The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) voucher programme by the Slovenian Enterprise Fund (SEF) provides micro and small enterprises with accessible support to assess and improve their environmental performance. It offers small grants to cover the cost of Life Cycle Assessments conducted by pre-approved experts, helping SMEs identify efficiency gains and sustainability improvements. The programme is designed for simplicity and accessibility, with a streamlined application process that guides companies through documentation and submissions. It also includes advisory support to ensure high-quality, internationally aligned Life Cycle Assessment studies, enhancing credibility and integration into global value chains.
Slovenian Enterprise Fund – Life Cycle Assessment voucher
Abstract
In 2019, the Slovenian Enterprise Fund (SEF), under the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, introduced a voucher scheme tailored specifically to the needs of micro and small enterprises. Recognising that these firms often face barriers in accessing public support, the programme offers small-value grants ranging from EUR 300 to EUR 9,999.99, covering up to 60% of eligible project costs. Support is provided either through direct cost reimbursement or as a fixed lump sum. Designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind, the scheme features a fast-track application process, with vouchers available year-round until the annual budget is fully allocated.1
In 2021, SEF launched a specific instrument under this framework—the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) voucher—to make sustainability assessments more accessible to SMEs. Through this measure, firms can select a pre-approved LCA expert from a public list maintained by SPIRIT Slovenia, the national public agency. The expert conducts an on-site assessment tailored to the company’s operations and delivers an LCA study using a standardised template. Before disbursement, the study is subject to review to ensure quality and relevance. These assessments serve as a foundation for companies to identify and implement sustainability improvements. Since its launch, the LCA voucher has supported 49 SMEs with a total allocation of EUR 325,750.
To ensure that access to support is not limited by administrative capacity, the scheme also provides free advisory services to applicants. Assistance is delivered through the SPOT network (Slovenska Poslovna Točka – Slovenian Business Point), a nationwide system of one-stop shops for businesses. Operating through 12 regional offices, SPOT helps SMEs draft applications, prepare necessary documentation, and submit reimbursement claims. The proximity and accessibility of SPOT offices play a key role in reducing administrative burden, especially for smaller firms with limited resources. Locations and contact details for each SPOT Consulting point are accessible via the official SPOT website2.
Eligibility for the voucher is limited to Slovenian SMEs with at least three employees at the time of application. Applicants must have no outstanding financial obligations and must not be undergoing bankruptcy, compulsory settlement, or similar proceedings. Certain sectors, such as agriculture, are excluded from the programme3.
The following steps elaborate the voucher acquisition procedure4:
1. A public call is issued for each voucher and published on the SEF website and in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia;
2. Applicants can receive free support from SPOT services when preparing their application;
3. The company submits the application through the e-Voucher portal, where both the application and the subsequent reimbursement for eligible costs are handled electronically using a two-factor digital signature;
4. SEF reviews the submitted documents to confirm that the applicant meets all eligibility criteria;
5. Once eligibility is confirmed, the company signs a contract with SEF using an electronic signature and a digital certificate;
6. The company carries out the approved activities in line with the terms of the agreement;
7. After completing the activities, the payment request is submitted through the e-Voucher portal;
8. After the review of the payment request and the required documentation the funds are disbursed.
In the past, public support, for instance through public tenders, generally did not reach small companies, as the application process was deemed too demanding and complex. In response, the government amended the Supportive Environment for Entrepreneurship Act in 2017 and introduced an additional instrument - the “public call”. which was the base for the launch of a new voucher scheme in 2019. This new scheme is characterised by simple rules and streamlined procedures tailored specifically for SMEs and micro-enterprises. Various vouchers were developed, in addition to the Life cycle assessment (LCA) voucher. These include:
Voucher for participation in business delegations abroad;
Voucher for quality certificates;
Intellectual property protection voucher;
Voucher for the status transformation of companies;
Ownership transfer voucher;
SME Sustainability Reporting Voucher (ESG) (ongoing);
Cyber security voucher;
Voucher to boost prototyping in start-ups.
The vouchers are implemented through the Slovenian Enterprise Fund with funds from the European Regional Development Fund. Since 2019, the “Public Call” instrument has supported over 8.000 SMEs, with a total funding of over EUR 34 million. The LCA voucher was introduced to address the growing awareness and demand for environmental assessment tools. Moreover, companies faced barriers in conducting an LCA without any public support.
Reaching micro-enterprises through proactive outreach and simplified access: While the voucher scheme is tailored to the needs of small businesses with limited or no prior experience accessing public support, micro-enterprises remain particularly hard to reach despite being among those who could benefit most. A key barrier is their limited capacity to identify and apply for funding opportunities. This highlights the need to further lower access thresholds and invest in more targeted outreach and communication efforts. Leveraging intermediaries such as sector associations, local chambers of commerce, and regional business networks can play a vital role in raising awareness and improving accessibility for this segment.
Monitoring and evaluation for long-term impact: Another important lesson is the current lack of structured follow-up or impact assessment. While the scheme has supported dozens of SMEs, there is no formal mechanism in place to monitor outcomes or evaluate long-term benefits. SEF is now considering introducing follow-up questionnaires and KPI tracking to better assess the effectiveness of the LCA studies and the broader impact of the scheme.
Balancing quality and access in expert selection: As the number of experts eligible to conduct LCA studies has grown, concerns about the consistency and quality of reports have emerged. In some cases, outputs have not fully met expectations, prompting discussions within SEF about revisiting the selection criteria for participating experts. The challenge lies in striking the right balance: too lenient criteria risk subpar results for SMEs, while overly stringent requirements may limit expert availability, reducing choice for applicants and potentially causing delays.
Raising awareness and building capacity for sustainability: The LCA voucher scheme has been instrumental in raising awareness of LCAs among SMEs, including very small companies that would typically not consider applying such methodologies. By introducing these businesses to LCA, the programme fosters a better understanding of resource use and environmental performance. This not only contributes to positive environmental outcomes but also enables firms to identify efficiency gains and reduce operating costs, laying the groundwork for longer-term improvements in business productivity and competitiveness.
Supporting market integration through internationally aligned standards: By encouraging companies to adopt LCA practices and demonstrate environmental accountability, the programme strengthens SMEs' ability to integrate into global value chains. Multinational firms are increasingly demanding transparent, sustainable sourcing, and participation in the scheme helps meet these expectations. A key element in this success is the use of templates aligned with ISO 14040/14044 standards, which enhances the credibility and international comparability of the assessments. This gives participating firms a competitive edge when seeking business partnerships abroad.
De-risking and simplifying the first steps toward sustainability: A major strength of the voucher scheme lies in its low-risk, low-barrier entry point for SMEs. By covering the cost of the initial LCA assessment and consultancy, the programme removes a key financial hurdle and encourages companies to experiment with sustainability practices. This support also helps counter the widespread perception that LCA is overly complex or resource-intensive, thereby making environmental improvements more accessible to a wider range of businesses.
Strong institutional collaboration ensures technical rigor and relevance: Another key success factor is the close collaboration with academic and business communities. The programme was developed with support from the University of Maribor, helping to ensure both technical robustness and alignment with international standards. Additionally, consultations with businesses contributed to a more practical and responsive scheme design. This combination of technical expertise and stakeholder input has been critical to the scheme’s relevance, usability, and overall impact.
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