25.9 Evaluate Luxembourg Government Grants and Investment Incentives
Government Support Programs​
Luxembourg offers various incentives for SMEs, including:
- Luxinnovation: Support for innovation, digitalization, R&D
- House of Entrepreneurship: Guidance, grants, financing support
- SNCI (Société Nationale de Crédit et d'Investissement): Loans, quasi-equity
- Ministry of the Economy: Investment aid (regional, environmental, tourism)
- Chamber of Commerce: Training, subsidies
Investment Aid Types​
- Regional Investment Aid: For SMEs in specific regions
- Digitalization Aid: Support for IT investments
- Environmental Aid: Energy efficiency, renewable energy
- Training Aid: Subsidies for employee upskilling
- R&D and Innovation Aid: Grants for product/process innovation
Eligibility Requirements​
- Minimum investment amount
- Job creation or retention
- Strategic sectors (technology, sustainability)
- Compliance with EU state aid rules
- Detailed project plans and financial projections
Incorporating Grants into Cash Flows​
- Treat grants as cash inflows (reduce net investment)
- Consider timing (often reimbursed after expenses)
- Ensure compliance (reporting, audits)
- Account for tax implications (some grants taxable)
Example:
- Investment: €300,000 for digital upgrade
- Grant: 20% (€,60,000) paid over two years
- Net investment: €240,000 (timing differences apply)
VAT Considerations​
- VAT on capital investments recoverable if business is VAT-registered
- Cash flow impact: Pay VAT upfront, recover later (timing gap)
- Plan for VAT payments in cash budget
Sustainability and ESG Investments​
EU Green Deal and CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) increase importance of sustainability investments. Balanced scorecard can include ESG KPIs to track compliance.
Luxembourg Compliance Note​
Keep detailed documentation for grants (applications, invoices, reports). Non-compliance can lead to clawbacks. Coordinate with advisors (fiduciaire, Luxinnovation) for application support.
Think It Through​
How can government grants change the NPV of a project? What risks should SMEs consider when relying on subsidies?