Innovate Prague 
The National Development Bank (NRB), in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT), has prepared the EXpanzr úvěrOPTAK program, aimed at supporting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Czech Republic. Through preferential investment loans, the program helps SMEs finance investment projects across a wide range of industries.
With a total allocation of CZK 5.13 billion, the program offers loans ranging from CZK 1 million to CZK 100 million, with NRB financing up to 50% of eligible project costs. Loan maturity can be up to 15 years, with the option to defer repayments for up to 3 years. A key benefit is that the loan is completely interest-free and free of charges.
A condition for obtaining the loan is co-financing of the project by an NRB contractual partner in the amount of at least 20% of the project’s costs. The bank is currently preparing a list of these partners.
The loan is intended to finance investment expenditures such as the acquisition of machinery and equipment, software and licenses, the purchase, construction, and modernization of buildings, as well as other long-term tangible and intangible assets. The program enables entrepreneurs to advantageously finance both smaller and larger investment and innovation projects and to develop their businesses over the long term.
Applications will open on February 2, 2026, and close on June 30, 2029.
The program is implemented within the Operational Programme Technologies and Applications for Competitiveness (OP TAK) and is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. Interested applicants can use the contact form on the NRB website or call the information line at +420 255 721 111.
Source: CzechStartups