Almost 20,000 Romanian firms have applied for the Start-Up Nation funding program, business environment minister Ilan Laufer said yesterday.

Many of them received the maximum score of 100 points. However, the ministry will be able to finance only 45% of the total eligible projects.

The average age of those who applied is 36, with 55% of them being men and 45% women, according to the minister. Furniture, bakery and plastics production were among the top activities for which Romanian entrepreneurs requested funding under the Start-Up Nation program.

The program became active on June 15. It has a budget of RON 1.7 billion (EUR 371.8 million). It provides non-reimbursable financial grants of up to RON 200,000 (EUR 44,000) for new business initiatives.

editor@romania-insider.com