The National Champions program, which aims to promote green and digital transition, seeks to strengthen Hungarian medium-sized enterprises and make them internationally competitive. Under the GINOP Plus-1.4.5-25 tender, they can now apply for up to HUF 600 million in support for their technological and capacity-expanding investments.
Who Can Apply?
The National Champions call is aimed at companies that are based in Hungary and do not wish to carry out their developments in Budapest. Preference will be given to companies that are involved in export activities, show continuous growth, or are preparing for technological developments that could significantly improve their efficiency.
What developments are eligible for support?
The National Champions program can be used for a variety of investment concepts. A mandatory element of the program is the purchase of equipment for technological modernization, which must account for at least 30% of all eligible costs. Another mandatory element is the purchase of equipment for green and/or digital transition, which must account for 30% of the total loan amount.
További választható fejlesztési irányok:
- information and communication technology development(e.g., enterprise management systems, cloud-based solutions),
- renewable energy (e.g., solar panel systems, energy storage),
- construction, modernization,
- training and consulting activities.
Examples of eligible projects
- Technological development of a meat processing business
A multi-generational family meat processing plant that relies on local agricultural suppliers to sell cut and packaged pork to retail and catering partners. The company has launched a large-scale investment project to increase capacity and improve energy efficiency, which includes:
- renovating its existing processing hall,
- purchasing modern cutting and packaging machines,
- introducing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system,
- and reducing energy costs with a solar panel system.
- Digital healthcare service development
A dynamically developing healthcare center in Makó is implementing a forward-looking investment based on the digitization of healthcare services and environmentally conscious operations.
As part of the project:
- new ultrasound and ECG equipment will be purchased,
- a cloud-based patient management system will be introduced,
- the digital infrastructure will be built with modern servers and workstations,
- and traditional energy use will be replaced with a 15 kW solar panel system and a heat pump.
How much support can be requested?
The National Champions program offers combined financing consisting of two parts:
- non-repayable grant (max. 30% of the total loan amount),,
- Investment loan at 0% interest..
The minimum loan amount is HUF 150 million and the maximum is HUF 600 million. The intensity of the support varies depending on the size of the business and the region, but a minimum of 10% own contribution is required in all cases.
When is the application deadline?
Applications for the National Champions program can be submitted between June 23, 2025, and December 31, 2026 , but the opportunity is available until the budget is exhausted. The project must be completed within a maximum of 24 months, and the investment must be completed by December 31, 2029 , at the latest.
Why is it worth applying?
The aim of the GINOP Plus-1.4.5-25 National Champions program is to turn outstanding domestic companies into internationally competitive enterprises, i.e., "national champions." The support provides an opportunity for companies to keep pace with digitalization, transition to sustainable operations, and increase their revenue and productivity in the long term.
Professional colleagues are available to help you prepare your application.
