What Malta’s 2026 funding actually pays for on an automation project

A one-page snapshot of the four schemes, a worked hotel example, and an honest note on what the funding does not cover. Figures are indicative and subject to eligibility.

The four schemes, on one page

Budget 2026 returns up to 60% of qualifying automation spend through a tax credit. Stack the Smart and Sustainable grant and total support can reach 70%. Add accelerated depreciation and Micro-Invest, and the maths for a Maltese SME is the best it has been in years. The snapshot walks each scheme in plain words. Figures are indicative and subject to eligibility.

A worked project example

We use a 50-key hotel with a service-robot package that may include more than one robot. The full project costs about EUR 60,000. This is not the price of one robot. In this example, the tax credit is about EUR 36,000 over four years. The net cost is about EUR 24,000. On most operations we have scoped, payback lands inside 18 months. The final result depends on the site, the project and scheme approval.

And what it does not cover

We are honest about the gaps. The funding covers the capex. It does not cover retraining, process redesign, or the 12 to 18 month working-capital gap that follows any install. The snapshot says so plainly, so you can plan for it.