A grant paid as a fixed sum against agreed results instead of itemised cost receipts. The admin is much lighter, and in some development-aid calls the rate is higher, up to 60 percent.
Less paperwork and a faster payout, so it is worth choosing when a lump-sum window is open.
Aid paid afterwards as a refund of a share of money already spent. Finland's AV incentive returns 25 percent of eligible Finnish production costs.
You carry the costs first and get the rebate later, so you may need bridge financing.
Ruokavirasto's online system where rural funding applications and payment claims are filed.
Rural support is applied for in Hyrrä, not through the Elinvoimakeskus's other channels.
The regional state agencies that took over the ELY centres' business services in 2025. They grant the business development aid family and handle rural business support.
Older material still says ELY. It is the same door with a new name.
The EU Common Agricultural Policy also funds rural business support such as startup money, rural investment and development grants, through Ruokavirasto, the Elinvoimakeskus and local Leader groups.
Rural CAP instruments form a separate track with its own budgets, open to most companies outside city cores.
The European Regional Development Fund is the EU structural fund behind much of Finland's regional business aid. Calls are announced on rakennerahastot.fi.
ERDF money follows EU programme rules on top of national ones, which is where extra criteria often come from.
The EU Just Transition Fund finances business diversification in regions affected by the phase-out of peat. In Finland it is granted by the Elinvoimakeskus alongside the normal development aid.
If your region qualifies, JTF can fund projects the mainstream instruments will not, though the programme is now in its final phase.
Finland's regional-aid map for 2022 to 2027 allows the highest investment-aid rates in Area I, East and North Finland, where small companies can get up to 40 percent. Area II allows less, and the rest of the country least. Some regions are split at municipality level.
Where you invest can change your grant rate by tens of percentage points.
