SHELTONS INTERNATIONAL GROUP20+
Years of international advisory experience in Malta
Grants are available. Knowing which ones apply to you and how to approach them effectively is where most business owners get stuck.
Malta managed schemes and EU instruments offer millions for qualifying companies. Which schemes apply to your business is what we work out in a first conversation. From there on, we work hard for you to ensure your business gets funded.
Grant eligibility reviews. Application preparation. Business plan development. State Aid and compliance. Whether you are establishing in Malta for EU market access or scaling an existing operation, we work through each stage with you, from the first conversation to the final report.
€5K – €15M
Range of funding across active Malta Enterprise and EU schemes
End-to End
Eligibility review through to post-award compliance
Preliminary review
We assess eligibility before preparing any application
Accredited & Recognised
Malta Chamber of Commerce
Malta Chamber of SMEs
Tech.mt accredited advisor
Business Enhance accredited service provider
Formally accredited to provide consultancy services by EU funding managing authorities in Malta
Malta Enterprise recognised advisory partner
Malta Institute of Accountants / CPA
MFSA CSP Class C licence
Where do you recognise yourself?
I am an international founder interested in Malta as my entry point into the EU.
The decisions made in your first months in Malta directly affect your grant eligibility. The technical guide covers what to put in place before applying.
I run an established Malta-registered company and want to access grants to fund growth, a new project or capital investment.
The scheme overview on this page covers what is currently available. A 20-minute readiness call will tell you what applies to your situation
I manage the finances of a growing company and need guidance on how to use grants strategically: stacking, State Aid and post-award compliance.
The Technical Guide covers grant stacking and compliance in depth. The readiness call gives you a clear picture of your position quickly.
Not keen to face that paperwork again? Most grant applications fall at the first hurdle and it’s rarely your fault.
If you are worried about time, effort or want to take the hassle out of the process, we are here to help you succeed without the stress.
Grants & Incentives in Malta: What to Know Before You Apply
Most grant applications in Malta fail before they are submitted. Not because the business is weak, because management is too busy to focus on the application or the structure, timing or documentation was wrong from the start. The Technical Guide we prepared for you covers what evaluators actually look for, why applications get rejected, how to approach multiple funding sources without breaching State Aid rules and what your business needs to have in place before any application is worth preparing.
Written for founders and finance leads who want an honest picture of the landscape.
- Why most Malta Enterprise applications are rejected and the structural fixes
- How to approach multiple funding sources within EU State Aid rules
- Operational readiness: what your business needs in place before you apply
- An honest overview of the current Malta Enterprise and EU funding landscape
Download the Technical Guide — FreePreview the Technical Guide before downloading
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Not sure if your business is ready to apply? Find out in a few minutes.
This self-assessment and the Grant Readiness Review are preliminary only. They do not confirm eligibility or guarantee that funding will be approved. A full funding eligibility map will be developed as part of the business-planning process, following a detailed review of the applicant, project, eligible costs, timing and applicable State Aid conditions.
The self-assessment is designed to provide an initial indication of readiness. It takes only a few minutes and highlights where your business stands and what may need to be addressed before investing time in a formal submission.
Grants, Incentives & Funding Available to Malta-Based Companies
Malta is building one of Europe’s most startup-friendly business environments. According to the 2025 Europe Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA) Report, published in 2026, Malta leads Europe with a 98% score for Fast Startup Creation & Smooth Market Entry, compared with a European average of 77%.
For founders looking to establish, innovate and scale into Europe, this business environment is complemented by national incentives and access to wider EU funding opportunities. The challenge is understanding which schemes fit your business, when to apply and how they can work together as the company grows.
Grants are subject to cut-off dates and may close in line with respective funding programme timelines and conditions.
Malta schemes that are currently active
| Scheme | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Business Start | Seed grant up to €10,000. Entry-level, easy to access. |
| Startup Finance | Repayable advance of €500,000 – €1.64M for innovative startups. |
| Accelerate | Up to €100,000 for startups joining a Malta-recognised accelerator. EEA-registered, operating <7 years. |
| Business Development Scheme | Up to €300,000 over 3 years, 75% of eligible costs. Includes startups. |
| Micro Invest | Tax credit of between €50,000 and €65,000 with up to 45% of eligible expenditure including wage costs. Startups, family businesses, self-employed. |
| R&D / Industrial Research | Grants for research addressing scientific or technological uncertainty. |
| Malta VC Fund | €10M equity fund, up to €500,000 per startup. Government-backed, co-invests with private investors. |
| IPR Voucher (Xjenza Malta) | Up to 90% reimbursement for IP registration. Requires TRL 5+. |
| TradeMalta International Promotion | Co-financing for trade fairs and events. Separate Digital Marketing Scheme available. |
| Innovate (Innovation Aid for SMEs) | Access to qualified personnel and innovation advisory. SME-focused. |
| Invest | Access to up to €15 million in support for a wide range of industries and project types. |
EU Funding Instruments: an exciting opportunity for larger projects
Beyond national schemes, Malta-registered companies are eligible for the full range of EU-level funding, substantially underutilised due to their complexity and the dedicated expertise required to navigate them.
- Horizon Europe / EIC Accelerator: up to €17.5M per project
- COSME / SMP: SME competitiveness and market access
- InvestEU / EIF Instruments: equity and guarantees via Malta Development Bank
- ERDF / Cohesion Funds: structural funds via national programmes
- Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs
- Digital Europe Programme: AI, cloud, cybersecurity, digital skills
Services across the full grant and funding lifecycle.
Depending on where you are in the process: exploring options, preparing an application, managing post-award obligations or structuring your company for eligibility, the support you need is different.
| Services | What it invovles |
|---|---|
| Grant Application Full Service | End-to-end application management for Malta Enterprise schemes. Document preparation, application writing, financial schedule preparation, and submission management. |
| EU Horizon & EIC Support | Consortium building, proposal writing, and technical annex preparation for Horizon Europe and EIC Accelerator applications. For scale-ups with EU-level ambitions and R&D activities. |
| Business Development & Market Entry | Strategic advisory for international expansion, market analysis, and partnership identification. For Malta-based companies entering new EU markets or international founders establishing their EU base. |
| Corporate Setup & Structure Optimisation | Advising on how to structure IP holding entities and corporate group to maximise eligibility for both grant schemes and tax incentives — before applications begin. |
| Post-Grant Compliance Management | Ongoing reporting, audit preparation, and milestone documentation for grant recipients. We manage the compliance cycle so you can focus on running the business. |
Transparent from the first conversation, always.
The Grant Readiness Review is a genuine assessment where we leave you with a clear picture of your options, whether or not you proceed with us.
For work beyond that, we prepare a proposal before anything begins. We scope the engagement, set out the fee clearly,and put it in writing. The fee is proportional to the complexity and the work involved, whether that is a strategic eligibility audit, a full application, business plan development or an ongoing compliance retainer.
We do not submit applications we do not believe in and we do not take on engagements where we cannot see a credible path to approval. If we think the timing or structure is wrong, we say so in the first conversation.
A clear process, from the first conversation to the final compliance report.
01
Grant Readiness Review (Free)
A 20-minute call to understand your project, company structure, and timeline. We discuss which schemes are relevant, your State Aid position, and whether any structural considerations need addressing. You leave with a clear picture of your options.
02
Eligibility Mapping and Funding Strategy
We map your business against all current national and EU schemes, identify the optimal application sequence, and advise on any structural adjustments before work begins.
03
Business Plan and Financial Modelling
Project narrative, market positioning, financial projections, and scenario modelling. This is where most applications are won or lost — not at the submission stage.
04
Application Preparation and Submission
Full application: narrative, financial schedules, annexes, CPA certification where required. You review and approve. We submit.
05
Authority Liaison During Evaluation
We manage all correspondence and clarification requests throughout the evaluation period. You are kept informed without it consuming your team’s time.
06
Post-Award Compliance and Drawdown
Reporting structures, milestone documentation, procurement compliance, reimbursement management. Grant approval is only the beginning.
Malta as your EU entry point. Grant access from day one.
Founders from the UK, US, India, the UAE and beyond choose Malta as their route into the EU market. What many do not realise until later is that the decisions made in the first few months, how the company is incorporated, where IP sits, how accounts are structured, directly determine grant eligibility.
Companies that approach Malta Grant schemes with the right structure in place consistently outperform those that try to adapt midway through an application. Getting that structure right from the start is something we work through with international founders before they apply for anything. And here is where Sheltons Expertise and trust built through the years support the full structure.
- Grant eligibility mapped before incorporation is complete
- Corporate structure aligned with Malta’s tax system and grant scheme criteria simultaneously
- State Aid position established from the outset so future applications are not constrained
- Introductions to relevant Maltese authorities and industry organisations, such as Malta Enterprise, FinanceMalta and TradeMalta, where appropriate.
Grant advisory
Business Strategy Advisory & Funding Specialist
Albert DeBono
Partner
Ivan Zammit
Head of Corporate Advisory
Francesca Sant
Business Strategy Advisory & Funding Specialist
Albert DeBono
Albert Debono joined Sheltons in 2025 and works with the firm as a Business Strategy Advisory and Funding specialist, supporting clients from the Sheltons office in Malta.
Albert has experience in C-suite roles with both public and private sector organisations, as well as managing boutique consultancy firms specialising in EU and national funding, business planning, and growth strategy for companies operating in Malta and internationally. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Business Management from the University of Malta.
Through his work, Albert supports entrepreneurs, SMEs, and international investors in structuring investments, accessing public funding schemes, and preparing business plans for growth and expansion. He works with both Maltese and international clients across sectors including hospitality, technology, manufacturing, and the creative industries, assisting with financial modelling, funding applications, and strategic investment planning.
Albert speaks English and Maltese.
E-mail:[email protected]
Partner
Ivan Zammit
Ivan joined Sheltons in 2006 in Denmark and soon after became director in charge of our Copenhagen office. Ivan is nowadays the partner in charge of our Malta office as well as a director of Sheltons Italy.
After receiving his Adv. LLM in international tax law, Ivan accepted a position as a teaching assistant at the International Tax Centre (ITC Leiden) at Leiden University, The Netherlands, where he was involved in the ‘Fundamentals of International taxation’ and ‘Tax treaties’ courses. He continues to lecture on a regular basis on courses organised by ITC Leiden, with particular focus on Transfer Pricing. He also lectures yearly on various areas of international tax law.
Ivan advises private clients as well as multinational groups on a wide range of tax related areas typically involving cross-border activities. His specialisation includes:
- Personal tax planning (especially upon relocation within the EU)
- Transfer pricing
- APAs, Tax rulings and opinions
- Tax accounting for complex transactions
- Best practice review for corporate income taxes
Ivan speaks English and Maltese and is fluent in Danish and Italian. He also reads Spanish and French.
Publications
Malta National Reporter for IFA Congress in Lisbon 2025, co-authoring the Maltese chapter on: “Subject 2: Improper use of tax treaties and source taxation — policy, practice and beyond.”
Co-author of book published by Thomson Reuters, entitled ‘Transfer Pricing in Ibero America, USA, and UK’, with his chapter on UK transfer pricing.
Country author of the ‘Bloomberg country tax guide for Malta’ – Bloomberg Tax online platform, updated regularly. Note: This publication is available to subscribers of ‘Bloomberg Tax’ and, in 2020, was honoured with the prestigious award of ‘International Tax Contributing Author of the Year’ by Bloomberg Tax.
Peer-reviewed paper on ‘Centralized Intellectual Property Business Models – Tax Implications of EU Patent Box Regimes’. IBFD, Bulletin for International Taxation, 2015 (Volume 69), No. 9.
Amongst other publications.
E-mail:[email protected]
Head of Corporate Advisory
Francesca Sant
Francesca joined Sheltons in early 2026 and is the Head of Corporate Advisory at Sheltons office in Malta.
She graduated from the University of Malta with a BA (Hons) in 2008, and in 2025 she further strengthened her academic and professional foundation by obtaining a Masters in Business Administration. Other qualifications obtained during her academic career include the IFSP: Foundation Certificate in Trusts Law and Management, the Compliance in Financial Services & MLRO Professional Certificate. She has also been awarded a Diploma in Company Law, as well as the Certified Risk Manager Professional (CRMP) certification.
Francesca is a corporate services professional with extensive experience in the financial services industry, specialising in corporate administration, client relationship management, and regulatory compliance. Over the years, she has developed a strong track record of delivering high-quality service, building trusted relationships, and navigating complex regulatory environments.
During her free time, Francesca enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking with her partner and their dog, whether across the Maltese islands or further afield. She has a strong passion for travel, having explored destinations both within Europe and internationally, with a particular affinity for Asian cultures and destinations. She also enjoys unwinding with a good bottle of wine and a gripping crime series.
Francesca is fluent in English and Maltese and is also proficient in Italian.
E-mail:[email protected]
Three things that are genuinely different about working with Sheltons.
Structure is integral to grant eligibility.
Our background in international tax and corporate advisory informs how we assess grant opportunities. We consider how your holding structure, IP location and co-financing capacity align with the scheme criteria.
Direct involvement throughout the engagement.
The advisor who assesses your eligibility remains closely involved throughout the application, working as part of the same team and remaining accessible as questions arise.
Our involvement continues after approval.
Post-award compliance is an integral part of the funding process. We support clients with milestone reporting, expenditure justification and audit preparation, helping them manage their obligations and key deadlines throughout the funding period.
We assess whether to apply before considering how.
Our first priority is to establish whether the opportunity is right for your business. If the timing, structure or funding conditions are not aligned, we will say so and advise on what may need to change before proceeding.
Questions We Are Often Asked
Can a foreign-owned company apply for Malta Enterprise grants?
Yes. Eligibility is based on Malta registration and tax compliance status, not shareholder nationality. Ownership structure can affect how company size is calculated under EU definitions, which determines which schemes are accessible. We work through this in every initial review.
We have already received public funding. Does that limit what is available to us?
It depends on which schemes you have used and how much de minimis space remains. Some Malta Enterprise schemes are notified aid and do not draw on the de minimis ceiling at all. Understanding your position before applying is one of the first things we clarify. Getting this wrong can disqualify an otherwise strong submission.
How long does a Malta Enterprise grant application take?
For most national schemes: 2–6 months from submission to approval. Larger investment schemes: 6–9 months. EU-level applications work to fixed call windows with their own timelines. We give you a realistic estimate at the start of every engagement.
What costs are typically eligible?
Capital equipment, software, qualifying salaries, R&D expenditure and digitalisation costs are commonly eligible. One rule applies across almost all schemes: costs incurred before the application is submitted are ineligible. We advise on this before you commit spending.
What is the difference between Startup Finance and a standard grant?
Startup Finance is a repayable advance: repaid from future revenues over time, with a grace period before repayments begin. It is non-dilutive and considerably cheaper than commercial lending. We model both options before recommending.
How much does grant advisory cost?
The Grant Readiness Review is free. For work beyond that, we scope the engagement and agree a fee before anything begins. Fees are proportional to the complexity of the work. Everything is in writing before we start. Certain work is performed on a pre-agreed fee, but most of the work is success based, on a no-cure-no-pay basis. There are also grants that cover part of our fees.
We applied before and were rejected. Is it worth trying again?
Often, yes. Applications fail for structural reasons that are almost always fixable. We audit what went wrong before recommending a path forward.
Does the Malta film cash rebate fall within your advisory scope?
The Screen Malta cash rebate, up to 40% of eligible Malta spend for film and TV productions, is administered separately from Malta Enterprise and operates under different State Aid rules. If relevant to your production, raise it in your readiness call.
What are the chances of success?
Numerous factors influence the criteria for success. Generally, a thoroughly planned application is more likely to achieve favourable outcomes. Given that our compensation is typically structured around a success fee or no-cure-no-pay arrangement, we only undertake projects when we have a strong conviction in their potential for success.
From the Sheltons Malta Grant Advisory Team
How a U.S. EdTech Company Secured €900K in Malta Funding
How a U.S. technology company used Malta as its EU base, aligning corporate structure, operational planning and public funding to secure €900,000 without equity dilution.
Financing the Gap in Grant-Funded Projects
Grant approval does not always mean immediate cash. Understand co-financing, reimbursement timing and how to plan for the cash-flow gap while delivering a funded project.
What Happens After Your Grant Is Approved?
Securing funding is only the beginning. Learn how reporting, cost tracking, milestones and internal controls can turn grant compliance into a manageable business process.
If you would like a clearer picture of where your business stands, we are glad to help.
The Technical Guide is the right starting point if you want to understand the landscape before speaking to anyone. The Grant Readiness Call is the right starting point if you have a project or timeline in mind and want a clear answer within 20 minutes. Both are free. Neither carries any obligation to proceed.
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