How to get a subsidy to develop your business or other activities? Navigating the subsidy system can be challenging. We will guide you through this labyrinth and explain how to apply for a subsidy so that you can successfully obtain it. The application process and structure may vary depending on the specific grant agency and the type of funding you are applying for.  

In the past months we have introduced you to what subsidies are and informed you that the size of your company plays a key role in the selection of a subsidy title. We have also given you a basic overview of the different types of subsidies and explained in more detail what de minimis support means. We also paid attention to subsidies for farmers, which have a number of specifics compared to other subsidy titles. Now we will focus more specifically on the grant application itself, which we are also ready to help you prepare.  

Simplified grant application procedure 

The applicant must normally take the outlined steps when preparing the grant application. However, keep in mind that these may vary depending on the grant agency or type of funding. Therefore, always follow the guidelines of the relevant grant agency.   

• Identification of a suitable grant 
• Familiarisation with the terms and conditions of the subsidy programme and the programme/call documentation 
• Reading the application instructions (instructions for completing the application) 
• Performing an eligibility test (financial health of the enterprise and the group of enterprises, to which you belong), or familiarising yourself with the eligibility conditions for submitting an application and for the decision on the subsidy being awarded 
• Preparation of the project proposal (grant application) 
• Setting up the budget 
• Completion of required documents (business plan/feasibility study, CVs of project participants, letters of support, financial reports, etc.) 
• Checking and submitting the grant application 
• Waiting for the evaluation of your proposal or processing of the grant application 

Structure of the grant application 

Generally speaking, regardless of whether the application for subsidy is processed in specific systems (AIS system for Norway Grants or applications to NPŽP), on prescribed forms (SP CAP via the Farmer Portal) or possibly in a combination of both options (e.g. applications to OP TAK, OP JAK and IROP), the structure of projects is as follows: 

• Introduction of the applicant (and partners, if applicable) 
• Annotation of the project plan 
• Compliance of the project plan with the parameters of the call 
• Consistency with strategic documents (usually for more complex grant titles such as OP TAK and OP JAK) 
• Detailed content of the project plan (objectives, activities, main outputs) - special annexes are often created for this purpose (feasibility study, business plan, etc.) 
• Project plan staffing 
• Schedule 
• Project plan budget 
• Risk analysis (usually for more complex grant titles such as OP TAK, OP JAK and IROP) 
• Application of outputs in practice (usually for more complex grant titles such as OP TAK and OP JAK) 
• Horizontal principles (especially for soft projects, i.e. projects aimed at human resource development) 
• Commercialisation of outputs or their marketability (for OP TAK) 
• Impact of the project on the environment, sustainable development, etc. (for OP TAK) 

What is the most important part in terms of evaluation? 

The answer to this question is not entirely simple. The evaluation itself follows the structure of the project plan and it can be said that the most important prerequisite for a project to succeed is to meet the acceptability of the call. In terms of scoring, perhaps the most important aspect of all grant titles is the comprehensiveness of the project plan and the coherence of its sub-activities. Furthermore, the consistency of the content of the project plan with the objectives of the call and the adequacy of the project outputs in relation to the size of the budget are assessed. Of considerable importance is also the effectiveness of the purchased equipment for the fulfilment of the objectives and outputs of the project, cost-effectiveness (price adequacy) both in terms of personnel costs and purchased equipment. 

For more demanding grant titles, such as OP TAK, OP JAK and IROP, risk analysis is also assessed. It is therefore necessary to clearly identify them in the project and to indicate the exact ways of their handling or prevention. 

Emphasis is also placed on consistency with strategic documents. Examples of such documents are the RIS3 Strategy, the Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Czech Republic, the National Action Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change, and the Concept of Protection against the Consequences of Drought for the Territory of the Czech Republic. The strategic documents may differ for each operational programme. The RIS3 strategy is important especially for OP TAK, OP JAK and IROP, and on the contrary the Concept of protection against the consequences of drought for the territory of the Czech Republic for OP ŽP. 

What do I need to submit with my grant application?  

There is no universal answer here either. It differs greatly. In general, however, the more complex the project, the more annexes are attached to the project plan. Something you can certainly not avoid is being debt-free (to the tax office, health insurance companies and the Czech Social Security Fund), which is documented for all projects. The most common attachments include: 

• Business plan / feasibility study 
• Financial statements for the last, usually 2, closed financial years. Alternatively, there may be a requirement for disclosure, both by the applicant itself and by its related/partner entities 
• Full and up-to-date statement from the beneficial owner register 
• CVs of members of the implementation team (or at least key and excellent staff, e.g. for OP JAK) 
• Letters of intent (mostly OP TAK or even some OP JAK calls) 
• Agreement on the bank account, to which the subsidy is paid 
• Proof of legal relations to immovable property (project site) 
• Documents relating to the legal personality of the applicant (if not published – statutes, articles of incorporation, etc.) 
• Various expert opinions 
• Energy performance certificate for buildings (for some calls of OP ŽP, NPO or ModFund) 
• Opinion of OHA (Chief Architect) – for some IROP calls 
• Statement of the ITI Steering Committee (for projects implemented in calls focused on ITI areas, e.g. IROP and OP JAK) 

Use help from professionals!  

We hope that you now have a clearer idea about the preparation of your grant application! Whatever the case, we are ready to help you. Contact us. We will find a grant title suitable for your company and your financial plan and guide you through the entire process of preparing a grant application.  Our subsidy experts will ensure the preparation of the subsidy application including all relevant annexes, all communication with the relevant authorities during the preparation and approval process of the application and assistance in the preparation and subsequent control of the procurement procedure for the project supplier.