“Employee Skills Development 2026” is a new call for proposals from the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family of the Slovak Republic under the Slovakia Program (code PSK-MPSVR-086-2026-DV-ESF+). It enables companies and organizations to fund training and professional courses for their own employees focused on digital and green transformation. Applications may be submitted from July 5, 2026, through September 6, 2026, and the funding rate can reach up to 100% of eligible expenses.

If you are planning to enhance your employees’ skills in the areas of digitization, automation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, or sustainability, this is an ideal opportunity to shift the costs of training to European funding sources. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know: who is eligible to apply, what activities and expenses are eligible, what the deadlines and conditions are—and how we can help you with the entire process, from filling out the application to the actual implementation of accredited courses.

Employee Skills Development 2026: Key Information About the Call for Proposals at a Glance

Parameter	Details
Call Title	Employee Skills Development – Grant for Digital and Green Skills 2026
Call Code	PSK-MPSVR-086-2026-DV-ESF+
Operational Program	Program Slovakia (ESF+)
Application Deadline	July 5, 2026 – September 6, 2026
Minimum Project Amount	80,000 EUR in total eligible expenses
Support Rate	up to 100% (depending on the aid scheme and region category)
Eligible Territory	the entire Slovak Republic – all 8 regions, including the Bratislava Region
Implementation period	max. 24 months, main activity starting September 1, 2026
Application method	electronically via ITMS21+

What is the objective of the call for proposals to improve employee skills?

The goal of the call is to support the upskilling of employees through training organized by employers and professional associations, to enhance and develop the skills needed for the digital and green transformation of the economy and for adapting to technological and organizational changes within the employer’s organization.

The call prioritizes sectors highly exposed to automation and technological change—in particular:

industrial manufacturing (automotive, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing facilities),
knowledge-intensive services (IT, finance, logistics, consulting, and others).

In other words: if your employees need new digital competencies, skills to work with new technologies, or knowledge related to the green economy, the government will reimburse you for their training.

Who can apply for a grant to improve employee skills? (Eligible Applicants)

Both businesses and non-governmental organizations based in Slovakia are eligible to apply for a non-repayable financial grant. Specifically, these include the following legal forms:

Business corporations and cooperatives

joint-stock company (a. s.),
limited liability company (s. r. o.),
simple joint-stock company (j. s. a.),
general partnership (v. o. s.),
limited partnership (k. s.),
cooperative.

Individuals – Entrepreneurs

entrepreneur – a natural person registered in the Commercial Register,
entrepreneur – a natural person not registered in the Commercial Register (sole proprietors).

Associations and Unions

associations (unions, societies, companies, clubs, etc.) that bring together employers or self-employed individuals—these may organize training for their members or their members’ employees.

Who is the project’s target group?

The target group consists of the applicant’s employees —including fixed-term employees and part-time employees (at least 0.5 FTE). This means you can involve virtually the entire team in the training.

Eligible Area: All of Slovakia, including Bratislava

A major advantage of this call for proposals is that it covers all eight regions of the Slovak Republic:

Bratislava Region,
Trnava Region,
Trenčín Region,
Nitra Region,
Žilina Region,
Banská Bystrica Region,
Prešov Region,
Košice Region.

The region category (less developed region (MRR) / more developed region (VRR)) is determined based on the place of work of employees participating in training – the maximum level of support is then determined based on this.

Contact us today and get training for your employees funded by EU funds.

What activities can you fund with the grant? (Eligible Activities)

1. Training organized by an employer for its own employees

This includes both internal and external training focused on acquiring and developing skills relevant to the digital and green transitions, as well as skills needed in response to identified changes at the employer (e.g., the introduction of new technologies, software, automation, or new processes).

2. Training Organized by Unions and Associations

Unions and associations of employers or self-employed individuals may organize training for their members or for their members’ employees—again in the context of the digital and green transformations and jointly identified changes.

3. Professional Courses and Training by Certified Institutions

Support is provided for professional courses and training conducted by:

certified educational institutions in accordance with the Adult Education Act, or
by the employer’s in-house instructors who meet the qualification requirements,

including records of teaching activities and the issuance of a certificate of completion of skills enhancement.

Examples of training topics that fit the call

digital skills and working with new software,
artificial intelligence and process automation,
data analytics and working with data,
cybersecurity,
Industry 4.0, robotics, and modern manufacturing technologies,
green technologies, energy efficiency, and sustainability,
project management and adaptation to organizational changes.

What expenses are eligible?

The grant can primarily be used to fund:

Salary costs for in-house instructors

If you use your own instructors, their salary costs are eligible up to the specified hourly labor rate limit.

Contribution toward an employee’s wages during training (unit costs)

The grant reimburses the hourly rate of the employee’s total labor cost during their participation in the course—up to 150 hours per participant (pro-rated for part-time employees). The employee therefore receives training “during working hours,” and their wages are covered by the project.

Costs of External Training Services

Eligible costs include those for securing training services from external providers—that is, the purchase of courses and training from a certified educational institution.

Flat Rate for Indirect Expenses

A flat rate of 7% for indirect costs (administration, project overhead) is added to the direct costs.

Contact us today and get EU-funded training for your employees.

Deadlines and Time Eligibility

Application Submission: July 5, 2026 – September 6, 2026
Start of the project’s main activity: no earlier than September 1, 2026
Start of educational activities: scheduled no later than April 1, 2027
Maximum duration of the main activity: 24 months
Eligibility period for expenses: January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2030

Tip: Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare your application. A high-quality application—including a budget, training needs analysis, and required attachments—takes several weeks to prepare, and the two-month submission window will pass quickly.

Amount of Support and Aid Schemes

The minimum total eligible project expenses are 80,000 EUR – this call for proposals is therefore suitable for medium-sized and larger educational projects, or for associations that provide training for the employees of multiple members.
The maximum support rate can reach up to 100% of eligible expenses, depending on the selected aid scheme and region category.

De minimis vs. State Aid for Training

The applicant chooses one of two schemes based on the aid received to date:

De minimis scheme: a ceiling of 300,000 EUR per enterprise over a 3-year period, generally with a higher aid intensity.
State Aid Scheme for Education: aid intensity of 50–70% of eligible costs, up to 3 million EUR per educational project.

Choosing the right scheme is key to maximizing your support—we’d be happy to advise you based on an analysis of the aid you’ve received so far.

Conditions that the applicant must meet

Before submitting your application, please verify that your organization meets the basic eligibility requirements:

is not a company in financial distress (when utilizing a state aid scheme),
is not in bankruptcy, restructuring, or liquidation,
is not subject to a ban on receiving aid from EU funds,
has no outstanding overdue receivables owed to the provider,
meets the condition of good standing for both the applicant and the members of its statutory and supervisory bodies,
complies with horizontal principles (equal treatment, non-discrimination, accessibility for people with disabilities) and the principles of desegregation, de-ghettoization, and destigmatization,
the implementation of the project does not conflict with the Act on the Implementation of International Sanctions,
where applicable, it is registered in the Register of Public Sector Partners,
The application is submitted electronically via ITMS21+ and the provider’s electronic mailbox, with a mathematically correct budget and meeting the criteria for project selection.

Who can be an education provider?

An eligible education provider is:

a certified educational institution under the Adult Education Act, or
an employer’s in-house instructor who meets the minimum qualification and professional requirements.

This is precisely where it is important to choose the right partner—training provided by a non-accredited provider could jeopardize the eligibility of the entire project’s expenses.

How We Can Help You: From the Application to Course Implementation

Preparing an application for EU funds is both administratively and technically demanding—and that’s where we come in. As an agency, we offer a complete service under one roof: we’ll take care of both the grant and the training itself.

Turnkey application preparation and submission

assessment of your organization’s eligibility and selection of the appropriate aid scheme (de minimis vs. state aid),
analysis of employees’ training needs and tailoring the project to align with the call’s objectives,
preparation of the budget, required attachments, and complete documentation,
electronic submission of the application via ITMS21+,
support during the application evaluation and in communication with the provider,
project management and monitoring reports throughout the entire implementation.

We are an accredited educational institution (AIDVS)

Our company is an accredited educational institution registered with AIDVS —we therefore meet the requirement to be a certified education provider under the Adult Education Act, as required by this call for proposals. This means:

expenses for our courses are fully eligible under this call for proposals,
for each course, we maintain records of instructor activities,
Graduates will receive a certificate of completion for the skills enhancement program, in full compliance with the call’s requirements.

Course offerings: the complete selection is available on our Academy subpage

We can also directly provide training for your project. You can find all our courses on the Academy subpage—from digital skills to artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity, all the way to topics related to the green transition. We offer courses:

in person at your company or at our facilities,
online or in a hybrid format,
tailored to the needs of your teams and your industry.

👉 Check out our full course offerings on our /academy subpage.

Frequently Asked Questions About the “Employee Skills Development 2026” Call for Proposals (FAQ)

When is the deadline for submitting an application?

Applications may be submitted from July 5, 2026, through September 6, 2026, exclusively online via the ITMS21+ system.

Can a company from Bratislava apply?

Yes. The call for proposals covers all eight regions of the Slovak Republic, including the Bratislava Region. The region category is determined based on the location where employees perform their work.

What is the minimum project amount?

The minimum total eligible expenditure is 80,000 EUR. Smaller companies may consider participating through an association or employers’ union.

Does the grant also cover employee wages during training?

Yes. The grant contributes to the hourly rate of the employee’s total labor cost while participating in the course, up to 150 hours per participant.

Who can conduct the training?

A certified educational institution under the Adult Education Act or an employer’s in-house instructor. As an accredited institution (AIDVS), our company meets this requirement.

When must the training begin?

The main project activity is eligible starting September 1, 2026, and training activities must be scheduled no later than April 1, 2027. The maximum implementation period is 24 months.

Don’t miss out on up to 100% funding for training—contact us today

Call for Proposals PSK-MPSVR-086-2026-DV-ESF+ is a unique opportunity to improve your employees’ qualifications without straining your company’s budget. However, the application window is open for only two months.

We’ll take care of everything:

✅ free initial consultation and eligibility assessment, ✅ preparation and submission of a turnkey application via ITMS21+, ✅ delivery of accredited courses (AIDVS) from our Academy’s offerings, ✅ project management and administration throughout the entire implementation.