Investment support in Slovakia

Investment aid is regional support aimed at encouraging investments and creating new jobs in Slovakia. Individuals and legal entities that are authorised to do business in Slovakia, and whose investment activities and projects meet the conditions of the Act on Investment Aid (Act 561/2007 Coll. on Investment Aid) are eligible to apply for investment aid.

Types of investments eligible for support:

• Industrial production

• Technology centres

• Strategic service centres

• Tourism

Forms of investment incentives
If an investor meets the set conditions, they can apply for the following types of state aid:

• a subsidy for the acquisition of non-current tangible or intangible assets

• income tax credit

• a contribution for new jobs

• transfer of real estate

Zones

Overall aid from all sources is limited by EU legislation and divided into several categories. For this purpose, Slovakia is divided into three parts – western, central, and eastern. In contrast with the previous legal regime, cash forms of investment aid can in principle be granted in all regions.

Conditions for industrial projects and tourism
Investment projects can be supported, provided they meet the following conditions:

Industry

• the building of a new business, the expansion of an existing one, the diversification of production to new products which were not manufactured before, or a radical change in the production programme of an existing business

• the acquisition of non-current tangible and intangible assets at no less than €10 million, €5 million, €3 million or €0.2 million while no less than 50% must be covered by business’ equity or assets

• the acquisition of new production and technological equipment designated for production purposes

• reaching the required share of new technology from the total amount of eligible costs (60%, 50%, 40% or 30%)

• creation of new jobs – increase of the overall number of employees by at least 40, or 10 new jobs

(source: PwC)

Technology (R&D) centres
Conditions for granting investment incentives to technology centres include:

• the construction of a new technology centre or expansion of an existing one

• the acquisition of non-current tangible and intangible assets valued at no less than €500,000, while no less than 50% must be covered by business’ equity or assets

• creation of new jobs – increase of the overall number of employees by no less than 30

• at least 70% of the total number of staff of a technology centre must have a university education

Business service centres
Conditions for granting investment incentives to strategic service centres include:

• the construction of a new strategic service centre or the expansion of an existing one

• the acquisition of non-current tangible and intangible assets valued at no less than €400,000 while no less than 50% must be covered by business’ equity or assets

• creation of new jobs – increase of the overall number of employees by no less than 40

• at least 60% of the total number of staff must have a university education

(source: PwC)

Tourism

• the construction of a new comprehensive tourism centre or an expansion of an existing one by offering new services

• the acquisition of new technological equipment designated for offering services

• reaching the required share of new technology from the total amount of eligible costs (40% or 20%)

• the acquisition of non-current tangible and intangible assets at no less than €10 million, €5 million, €3 million or €0.2 million while no less than 50% must be covered by business’ equity or assets

• creation of new jobs – increase of the overall number of employees by at least 40, or 10

Lucia Guzlejová is senior consultant at PwC in Slovakia

Author: Lucia Guzlejová