The pre-qualification system of the fashion & design tender is now open

Find all the important information in one place

The pre-qualification system set up as a condition of application for the tender aimed at supporting SMEs in the Hungarian fashion and design industry (GINOP 1.2.14-20) is now open and can be accessed on the www.divatdesignpalyazat.ifka.hu website. The companies applying can each receive a grant of HUF 5-150 million thanks to the call for proposals from the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MIT) and the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) with a total budget of HUF 7 billion. We’ve gathered together the most important information about the application and pre-qualification process below.

The “Development Support of SMEs in the Fashion and Design Industry” tender provides a HUF 7 billion support scheme for the technological development of Hungarian design and manufacturing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. As a result of the professional cooperation between the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA), the call for applications published on 24 November 2020 aims for the players in the sector to gain medium-term strength and to operate effectively in fierce and capital intensive competition. Due to the size and capabilities of the domestic market, it is extremely important that successful companies can increase their export capacities and international digital presence with the support they receive.

The tender is specifically aimed at supporting technological developments that support the innovation of industry enterprises, enabling them to maintain and strengthen their ability to retain and generate income in the face of adversity of recent months. Thanks to this, industry players will be able to take advantage of the opportunities created by the crisis and the reorganization of the sector on a global scale, by gaining a better position in international competition. The amount received is expected to be between HUF 5 and 150 million, which can be used for acquiring new equipment, machinery, manufacturing licenses and know-how, as well as for intangible assets, real estate development, information technology development, industrial property rights consulting and marketing activities supporting market access. The Economic Development and Innovation Operational Programme specifically provides funding for six of Hungary's seven convergence regions.

Registration for pre-qualification

One of the conditions for participating in the tender is obtaining the pre-qualification certificate issued by the IFKA Industrial Development Coordination Agency. Further information on the process of obtaining this certificate can be found on the following website: www.divatdesignpalyazat.ifka.hu. The first step is to register on the website, followed by entering the required data, based on which the system checks for the existence of the necessary conditions needed for pre-qualification. Companies can then access and submit their detailed application form required to initiate pre-qualification from the registered account. During the pre-qualification process, the applications suitable for further consideration are pre-screened on the basis of professional criteria. In case of a favourable evaluation, at the end of the process, the company will receive a certificate entitling it to submit an application. Obtaining the IFKA certificate does not automatically result in a winning application, however, it is a prerequisite for possible positive sponsorship.

The applications received are assessed in different phases, and the same can be said for the certificates issued. The first phase runs from 15 December to mid-January, with the results and certifications expected simultaneously by mid-February. The second phase will take place from mid-January to the end of the month, and the results will arrive at the end of February. Candidates will be notified of their review via the e-mail address associated with their registration and will also be able to check the decision made via their registered account. Further information about the pre-qualification process can be found on the following website: www.divatdesignpalyazat.ifka.hu. Detailed documentation on the call for pre-qualification can also be found among the tender dossiers.

The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency is working together with the Ministry of Innovation and Technology on developing a support frame for the Central Hungary region, more information on this and the upcoming tender with a HUF 3 billion budget is expected to available in the first quarter of 2021.

Further information can be requested on the www.divatdesignpalyazat.ifka.hu website or at info@divatdesignpalyazat.ifka.hu