How can you finance your business with grants from the Région Réunion?

Summary

The Région Réunion draws on regional grants and European funds to support businesses on the island. Some support takes the form of grants; other support goes through financial instruments or targeted schemes. It is essential to check the rules specific to each grant, the filing date, and the eligibility of expenses before starting a project.

Which projects can be funded?

The schemes associated with this funder cover several families: investment by production and digital businesses, development of small tourism structures, the creation or upgrading of accommodation, collaborative research projects, the energy transition, the circular economy, digitalisation, export, and support for cultural businesses. Some fact sheets are linked to the FEDER 2021-2027 programme, others to regional schemes or partners. Eligibility depends on the activity, the size of the business, where the project takes place, the project amount, and the expenses presented.

Business investment: production, digital and small structures

The catalogue's fact sheets include FEDER schemes for equipment investment in the production sector, the digital sector, and small tourism businesses. The project must be presented with a precise budget, quotes, and justification of the need. Check the categories of eligible expenses, caps, aid rates, any thresholds, competitive tendering rules, and the conditions related to purchasing or ordering. Do not commit to any expenses before confirming in writing the date from which they can be considered eligible.

FAIRE Réunion: access to funding for micro-businesses and SMEs

The FAIRE Réunion fund was presented by the Région as an instrument designed to improve access to credit for businesses, particularly micro-businesses and SMEs facing difficulties in bank financing or equity. The Région announced the mobilisation of €44.8 million in FEDER funding, structured with the European Investment Fund and banking partners. This is a financial instrument, not an automatic grant: the access terms, distributing partners, credit conditions, and project eligibility must be checked. CITE:turn891348search3

KAP TPE and KAP Numérik: structuring and digitalising your business

The Région presents KAP TPE as support for small businesses, which can cover expenses related to structuring the business. KAP Numérik targets digital projects by small structures, but the official page consulted indicates that the scheme is being updated and that new applications are temporarily suspended; applications filed before 31 December 2025 continue to be reviewed. Do not therefore present it as open to new applicants without new official confirmation. CITE:turn891348search5CITE:turn891348search6

Tourism and accommodation

The European fact sheets referenced concern in particular the creation of accommodation, the upgrading and refurbishment of establishments, and investment by small tourism structures. These projects may require a minimum investment level, a demonstration of the contribution to the tourism offering, and specific location or quality conditions. It is also necessary to distinguish between expressions of interest, calls for projects, and permanent schemes: the procedures and timelines are not interchangeable.

Innovation, skills and collaborative research

The catalogue includes the use of intangible skills, collaborative research projects, and innovation schemes. Depending on the fact sheet, expenses may relate to advisory services, studies, technical expertise, or work carried out with partners. Clearly describe the problem to be solved, the novelty of the project, the partners involved, the deliverables, and the expected results. Check the qualification of service providers, subcontracting rules, and whether expenses already committed can be funded.

Energy and circular economy

The schemes referenced cover in particular renewable energy studies, photovoltaic self-consumption, charging infrastructure powered by solar generation, biomass energy recovery, and equipment investment in the circular economy. These projects may be subject to specific technical, environmental and European rules. Authorisations, preliminary studies, grid connections, expected performance, and conditions of ownership or use of equipment must be checked before filing.

Prim'Export and international business development

Prim'Export is one of the regional schemes designed to support businesses' development in international markets. Under the rules in force, support may target prospecting activities, participation in events, or business development. Check the exact scope of expenses, the territories targeted, the required supporting documents, and the combination rules. An export objective must be documented with a business strategy and a realistic timeline.

How do I prepare the application?

Prepare a project fact sheet including a presentation of the business, its location in Réunion, the funding need, the timeline, detailed expenses, and the financing plan. Attach the quotes and administrative documents required by the scheme. For projects co-financed by Europe, plan for complete accounting and documentary traceability. Ask the reviewing body whether the application must be filed before any commitment, and whether competitive tendering, publicity, or monitoring rules apply.

Essential checks before relying on a grant

The database's fact sheets have different update dates and sources. A fact sheet may be replaced, suspended, closed, or merged into a new version of the scheme. Check whether it is open, the available budget, the beneficiaries, eligible expenses, rates and caps, supporting documents, deadlines, State aid rules, and combination conditions. An information page does not amount to a funding agreement; wait for a decision or formal confirmation before including the income in your cash flow.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Do all businesses in Réunion have access to regional grants? A. No. Each scheme sets its own beneficiaries, sectors, company sizes, and specific criteria.

Q. Does KAP Numérik accept new applications? A. The official page consulted indicates a temporary suspension of new applications while the scheme is being updated. Check the new version before applying.

Q. Is FAIRE Réunion a grant? A. It is an instrument designed to facilitate access to bank financing; the conditions must be checked with the partners concerned.

Q. Can several grants be combined? A. Combining aid is never automatic. It depends on the programme's rules, the expenses, and public-aid caps.

Q. Where can I find up-to-date schemes? A. Use the official “Aides & Services” portal of the Région Réunion and check each fact sheet with the reviewing body. CITE:turn891348search0CITE:turn891348search2

Choosing between a grant, a loan and a European scheme

The catalogue combines grants, financial instruments, sector-specific aid, and FEDER schemes. These must be kept separate in the financing plan: an equipment investment grant does not work the same way as a loan distributed by a bank, support for an advisory service, or a European call for projects. For each line, identify the funder, the reviewing body, the payer, eligible expenses, combination rules, and required documents. This distinction avoids presenting a credit-access tool as a grant and overestimating the cash available.

KAP TPE and KAP Numérik: checking the actual status of the scheme

KAP TPE and KAP Numérik are useful names for directing small businesses towards structuring or digital-transformation schemes. However, the documentation consulted for KAP Numérik indicated an update and a temporary suspension of new applications, while noting that earlier applications continued to be reviewed. The status must be checked on the current fact sheet before any commercial promise or SEO publication. In the absence of confirmed availability, present the scheme as “status to be verified” and only offer genuinely open alternatives after checking.

FAIRE Réunion: a financial instrument, not an automatic grant

FAIRE Réunion is listed as an instrument designed to facilitate business financing, involving financial partners. The process may therefore require the application to be reviewed by a bank or another distributor, and the decision should not be confused with the award of a regional grant. The business must prepare its accounts, its projected cash flow, the amount and purpose of the need, any guarantees, and the repayment plan. The operational conditions and active partners must be confirmed before including the financing in a cash-flow plan.

Freight, export and European projects: timeline and traceability

Freight grants and European schemes may address specific constraints related to insularity, competitiveness, or investment. Their review may depend on a call for projects, a programming period, and a precise set of supporting documents. Keep a record of the fact sheet and regulations version, check the filing date, the expense period, and the evidence requirements. For a request to offset extra costs, prepare the transport invoices, the cost base, and the elements needed to compare eligible costs against reference costs.

Art, culture and the circular economy: don't overlook sector-specific grants

The database also contains schemes for cultural businesses, publishing projects, professional artists, circular-economy investments, and the use of intangible skills. These grants may target very specific profiles: cultural organisation, publisher, artist, SME, or leader of an environmental project. Check the accepted legal form, the sector, the type of deliverable, the eligible expenses, and any distribution or reporting obligations. Older regulation PDFs remain useful for understanding the scheme, but should be replaced by the current version where one exists.

Checklist for verifying a Réunion grant

A fact sheet referenced in 2018 or 2021 may describe a scheme that has since evolved. If no current regulations are available, keep the status as “partial check” and request confirmation from the operator.

Official sources

• Aides & Services — Région Réunion
• Aides et services — Business filter — Région Réunion
• FAIRE Réunion — Région Réunion
• KAP Numérik — Région Réunion
• The New Economy — Région Réunion
• Grants portal — other fact sheets — Région Réunion
• Business filter — Région Réunion