Imminent opening of the 2022 call for the Grant Program for RD PROJECTS within the RIS3-Empresa PROGRAM of the Principality of Asturias
Grants for SMEs and self-employed individuals in the territorial scope of the Principality of Asturias. Also corporate RDI centers in the circularity subprogram.
At IMPULSO, we are pleased to inform you that IDEPA will publish in the coming days the 2022 call for the Grant program for RD PROJECTS IN ASTURIAS (RIS3-Empresa PROGRAM).
The purpose of this program is to finance individual or collaborative RD Projects within the specialization fields of the RIS3-Empresa Program of the Principality of Asturias, aimed at obtaining new or improved products, processes, or services, under two execution modalities.
Below, we summarize the main characteristics of these grants, pending confirmation upon the publication of the call in the coming days:
BENEFICIARIES
SMEs and large companies (excluding self-employed individuals and corporate RDI centers), with an establishment in the Principality of Asturias.
Corporate RDI Centers may participate in collaborative projects under the circularity subprogram.
PROJECT TYPES
RD Projects in the categories of Industrial Research (IR), Experimental Development (ED), or Feasibility Studies (FS).
Eligible projects may be carried out individually or in collaboration and must be developed under one of the following implementation methods:
- Method 1. Projects carried out directly by the company: Industrial Research (IR); Experimental Development (ED).
- Circularity Subprogram: collaborative projects aimed at developing and scaling up processes for the material and energy recovery of industrial by-products and waste for use in industrial processes, reducing environmental impact while maintaining economic profitability. Objectives: Zero waste to landfill; Reduced use of natural raw materials; Carbon neutrality; Economic profitability.
- Method 2. Projects fully outsourced to an external RD provider: Industrial Research; Experimental Development; Feasibility Studies (FS).
External provider: Public research centers; Technology centers; Private universities with proven RD capability; Public and private healthcare entities and institutions linked or affiliated with the National Health System that carry out research activities; Accredited biomedical or healthcare research institutes; Public and private non-profit entities that carry out and/or manage RD activities, generate scientific or technological knowledge, facilitate its application and transfer, or provide innovation support services to business entities.
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum budget: €10,000
- The project must start after the submission date of the application. The project’s completion date will be set in the award resolution and may under no circumstances extend beyond 12/31/2023.
- Own interest relevant to the applicant’s activity.
- Purpose: obtaining new or improved products, processes, or services.
- Falling within the priority fields of RIS Asturias: Advanced and sustainable materials; New production models; Supplies. Technologies for networks; Agri-food markets; Demographic aging and quality of life; Industrial hub of steel; Hybridization.
- Projects carried out by the beneficiary company at its establishment in Asturias, and their results must remain, and their results must have a tangible impact, in the region.
- The eligible amount of all projects in the same fiscal year may not exceed 50% of the turnover of the last closed fiscal year, except for companies established within the previous two fiscal years and RD centers of large companies.
- Eligible personnel costs for all projects in the same fiscal year may not exceed 50% of the personnel expenses of the last closed fiscal year, except for companies established within the previous two fiscal years.
- Under Method 2:
- The company and the subcontracted external RD provider must formalize a contract. A draft must be submitted with the application.
- External RD providers may not share 25% or more common ownership with the applicant company.
- Projects may not be subcontracted to research groups whose staff have any employment or ownership ties with the applicant company.
ELIGIBLE COSTS
- a) Fixed assets (depreciation): equipment and materials, to the extent and for the period they are used for the project. If used exclusively for the project and its useful life ends when the project finishes, the acquisition cost will be eligible.
- b) Technical staff: only from contribution groups 1, 2, and 3 (maximum hourly costs are established).
- c) Materials: raw materials, supplies, and similar consumable products.
- d) External collaborations: universities, public research bodies, technology centers, or specialized consulting/engineering firms. Subcontracting with related persons or entities will not be eligible, except in the case of subcontracting with Technology Centers.
- e) Patent acquisition, used exclusively for the project.
Method 1. The costs under sections d) and e) will be considered subcontracting. Subcontracting may account for a maximum of 50% of the total eligible amount of the project. If this percentage is exceeded, only 50% will be considered eligible.
Method 2. Eligible costs are exclusively those under section d), corresponding to external collaboration with an external RD provider. The beneficiary must subcontract 100% of the eligible costs to said provider.
TYPE AND INTENSITY OF AID
Non-repayable grant, whose maximum amount depends on the project method and the size of the company:
| Project category | |||
| Company size | Industrial Research | Experimental Development | Feasibility Studies |
| Small | 70% | 45% | 60% |
| Medium | 60% | 35% | 60% |
| Large | 50% | 25% | 50% |
Increases in aid intensity:
- The aid intensity for projects carried out in effective collaboration involving an SME may be increased by 5%.
- The aid intensity may be increased by 10% if a Research or Development project involves at least 3 companies (one SME and one large company) and subcontracts at least 10% of the total eligible budget to Public Research Centers or Technology Centers.
Projects will have a maximum eligible amount per company, as indicated:
- Method 1: Maximum per project: €250,000.
- Method 2: RD Projects: €200,000; Feasibility studies: €50,000.
The total amount of aid received by a company in this call will not exceed €590,000 (10% of the initial budget allocation).
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Pending publication of the call in the coming days. The expected application submission period is from 05/12/2022 to 07/11/2022 at 2:00 PM.
05/05/2022
