Regional investment aid

Regional investment aid is a government grant intended to promote growth and employment in parts of Sweden with special development needs. The aid is administered by Tillväxtverket and is aimed at companies investing in physical assets, such as buildings, machinery and equipment.

Which investments qualify for aid?

The aid can be granted for investments that strengthen the company's operations and create lasting employment:

• Buildings and facilities - new construction, conversion or extension of premises, production facilities and warehouses
• Machinery and equipment - purchase of production equipment, tools and technical infrastructure
• Land acquisition - in some cases land acquisition can also be included in the eligible cost
• Production capacity - investments that increase production capacity or streamline existing operations

The aid is not granted for ongoing operating costs, personnel expenses or investments that have already begun before the application was submitted.

Where does the aid apply?

Sweden is divided into support areas based on regional development needs:

• Support area A - the inner parts of Norrland. Here small companies can receive up to 35% and medium-sized companies up to 25% of the investment cost
• Support area B - the remaining parts of Norrland plus parts of Dalarna, Värmland and other counties with similar conditions. The aid level is lower, but still significant
• Outside a support area - companies in other parts of Sweden cannot apply for regional investment aid, but there are often alternative forms of support

Which municipalities are included in each support area is decided by the government and can change between programme periods.

Who can apply?

Regional investment aid is aimed at companies that meet the following:

• Company size - primarily small and medium-sized enterprises, but large companies in support area A can in exceptional cases be granted aid
• Lasting employment - the investment must contribute to creating or maintaining jobs
• Profitability - the company must have a reasonable financial basis and be able to show that the investment is commercially justified
• Anchoring in the region - the operation must be conducted in the support area for at least five years after payment

How the application works

The application is submitted to Tillväxtverket before the investment begins. This is an important requirement: costs incurred before a decision on aid is issued are not eligible.

A complete application contains:

• Description of the investment and its purpose
• Budget and financing plan
• Calculation of employment effects
• Information about the company's finances

The processing time varies, but count on 2-4 months. We help you assess whether your company and investment meet the requirements, and produce a complete application. You pay nothing until aid is approved.