The Start-up Nation program should support entrepreneurship and should not be transformed into a welfare program, said yesterday Florin Jianu, the former minister for business, trade and entrepreneurship in the Sorin Grindeanu cabinet, reports local Agerpres.

He criticized the program’s mechanisms and how the applications are reviewed.

A total of 10,000 small entrepreneurs can receive this year grants of up to RON 200,000 (about EUR 44,000) from the state to launch new businesses via the Start-up Nation - Romania program. The financing entirely covers the investment in the project.

However, the startup needs to create minimum two jobs, with indeterminate labor contracts. There is the possibility that one or both contracts belong to the start-up founders. The projects that create more jobs receive extra points.

Moreover, those who hire jobless people or fresh graduates also get more points for their applications. The projects also get more points if the associates haven’t taken any courses, which is a first, according to Jianu.

He says the evaluation of the projects submitted within this program should mainly take into account the quality of the business plan, the innovation brought, the targeted turnover. The program should support good quality businesses, the former minister added.

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