The National Supporting Business Awards (NSBA)

About the Competition

The National Supporting Business Awards (NSBA) is the national competition whose main thrust is to reward initiatives that are facilitating business.

Participants may apply in one of two sections with a prize of €12000 and €7000 for the participants which place first and second respectively in each section.

Who may participate

There are two different sections in the national competition:

Section A which is open to Government Entities (ministries, departments, local councils, public authorities and entities and public-private partnerships).

Section B which is open to NGOs, trade unions, professional associations, schools, educational institutions, University of Malta, associations representing sectors in business and industry and private entities which fall under the SME definition as set out in the EU SME definition.

Eligible Initiatives

All of the above potential participants (except for SMEs) can compete in the six categories listed below. SMEs can only participate in Category 6.

Category 1: Improving the business environment and promoting the entrepreneurial spirit

This category recognises projects that promote an entrepreneurial mindset.

Category 2: Investing in entrepreneurial skills

This category recognises initiatives at local or national level to improve entrepreneurial, managerial and employee skills.

Category 3: Supporting the digital transition

This category supports initiatives which aim at supporting the digital transition of enterprises enabling them to develop, market and use digital technologies, products and services of any kind.

Category 4: Supporting the internationalisation of business

This category recognises innovative policies and projects, which help SMEs to expand to new markets, support cross-border trade and help to internationalise.

Category 5: Supporting the sustainable transition

This category recognises policies and initiatives at national or local level that support the sustainable transition and support environmental aspects such as the circular economy, climate neutrality, clean energy, resource efficiency or biodiversity through, for example, sustainable skills development and matchmaking as well as funding.

Category 6: Responsible and inclusive entrepreneurship

This category recognises local or national initiatives by authorities, public/private partnerships or SMES that promote corporate social responsibility among small and medium sized enterprises. This category will also recognise efforts to promote entrepreneurship among disadvantaged groups, such as the unemployed (especially long-term unemployed), legal migrants, disabled persons or people from ethnic minorities.

As from this year, a special prize will be awarded to a project that excels in the support to startups or young entrepreneurs. The prize is inspired by the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy.

The criteria for this prize will be based on the Strategy’s five core objectives:

  • fostering an innovation friendly business environment,
  • improving access to finance for startups and scale ups,
  • supporting market entry and scale up,
  • attracting and retaining entrepreneurial talent,
  • facilitating access to networks, infrastructure and ecosystems.

Applications must reach the Commerce Department by not later than Friday, 17th July 2026.