Loans for higher education and vocational training infrastructure

What are the benefits?

The loan may finance external and internal renovation of scientific infrastructure (improvement of physical and/or energy properties), renovation of utility networks and systems, and construction of new buildings (including demolition of emergency buildings).  It may include improvement of the plot of a renovated or newly constructed building, other works directly related to the renovation or development of the building, preparation of related technical documentation, and maintenance and supervision of project execution.

It applies to the owner of scientific infrastructure, its authorised manager or the entity managing a scientific infrastructure owned by the state or a municipality, by the right of trust or by the right of loan for use or its authorised manager. Only legal persons can apply.

Description of the facility

The application must be completed and submitted electronically via INVEGA’s website. The application and its annexes may be submitted by registered mail, by courier or by delivery in person to INVEGA at Konstitucijos pr. 7, 09308 Vilnius, or by sending an application signed with a qualified electronic signature to info@vipa.lt. An electronic version of the completed application form with attachments is also provided.

Application Form for loans for renewal and development of higher education and vocational training infrastructure (buildings)

The applicant must submit with the application the documents and/or other annexes referred to in Paragraph 6 of the application. Copies of the documents submitted must be certified in accordance with the procedures laid down in the application.

How much?

Loan intensity – up to 100% of the eligible costs.

Time frame

The loan has a repayment term of up to 20 years.

Requirements for applicants

Applicants can apply for a loan under the following conditions:

  • At least 51% of the total area of the building is owned by the applicant and/or by the legal person who authorised the applicant (in the case of the applicant being the authorised manager) and/or the state or a municipality. In the case of more than one building owner (manager), a written agreement of all building premises owners (managers) must be submitted regarding the implementation of the project and ensuring financing to compensate for the investment of the project in proportion to the managed area of the building. A written agreement between all the owners/managers of the premises of the building on the implementation of the project is not required if the project activities will be implemented only in the premises owned/managed by the applicant and/or the legal entity that authorised the applicant (in case the applicant is the authorised manager).
  •  The applicant or a legal entity authorised by the applicant owns the building or part of it on the basis of a loan for use agreement; the loan for use agreement must be concluded for at least 5 years longer than the planned completion of the project and must be registered in the Register of Real Estate of the Republic of Lithuania, and the project must be approved by the owner of the building or the trustee.
  • The applicant is not bankrupt or being wound up, has not entered into an settlement agreement with its creditors to continue as a going concern where the applicant assumes certain obligations and the creditors agree to defer, reduce or waive their claims, have not suspended or restricted their activities or are not in the same or similar situation under the laws of the country in which they are registered. The applicant is not the subject of restructuring, insolvency or out-of-court insolvency proceedings, compulsory winding-up proceedings or arrangement proceedings with creditors, or of analogous proceedings under the law of the country in which it is registered.
  • The applicant has fulfilled obligations related to the payment of taxes, including social security contributions (obligations shall be deemed to have been fulfilled if the amount of arrears does not exceed EUR 50).
  • The applicant, the applicant’s manager, other member of the management or supervisory body or other person(s) authorised to draw up and sign accounting documents has no convictions and during the last five (5) years no judgement of conviction passed and effective, and this person has no effective criminal conviction record for the criminal offences referred to in the Law on Public Procurement of the Republic of Lithuania.

Requirements for projects

  • Projects must be implemented on the territory of the Republic of Lithuania.
  • The loan may be used to finance external and internal renovation of scientific infrastructure (physical and/or energy improvements), upgrading of utility networks and systems, construction of new buildings (including demolition of buildings in a state of disrepair). It may include site improvement of renovated or newly constructed buildings, other contract works directly related to the renovation or extension of the building, preparation of related technical documentation, technical supervision and supervision of the project execution. Where the design provides for demolition and new construction of a construction works, the applicant must submit an expert examination report with the application on the construction works, justifying that the construction works are in an emergency condition.
  • Projects submitted by public higher education institutions or their authorised managers and public vocational training institutions or their authorised managers must be approved by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania.
  • If the applicant or a legal person authorised by the applicant manages the building on the basis of a loan for use, the project must be approved by the owner or trustee of the building.
  • The building will be used for its intended purpose throughout the loan repayment period and funds of the required amount will be allocated for heating and/or cooling of the building, operation, maintenance of the building and payment of the project investments.
  • The project must be implemented (the works financed by the loan must be completed) within 24 months from the date of signature of the loan agreement (this period may be extended for justified reasons).
  • The project must comply with the European Union’s competition policy and state aid rules (see the description of the facility for details).
Loan conditions

Type and rate of interest

This is determined individually.

Loan term

The term is up to 20 years.

Loan intensity

This is up to 100% of the eligible costs.

Loan refinancing fee

A loan refinancing fee may apply.

Fee for conclusion of agreement

The fee is 0.4%, but not less than EUR 200 (two hundred euro).

Commitment fee

The fee is 0.5% of the unused loan amount (to be paid if at the end of the project the unused part of the loan exceeds 10% of the loan amount).

Eligible costs

External and internal renovation of scientific infrastructure (improvement of physical and/or energy properties), renovation of utility networks and systems, construction of new buildings (including demolition of emergency buildings). Also, improvement of the plot of a renovated or newly constructed building, other works directly related to the renovation or development of a building, preparation of related technical documentation, maintenance and supervision of project execution.

Additional collaterals

This may be requested (e.g. pledge of an account, surety, guarantee).

Period of implementation of the project (contract work)

Up to 24 months from the date of signature of the loan agreement (this period may be extended at the applicant’s request for justified reasons).

Loan disbursement

This is to the applicant or contractors (suppliers) for the performed works and rendered services in accordance with the documents submitted proving the acceptance and transfer of the performed works (services, supplies) and details of expenses (invoices or equivalent documents).

Loan repayment method

There are two options:

  • Linear (a fixed portion of the loan is repaid according to the established payment schedule and a variable portion of the interest calculated according to the amount of the remaining debt).
  • Annuity (flat-rate loans and interest payments according to the established payment schedule).

Frequency of loan and interest payments

This will be at least every 3 months.

Early repayment

The loan or part of it may be repaid earlier without additional fees (repayment is possible only on the date of periodic payment specified in the loan repayment and interest payment schedule (hereafter referred to as the ‘payment schedule’)).

Default interest

Default interest is 0.02% of the instalment (loan and/or interest) not paid on time for each day it is overdue.

Advance

Up to 30% of the loan amount may be paid in advance according to the application filed by the applicant.