Illustration · Malta
Up to €40,000 grant.
€80,000 of eligible AI costs, such as an AI booking assistant connected to a custom CRM, at 50%. The 7% flat rate and any top-up come on top.
AI grant · Digitalise your SME
AI grant
in Malta.
What you
can claim.
Digitalise your SME (Call 2) gives Malta SMEs up to €107,000 extra for AI projects, on top of the standard grant of up to €128,400. That is up to €235,400 in total, at up to 50% of eligible costs in Malta and 60% in Gozo. The next cut-off is 16 October 2026.
The short answer
The AI top-up,
in brief.
The AI top-up is an extra grant threshold of up to €100,000, only for artificial intelligence cost items. A 7% flat rate is added, so it reaches €107,000. It sits on top of the standard maximum of €120,000 plus 7% (€128,400), so a project can receive up to €235,400.
Last checked 8 Oct 2026 against the fondi.eu scheme page, the Guidance Notes V2.0 and the User Guide to Application V2.1. The funding body decides eligibility. This page is a plain summary, not financial advice.
Key facts
The numbers.
Extra for AI
Up to €100,000, only for AI cost items. With the 7% flat rate, up to €107,000.
Standard grant
From €25,000 to €120,000, plus 7%, so up to €128,400. The AI threshold is not counted in this cumulative cap.
Total possible
Up to €235,400 for a project that uses both.
Share of the cost
Up to 50% of eligible costs in Malta. Up to 60% in Gozo.
10% top-up
AI items can get an extra 10% aid intensity, funded by MDIA. On the AI threshold, it is paid one year after the project ends, once you submit a productivity gains report and an ethical AI and societal well-being report, subject to budget.
Staff costs
Up to 25% of the AI threshold can cover hours worked directly on developing or implementing the AI solution, at a fixed hourly rate set in the rules. Project management does not count.
Source: Digitalise your SME Guidance Notes V2.0, sections 1.7 and 2.3.2.
Cut-off dates
Remaining cut-offs
in 2026.
16 October, 30 October, 13 November, 30 November and 14 December 2026.
Applications are evaluated after each cut-off. Eligible applications scoring at least 50% of the selection criteria are funded while the budget lasts. The scheme runs until 31 December 2026, subject to funds. Confirm dates on fondi.eu.
Who can apply
Eligibility basics.
The AI top-up is part of Digitalise your SME, so the same basic rules apply. The full rules are in the guidance notes.
You may qualify if…
- You are a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise.
- You work in an eligible economic activity.
- The project will be based and operational in Malta or Gozo.
- You have not started the work yet.
- The grant would come to at least €25,000.
Not sure? The funding body’s email is fondi.eu@gov.mt.
What qualifies
What counts as
an AI cost.
AI solutions
Custom-built AI, customised off-the-shelf AI systems, and subscription or usage-based AI platforms for up to two years.
Integration
Connecting the AI to your existing systems, such as a CRM, booking system or ERP.
Hardware and cloud
Hardware or cloud services directly needed to run the AI. Cloud services are supported for up to two years.
Security and assurance
Cyber security, responsible-use controls, user acceptance testing and deployment support linked to the AI solution.
Set-up services and training
External services to set up the AI, and user training from the same supplier.
Staff time
Hours worked directly on the AI solution, up to 25% of the AI threshold.
AI development counts when it adapts and configures existing AI technologies. Inventing new AI models and research and development do not qualify.
What to prepare
What an AI
application needs.
01
MDIA assessment
Book the digital intensity assessment by emailing funding.mdia@mdia.gov.mt.
02
AI scoping report
The AI items, off-the-shelf and custom options, the preferred supplier’s itemised quotation, and any staff hours claimed.
03
Quotations & declarations
Three similar quotations or an Investment Proposal, the de minimis declaration and a recent tax compliance certificate.
04
Apply on fondi.eu
Submit before a cut-off. Start work only after the grant agreement is signed.
A worked example
What an AI project
could look like.
Illustration · Gozo
Up to €48,000 grant.
The same €80,000 project in Gozo, at 60%. Again, before the 7% flat rate and any top-up.
An illustration, not a quote or a promise of funding. Real figures depend on your eligible costs, the assessment and approval.
Other routes
Other funding
to know about.
Digitalise your SME, standard grant
AI items can also be funded inside the standard grant, alongside software, cloud and cyber security. Read the full guide.
Micro Invest
A Malta Enterprise tax credit scheme. You cannot claim it and another grant for the same costs. See our grants overview.
Research and new AI products
Separate calls fund AI research and model-building. They are not meant for typical small-business automation projects.
Where we fit
What Malta Digital
can do.
We build AI automation, booking systems and CRM for businesses in Malta and Gozo. For an AI project that could qualify, we can be one of the quoting suppliers, write the technical specification and prepare the AI scoping report.
We do not decide eligibility and cannot promise approval. The funding body assesses every application.
AI projects that could fit
- An AI assistant that answers and books enquiries.
- AI connected to a custom CRM or booking system.
- Email and document sorting with AI.
- AI-drafted quotes and replies, checked by staff.
Planning one of these? We’ll tell you honestly whether it looks like a fit.
A few straight answers
What you might be wondering.
Is there an AI grant in Malta?
Yes. Digitalise your SME (Call 2) has an additional threshold of up to €100,000 for AI cost items, or €107,000 with the 7% flat rate.
What is the maximum grant for an AI project?
Up to €107,000 on the AI threshold, on top of up to €128,400 under the standard grant. That is up to €235,400 in total.
How much of the cost does it cover?
Up to 50% of eligible costs in Malta and 60% in Gozo. AI items may get a further 10% top-up funded by MDIA.
When are the remaining cut-off dates?
The remaining 2026 cut-offs are 16 October, 30 October, 13 November, 30 November and 14 December.
Do I need an AI scoping report?
Yes, if you apply for the AI threshold. It sets out the AI items, the options on the market, the preferred supplier’s itemised quotation and any staff hours you claim.
Can I start the project before approval?
No. Work may only start after the grant agreement is signed.
Who runs the scheme?
The Measures and Support Division, through fondi.eu. The Malta Digital Innovation Authority carries out the digital intensity assessment and funds the AI top-up.
Can Malta Digital guarantee approval?
No. We can quote, write the technical specification and prepare the AI scoping report. The funding body decides eligibility and approval.
Planning an AI project?
We’ll scope it and
prepare the AI report.
Tell us what you want AI to do. We’ll scope it properly and give you a clear quotation.