defence)
Cyber defence, unmanned systems, advanced surveillance systems, dual-use technologies and critical infrastructure security.
A basic requirement is that the training programmes respond to real business needs and are linked to the company’s operational activity or its documented strategic orientation.
Which expenses are subsidised for staff training?
The employee training grant concerns expenses directly related to the design and implementation of the eligible training programmes.
Eligible expenses include:
Trainers’ fees.
Training programmes and materials.
Skills certification examinations .
Pro rata depreciation of training equipment .
Consultancy services related to the design and support of training, subject to the more specific restrictions of the call.
Indirect costs, calculated on a flat-rate basis.
By contrast, the wage cost of the employees participating in the training is not included in the eligible costs .
Why is the Training Business Plan important?
A central element of the funding application is the Training Business Plan (TBP) .
This sets out the enterprise’s training needs, the proposed programmes, the employees who will participate, the budget and the expected results.
What is the Baseline?
Of particular importance is the Baseline, which is linked to the enterprise’s historical training expenditure.
The enterprise must maintain the prescribed level of total training expenditure during the implementation period, in accordance with the terms of the call.
For this reason, proper financial substantiation and careful planning are decisive elements for the successful inclusion and completion of the project.
When do applications for ESPA 2026 start and end?
The application submission period for the new action has been set as follows:
Submission opens: 2 November 2026, 15:00.
Closing date: 31 December 2026, 15:00.
It is particularly important that assessment is carried out under the FIFO (First In, First Out) procedure, that is, in order of priority based on the date and time of final electronic submission, provided that the action’s criteria are met.
Accordingly, the timely preparation of the file and the gathering of the required supporting documents become particularly important.
Why is employee training a significant investment for businesses?
The new ESPA action is an opportunity for businesses seeking to develop technological capabilities, enhance their productivity and prepare their staff for the requirements of the coming years.
Funding for training can help reduce the cost of developing specialised skills, make better use of new technologies and strengthen overall competitiveness.
However, participation requires careful assessment of the conditions, proper planning of the training subject matter and full substantiation of the financial and business data.
AFS undertakes your application for the employee training grant
Athens Financial Services (AFS) supports businesses in assessing and making use of funding programmes, with the aim of shaping comprehensive and substantiated investment proposals.
Within the framework of the new ESPA action, the AFS team undertakes:
The initial eligibility check of the business.
The examination of the KADs and the required conditions.
The coordination of file preparation .
The submission of the funding application .
Support during the subsequent implementation and certification stages .
Take advantage of a grant of up to €600,000 with the support of AFS
Is your business interested in investing in the development of its human resources skills?
Contact AFS so that we can examine your eligibility to participate in the new action and organise the preparation of your proposal in good time:
- 📞 210 831 7702
- 📧 info@afs.gr
- Or complete AFS’s contact form so that our team can contact you
