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Slovakia Innovation Vouchers

Current direct vouchers cover up to 85% of eligible service costs. The EIC application-consulting route provides EUR 2,000–20,000 once per applicant; the patent/certification route provides EUR 2,000–15,000 and allows up to two vouchers at least 12 months apart. Each also includes EUR 42 of 100%-funded online innovation advice. · Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA) · deadline 2027-06-30

Slovakia Innovation Vouchers is a grant programme from Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA) for Companies registered in Slovakia purchasing eligible research or innovation services from approved providers Current lifecycle: open; next verified deadline 2027-06-30. Real economics: Current direct vouchers cover up to 85% of eligible service costs. The EIC application-consulting route provides EUR 2,000–20,000 once per applicant; the patent/certification route provides EUR 2,000–15,000 and allows up to two vouchers at least 12 months apart. Each also includes EUR 42 of 100%-funded online innovation advice..

Tier 3governmentslovakiagrantnon-dilutive

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Key facts

FunderSlovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA)
AmountCurrent direct vouchers cover up to 85% of eligible service costs. The EIC application-consulting route provides EUR 2,000–20,000 once per applicant; the patent/certification route provides EUR 2,000–15,000 and allows up to two vouchers at least 12 months apart. Each also includes EUR 42 of 100%-funded online innovation advice.
Deadline2027-06-30
Decision timeThe official call and summary materials describe documentary eligibility and reimbursement review but publish no comparable median or maximum application-to-voucher decision interval.
EligibilityA business with its seat in Slovakia that satisfies the selected route: for EIC consulting, an innovative SME with a post-1 January 2024 short proposal rated GO or an eligible full-proposal resubmission result; for patents/certification, an eligible Slovak entrepreneur commissioning a new patent filing or new product certification in a RIS3 domain. The applicant funds at least 15%, passes de minimis and prior-voucher checks, and starts the service only after voucher issuance.
RestrictionsThe recipient must use the approved provider, start only after voucher issuance, deliver within six or 12 months, retain the required applicant contribution, and submit a reimbursement request with final report, acceptance protocol, invoices, payment evidence and route-specific output. SIEA may deny or recover unsupported, conflicted or ineligible expenditure. EIC-route funds are limited to expert work directly preparing and submitting the EIC full proposal, including strategy, technology, market, finance, pitch, FTO and application documents. Patent/certification funds cover services begun after voucher issuance that directly produce a new patent application or product test, conformity assessment or certificate; unrelated operating costs and work begun earlier are excluded.
Statusopen

Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.

Application process

  1. Choose the live EIC-consulting or patent/certification route and verify regional budget availability
  2. Create or update the applicant profile in the INOWA portal
  3. Select a qualified independent service provider and define the project output
  4. Complete the prescribed price survey and calculate the voucher and 15% minimum applicant share
  5. Submit the electronic voucher request, project description, provider and eligibility declarations
  6. Answer SIEA completeness or eligibility requests and receive approval or non-approval notice
  7. After voucher issuance, contract and begin the eligible service
  8. Complete the project within six months for EIC consulting or 12 months for patent/certification
  9. Submit the reimbursement request, final report, handover record, invoices/payment evidence and required output
  10. Receive reimbursement after SIEA verifies the provider, deliverable and eligible costs

Background

Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA) operates Slovakia Innovation Vouchers. This pass separates direct cash, repayable finance, credits, incentives and umbrella programs so later ranking does not compare unlike instruments. The two current calls publish EUR 1.8 million of combined indicative direct-voucher allocations The EIC route is designed to convert successful Slovak short proposals into complete EIC Accelerator applications, with a six-month delivery window The patent/certification route requires measurable outputs—a patent-filing receipt or product test, conformity or certification document—and allows a second voucher after 12 months

How the application really works

Choose the live EIC-consulting or patent/certification route and verify regional budget availability → Create or update the applicant profile in the INOWA portal → Select a qualified independent service provider and define the project output → Complete the prescribed price survey and calculate the voucher and 15% minimum applicant share → Submit the electronic voucher request, project description, provider and eligibility declarations → Answer SIEA completeness or eligibility requests and receive approval or non-approval notice → After voucher issuance, contract and begin the eligible service → Complete the project within six months for EIC consulting or 12 months for patent/certification → Submit the reimbursement request, final report, handover record, invoices/payment evidence and required output → Receive reimbursement after SIEA verifies the provider, deliverable and eligible costs

Tips

Watch out for

Track record

The open calls publish regional allocations—EUR 300,000 for EIC consulting and EUR 1.5 million for patent/certification—but no application denominator, award count or acceptance rate.

Frequently asked questions

Is this actionable now?
open. Next verified deadline: 2027-06-30.
What is the real economic value?
Current direct vouchers cover up to 85% of eligible service costs. The EIC application-consulting route provides EUR 2,000–20,000 once per applicant; the patent/certification route provides EUR 2,000–15,000 and allows up to two vouchers at least 12 months apart. Each also includes EUR 42 of 100%-funded online innovation advice.
Who is eligible?
A business with its seat in Slovakia that satisfies the selected route: for EIC consulting, an innovative SME with a post-1 January 2024 short proposal rated GO or an eligible full-proposal resubmission result; for patents/certification, an eligible Slovak entrepreneur commissioning a new patent filing or new product certification in a RIS3 domain. The applicant funds at least 15%, passes de minimis and prior-voucher checks, and starts the service only after voucher issuance.
How does selection work?
Choose the live EIC-consulting or patent/certification route and verify regional budget availability; Create or update the applicant profile in the INOWA portal; Select a qualified independent service provider and define the project output; Complete the prescribed price survey and calculate the voucher and 15% minimum applicant share; Submit the electronic voucher request, project description, provider and eligibility declarations; Answer SIEA completeness or eligibility requests and receive approval or non-approval notice; After voucher issuance, contract and begin the eligible service; Complete the project within six months for EIC consulting or 12 months for patent/certification; Submit the reimbursement request, final report, handover record, invoices/payment evidence and required output; Receive reimbursement after SIEA verifies the provider, deliverable and eligible costs. The official call and summary materials describe documentary eligibility and reimbursement review but publish no comparable median or maximum application-to-voucher decision interval.
What burden and restrictions apply?
The recipient must use the approved provider, start only after voucher issuance, deliver within six or 12 months, retain the required applicant contribution, and submit a reimbursement request with final report, acceptance protocol, invoices, payment evidence and route-specific output. SIEA may deny or recover unsupported, conflicted or ineligible expenditure. EIC-route funds are limited to expert work directly preparing and submitting the EIC full proposal, including strategy, technology, market, finance, pitch, FTO and application documents. Patent/certification funds cover services begun after voucher issuance that directly produce a new patent application or product test, conformity assessment or certificate; unrelated operating costs and work begun earlier are excluded.
What evidence exists?
The two current calls publish EUR 1.8 million of combined indicative direct-voucher allocations The EIC route is designed to convert successful Slovak short proposals into complete EIC Accelerator applications, with a six-month delivery window The patent/certification route requires measurable outputs—a patent-filing receipt or product test, conformity or certification document—and allows a second voucher after 12 months The open calls publish regional allocations—EUR 300,000 for EIC consulting and EUR 1.5 million for patent/certification—but no application denominator, award count or acceptance rate.

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Sources