Author: Panagiotis Grafakos, Economist – Class A Accountant – Business & Investment Consultant
North Aegean NSRF: grant of up to 70% for tourism and secondary processing
The North Aegean NSRF program supports existing SMEs in the Municipal Unit of Chios, the Municipal
Community of Mytilene, and the municipalities of Fournoi Korseon, Agios Efstratios, Psara, Oinousses,
and Ikaria. Samos is not included. The grant rate is 50% or 70%, depending on the sub-action and
area.
The new action of the “North Aegean” 2021–2027 Program concerns existing micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises
that want to implement an investment plan focused on tourism, culture, value chains, and the secondary processing of
agricultural products.
The critical question is not simply “is there a grant?”. The right question is: is my business eligible, or
will it be rejected from the outset because of the area, activity code, establishment, own contribution, or a
weak Business Plan?
FREE PRE-CHECK
See whether you are eligible before starting an OPSKE application file
We check the area, activity code, grant rate, own contribution, key supporting
documents, and whether the investment plan can be supported by a solid Business Plan.
KAD (Bussines Activity code) check by sub-action
50% or 70%, depending on the case
Business Plan and OPSKE preparation
Which areas are eligible for the North Aegean NSRF program
The action is geographically restricted. It does not apply to the entire North Aegean in general. The business
must implement the investment in a specific area, depending on the sub-action.
Municipal Unit of Chios.
Municipal Community of Mytilene.
Municipality of Fournoi Korseon, Municipality of Agios Efstratios, Municipality of the Heroic
Island of Psara, Municipality of Oinousses, and Municipality of Ikaria.
For businesses in Chios and Mytilene, there is an additional critical point: the existing establishment in the
respective area must have been in place by 31/12/2025. This means that a future intention to relocate or a new
location without documentation is not sufficient.
See also our local pages for:
NSRF Consultants in Chios and
NSRF Consultants in Mytilene.
Is Samos included in the program?
No, Samos does not appear among the eligible areas of the call. The Small Islands ITI areas
include Fournoi Korseon, Agios Efstratios, Psara, Oinousses, and Ikaria. The Municipality of Eastern Samos and
the Municipality of Western Samos are not mentioned.
Therefore, a business based in or planning an investment in Samos should not proceed with an application file
without a prior check, because there is a serious risk of rejection at the first stage due to geographic
ineligibility.
Who receives 50% and who receives 70%
The grant rate is not the same for everyone. It depends on the area and on whether the investment concerns
tourism / culture or the secondary processing of agricultural products.
Connection with Tourism / Culture in the Chios SUD and Mytilene SUD areas.
Utilization of agricultural production / secondary processing in the Chios SUD and Mytilene SUD
areas.
Tourism / Culture and secondary processing in the Small Islands ITI areas.
The total eligible budget limits range from €10,000 to €300,000, but the minimum threshold varies by sub-action.
For example, in the Chios SUD the minimum is €60,000; in the Mytilene SUD it is €30,000 for tourism / culture
and €40,000 for secondary processing; while in the Small Islands ITI areas it starts at €10,000.
Which activity codes and sectors are relevant
The eligible activity codes are not uniform across all areas. There are separate activity-code tables for each
sub-action and area. Therefore, it is not enough to say “I am in tourism” or “I am in manufacturing.” The exact
investment activity code must be checked.
Indicative sectors for Tourism / Culture
- hotels and accommodation, subject to the specific restrictions of the call,
- restaurants, cafés, bars, catering, and related services where provided for,
- travel agencies, organized tours, tourist guides, and booking services,
- marine tourism, marinas, tourist transport, and boats where provided for,
- cultural, creative, photographic, publishing, advertising, and entertainment activities where included
in the activity-code table, - wellness, spa, thermal bath, and related services where eligible.
Indicative sectors for secondary processing of agricultural products
- production and processing of oils, olive oil, and related products,
- dairy products, cheese products, and milk products,
- baking, confectionery, rusks, biscuits, pasta, and flour-based products,
- processing of coffee, tea, herbs, and infusions,
- other food-processing activities included in the activity-code table of the sub-action.
Important: in the tourism sub-action, the connection with the area’s tourism or cultural product must be
substantiated. In secondary processing, the utilization of agricultural production and the relationship with
products listed in Annex I of the TFEU must be substantiated.
Who is excluded from the outset
In the pre-check, we do not start with “how much money will I receive?”, but with whether there is a reason for
rejection. The most common exclusion points are the following:
Business or investment outside the Municipal Unit of Chios, the Municipal Community of Mytilene,
or the five Small Islands ITI municipalities.
Samos is not listed among the eligible areas of the call.
Business without two full closed financial years for 2023–2024.
Ineligible KAD, or an KAD not in place at the required time for the specific
sub-action.
Inability to substantiate private participation of at least 30% of the total budget.
Lack of lawful operation, notification, license, or documentation showing that no license is
required.
Investment in a residence or in a non-distinct space shared with another business.
Exceeding the €300,000 de minimis aid ceiling over a rolling three-year period.
Particular attention is required for main tourist accommodation in the Municipal Unit of Chios and the Municipal
Community of Mytilene regarding restrictions on stars, beds, keys, and accommodation type. Not all accommodation
businesses are automatically safe to apply.
What a Business Plan needs for the application to stand
The Business Plan is not a routine attachment. It is the tool that connects eligibility with scoring, viability,
and financing. In this action, it must demonstrate that the investment is not simply an equipment purchase, but
a plan with sound economic logic.
- Clear description of the investment plan and objective.
- Documentation of the connection with tourism / culture or the agri-food chain.
- Correct matching of the KAD, expenses, and sub-action.
- Realistic budget, without exaggerations or ineligible expenses.
- Documentation of the own contribution and financing structure.
- Analysis of viability, profitability, employment, and turnover.
- Environmental / energy expenses where required.
- Clear deliverables for OPSKE and implementation after approval.
At MegaProfit, we treat the Business Plan as a financially coherent plan: the KAD, expenses, own contribution,
viability, scoring, and OPSKE submission strategy must all align.
Why a consultant is needed for OPSKE, KAD, and scoring
The program is restricted and competitive. This means that being formally eligible is not enough. An application
file is needed that does not lose points because of ambiguities, the wrong activity code, weak expense
documentation, or insufficient proof of the own contribution.
We check whether the business is eligible or excluded before a time-consuming process
begins.
We connect the correct investment KAD with the correct sub-action and area.
We prepare the information so the application can be submitted without gaps in mandatory
fields.
We align the Business Plan with the evaluation criteria and the competitive assessment
process.
MEGAPROFIT
Would you like to know whether you are eligible for the North Aegean NSRF
program?
Send us the basic details of your business and we will carry out an initial check of
the area, activity code, grant rate, own contribution, and investment rationale.
is an obvious STOP
We check whether you qualify for 50% or 70%
We provide guidance for the Business Plan
Support for OPSKE and implementation
Official sources and useful links
Frequently asked questions about the North Aegean NSRF program
What is the grant rate under the North Aegean NSRF program?
The rate is
50% or 70%, depending on the sub-action and area. Tourism / Culture in the Chios SUD and Mytilene SUD areas
is supported at 50%, while secondary processing in Chios and Mytilene and the Small Islands ITI sub-actions
are supported at 70%.
Is Samos included in the program?
No. Samos is not listed among the
eligible geographic areas of the call. The Small Islands ITI areas listed are Fournoi Korseon, Agios
Efstratios, Psara, Oinousses, and Ikaria.
Which businesses can apply?
Eligible beneficiaries are existing micro,
small, and medium-sized enterprises that meet the call’s conditions, have the required closed financial
years, and implement an eligible investment plan in an eligible area.
Does the business need to have closed financial years?
Yes. The call
concerns existing businesses with at least two full closed financial years, 2023–2024, before the electronic
submission of the application.
Is having a tourism KAD enough?
No. The KAD must be eligible for the
specific sub-action and area. In addition, the investment plan must substantiate a connection with the
tourism or cultural product, rather than merely stating a general tourism activity.
What own contribution is required?
The business must substantiate
private participation of at least 30% of the total budget. Proof of own funds or borrowing is a critical
point for both eligibility and scoring.
Where is the application submitted?
The funding application is submitted
electronically through OPSKE and must be accompanied by the required supporting documents. If mandatory
fields are missing, the application cannot proceed correctly.
Why is a Business Plan needed?
The Business Plan substantiates the
investment rationale, the connection with the sub-action, the budget, the own contribution, viability, and
scoring. It is not a simple description; it is a key evaluation tool.
