Upcoming calls for applications for GRANTS FOR INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY PLANS IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

From IMPULSO, we are pleased to inform you that the 2022 calls for applications for INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY PLANS IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY grants will be published in the coming days. This program, promoted by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, has a budget of 200 million euros, divided between the general call (all manufacturing sectors) and the pharma call (pharmaceutical sector).

Below, we summarize the main characteristics of these grants:

BENEFICIARIES

Companies with their own legal personality, incorporated in Spain and registered, regardless of their size, that carry out an industrial activity (experience > (3 years of experience) and are not part of the public sector.

Productive industrial activity in CNAE-2009 10 to 32 for at least three years. Also included (with some exceptions*) are activities classified under: section 38.3x (valorization project and having waste management authorization in application); CNAE 82.92*, 52.10* and 33* (Activities complementary to industrial production) and CNAE 71.12 and 71.20* (industrial service activities).

NOTE: this refers to the CNAE of the activity carried out in the project, not the corporate purpose.

TYPES OF PROJECT

Innovation and sustainability plans, structured into one or more projects from the following lines:

1. Research, Development and Innovation Line.

• Industrial research projects (aimed at acquiring new knowledge and skills that can be useful for developing new products, processes or services, or significantly improving existing ones).
• Experimental development projects (with a view to preparing plans and structures or designs for new, modified or improved products, processes or services. Includes the creation of prototypes, pilot projects, testing and validation of products or processes, etc.).
• Organizational innovation projects (application of a new organizational method to business practices, workplace organization or external relations).
• Process innovation projects (application of a new or significantly improved production or supply method).

2. Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Innovation Line.

• Innovative investments aimed at environmental protection, which meet at least one of the following conditions:
• Increase the level of environmental protection by exceeding European Union standards.
• Increase the level of environmental protection in the absence of European Union standards.
• Innovative investments in energy saving measures or renewable energies.

NOTE: Each project must fall under a single line of action. An entity may submit one or more applications.

ELIGIBLE CONCEPTS

1. Research, Development and Innovation Line.

• Personnel costs dedicated to the project (includes future hires for the project).
• Costs of instrumentation and inventory material: depreciation to the extent and period of use in the project (up to 60% of the eligible budget).
• Costs of contractual research, technical knowledge and patents acquired or obtained by license from external sources under arm’s length conditions.

2. Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Innovation Line.

• Acquisition of production apparatus and equipment (difference between the investment to be made and a less environmentally friendly reference investment).
• Building and facilities (up to 20% of the eligible budget).
• Intangible assets (acquisition of patents, licenses or technical knowledge).
• External collaborations (excluding aid management and processing).

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

• Incentive effect.
• Minimum and maximum budget: to be established in the call for applications.
• Execution period for investments: from the day after the application submission date up to a maximum of 24 months from the date of the grant resolution. Extensions beyond 30/06/2025 will not be permitted.
• Guarantees: Need to present in the final resolution proposal (20% of the loan amount and 100% of the subsidy).
• Validation report by an entity accredited by ENAC to ensure compliance with the DNSH principle: mandatory for all projects in the FINAL RESOLUTION.
• Industrial Research and Experimental Development Projects: An R&D activity qualification report for the project, issued by an ENAC-accredited entity, must be submitted with the APPLICATION. Otherwise, it will be evaluated as an Innovation project.
• Innovation projects in organization and processes carried out by large companies will be checked to ensure they meet the condition of 30% collaboration with SMEs.
• Projects intended for application in the value chain of the manufacturing industry that fall within any of the following thematic priorities:
• Circular economy and eco-innovation for improving value chains.
• Decarbonization, energy efficiency and new renewable energy sources and reduction of polluting emissions.
• Advanced materials and products.
• Innovation in industrial quality and safety processes.
• Innovations in the production process derived from developments in advanced materials and products.

TYPE AND INTENSITY OF AID

The aid can be in the form of a loan, grant, or a combination of both.

• Maximum amount of total funding per project (grant + nominal loan): 80% of the eligible budget.
• Limits of the nominal loan amount to be granted:
• The company’s Accumulated Live Risk with the General Directorate of Industry and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises < 5 times the equity in the last closed financial year.
• The nominal loan amount < average turnover in the last two closed financial years.
• Loan characteristics: Repayment period 10 years and 3 years grace period. 0% interest.
• Maximum limit of aid to be granted as a subsidy:
• 50% of the eligible budget for small companies.
• 20% of the eligible budget for medium-sized companies.
• 10% of the eligible budget for large companies for projects under Line 2.
• 5% of the eligible budget for large companies for projects under Line 1.
• Maximum limits for the amount of aid granted:
• Projects predominantly for industrial research: 20,000,000 euros per company and project. For Eureka projects or projects executed by a joint undertaking, the limit will be 40,000,000 euros per company and project.
• Projects predominantly for experimental development: 15,000,000 euros per company and project. For Eureka projects or projects executed by a joint undertaking, the limit will be 30,000,000 euros per company and project.
• Innovation projects in organization and processes: 7,500,000 euros per company and project.
• Environmental protection projects: 15,000,000 euros per company and project.
• Energy efficiency projects: 10,000,000 euros per company and project.

Depending on the type of project, the maximum gross aid intensity is:

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Calls Closed. Publication in the BOE pending at the end of April/beginning of May.

• General call (all manufacturing sectors):
  • Application period: presumably from May 9 to May 30 (the definitive period will be established in the call).
• Pharma call (pharmaceutical sector):
  • Application period: presumably from May 17 to June 6 (the definitive period will be established in the call).

BUDGET ALLOCATION:

• General call (all manufacturing sectors):
  • 2022 Budget: 150 million euros (91 million euros in loans plus 59 million euros in grants).
• Pharma call (pharmaceutical sector):
  • 2022 Budget: 50 million euros (25 million euros in loans plus 25 million euros in grants)

26/04/2022