The business environment in Romania is eligible for UE Structural Funds through the Axis no. 4.1 of National ROP. The objective of this sector’s investment in related to the creation, the modernization of regional and local structures for the support of business in order to attract new investment and participate on development of local and regional economies. The business support structures are well delimited and destinated for various economic activities, like production and services, and includes also technologic parks.

The technologic park is a structure that brings together in service activities and/or production which provides many workplaces. Technology parks play very important activities for the national economy. This is the reason why the state encourages the creation of such structures. Economic operators usually perform in these parks innovative activities, and apply new technologies, being, in most cases, large multinational companies.

The efficiency of this grant framework is even more evident in this period of economic difficulties, when most of the companies decide to move production centers in these areas, where they can benefit the reduction of the tax on the property or on the land tax. This is a solution even in the case of companies planning the relocation of production activities in accordance with legislation in the environmental field, which provides the transfer of production capacity outside of urban areas.

The program is oriented to public authorities, from both urban and rural environment, local authorities in partnership with the private sector, to chambers of commerce, to business associations, but also to commercial companies and cooperatives.

The financial allocation for this program is about 274,4 mil. euro, for all the period 2007-2013. Most of all (85%), that is 233,25 mil., come from the European Funds for Social Development (FESS). The difference is covered by national contributions (13%) and from local budget (2%). The total value a project can achieve (including both the eligible and non-eligible costs) could reach the range an amount between 1,700,000 and 85,000,000 lei.

The value of the grant for SMEs may be up to 70% of the total value of all eligible expenses. For governments funding covers 50% of eligible. In this way, the recipient contributes a percentage  between 30-50% of the total eligible project.

Financed activities concern: construction / modernization / expansion of buildings and related plant for the conduct of production activities and/or provide services; are also eligible construction works / modernization / expansion of road or rail structures. In this case, it should be mentioned that activity becomes eligible only if there is a proof of needing the work or that the enhancement of the project is affected by the infrastructure deficit. The costs of the road works are eligible up to 10% of the total value of the project.

Other financial assets within the program presented refer to the creation / modernization / expansion of basic services such as those for water, energy, gas, sewerage system, Internet. It also could be eligible providing the business structure with equipment / facilities.

The call takes place in the “continuous presentation request” system, without deadline. In this way projects can be submitted until the exhaustion of the budget.