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.
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.
