The programme requires large companies to repay the grants offered if commercial revenues are generated as a direct result of the R&D project supported, at a rate of 3% of the grant value per year on successful projects (smaller firms at a rate of 1.5% a year). Relevant instruments to address these barriers include the following. The European Progress Microfinance Facility Programme implemented in Lithuania, for example, provided micro-loans to women entrepreneurs with favourable conditions for credit provision and repayment. Credit was provided within 1-2 business days for companies with less than 10 employees, no fees were applied on the provision of loans, and clients were able to defer the beginning of credit repayment up to 12 months. One-year tenor loans had to be repaid weekly with an annual interest rate of 15%. The government, generally through a state-owned enterprise or a government agency, acts as an equity investor, taking shares in the targeted business that provides it with some form of ownership.