K&H: more and more Hungarian SMEs are looking for EU funding opportunities

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 08. 04. 11:39

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The desire to apply has flared up again among Hungarian small and medium-sized enterprises, but the road to success is also becoming more and more bumpy – this is revealed by the research data of the K&H SME Confidence Index for the second quarter of 2025. The research measured the highest result in the past three years – almost half of SMEs are trying to obtain funds from the EU. Based on the latest data, this is the sixth highest value in the history of the index, and it is also a significant increase of eight percentage points compared to the previous quarter. Although the number of applications submitted has decreased minimally, 50 percent of them proved to be successful and won some kind of support. The perception of the complexity of applications shows a more favorable picture and the proportion of those who find the calls for proposals incomprehensible has decreased.

The popularity of EU applications among Hungarian SMEs has increased significantly, according to the second quarter research data of the K&H SME Confidence Index 2025, as the proportion of enterprises that submitted applications for EU funds jumped from 36 percent in the previous quarter to 44 percent. On average, a Hungarian small enterprise submitted 1.4 applications in the most recent period under review. On average, 50 percent of the applications submitted were successful – meaning that every second application submitted was supported.

Although the proportion of business leaders who considered the availability of EU applications to be particularly complicated jumped significantly, by 8 percentage points, in the first three months of the year, this has been somewhat corrected for the second quarter, and currently 41 percent of SMEs find this EU opportunity very difficult. In contrast, the proportion of those who consider it to be moderately difficult and easier to access remained at the same level; a quarter of them indicated the former and a tenth of them the latter.

“EU subsidies represent an important opportunity for SMEs, as they can access funds to implement developments, invest, and increase digitalization. The perception of the comprehensibility of applications has also improved in recent times, but we believe that there is still a need for the education and advice provided by K&H. In addition to banking services that facilitate entrepreneurship, we also support SMEs in implementing their plans with e-learning materials, organizing a business community, and application opportunities”

– Ildikó Oraveczné Németh, Marketing Manager of the K&H Retail and SME segment, assessed the results of the research.