Grant 2026 Introduces 5 Percent Bonus for Women Entrepreneurs and Green Economy Startups

Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj announced that the “Grant 2026” call for startups will include a 5% bonus added to the evaluation score for projects that meet certain criteria.
According to Ibrahimaj, the bonus will be applied to the application’s total evaluation score by the assessment commission. It will be granted only if two conditions are met simultaneously: the applicant is a girl or woman, or the startup team is composed of at least 51% women; and the startup’s main activity provides solutions in the green economy and/or digital sectors.
Minister Ibrahimaj emphasized that the program aims to encourage women’s participation in entrepreneurship and support the development of innovative solutions in the green economy and digital sectors. These sectors are also two of the program’s main priorities.
The “Grant 2026” program offers comprehensive support for startups, fostering the development of new ideas and the growth of innovative businesses in the country.
In the initial phase (F1), the program covers 100% of project costs up to 1,500,000 ALL, allowing entrepreneurs to concentrate on developing their ideas without worrying about initial expenses. For startups in the validation phase (F2), the program covers 85% of the approved budget, up to 4,500,000 ALL, to help test and refine products in the market. For projects in the growth phase (F3), the program provides 75% coverage of budget costs, up to 9,000,000 ALL, to support scaling and expanding high-potential businesses.
The government continues to prioritize support for innovative entrepreneurship because it creates new jobs, increases productivity, and modernizes the economy.