Things
Incentive dedicated to projects relating to industrial research and experimental development activities aimed at the creation of new products, processes or services (or at the significant improvement of existing ones) through the development of key enabling technologies (KETs) envisaged by the "Horizon Europe" program With directorial decree of 31 January 2023, starting from 10 am on 1 February 2023, the suspension of the deadlines for submitting applications for relief valid on the national territory is established. With directorial decree of 2 February 2023, starting from 3 February 2023, the suspension of the deadlines for submitting applications for relief from the resources of the Framework Agreement for Calabria is established. The door is therefore closed. With ministerial decree of 11 May 2023, further financial resources, amounting to 175 million euros, were allocated to support research and development initiatives presented in the regions of Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sicily and Sardinia. The initiatives must be consistent with the thematic objectives of the National Program Research, Innovation and Competitiveness for the green and digital transition 2021-2027 and satisfy the additional selection criteria of the same Programme, general and specific of Action 1.1.4 "Collaborative research" . With Directorial Decree of 11 August 2023, the terms and methods for submitting requests for access to the use of the resources of the RIC PN 2021 – 2027, Action 1.1.4, were established.
Who is it aimed at?
Companies of any size with at least two approved balance sheets carrying out industrial, agro-industrial, artisan or industrial services activities and research activities. The proposing companies can also present projects jointly with up to a maximum of five co-proposing entities. Research organizations can also be co-proposers and, limited to projects relating to the "Food systems", "Bioinnovation systems in the Union bioeconomy" and "Circular systems" lines of intervention, also agricultural companies carrying out activities provided for by article 2135 of the Civil Code. The financial resources of the RIC PN 2021 - 2027, allocated by the decree of 11 May 2023, can be accessed by research and development projects which are the subject of a subsidy application already submitted on this subsidy desk and which are not admitted to the preliminary investigation phase due to lack of financial resources.
What does it predict
The benefits are granted in the form of a direct contribution to spending and upon request for subsidized financing, using the resources made available by the administrations signing the innovation agreement. The limits and criteria are as follows: • the maximum limit of the aid intensity of the concessions that can be granted is equal to 50% of the eligible costs of industrial research and 25% of the eligible costs of experimental development; • the subsidized loan, if requested, can be granted exclusively to companies, within the limit of 20% of the total eligible project costs. The decree of 11 August 2023 establishes that, in addition to respecting the criteria established by the decree of 31 December 2021, the projects must: a) be carried out entirely in the territories of the less developed regions; b) do not fall within the areas of exclusion provided for in Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 1058/2021c) provide for the implementation of the project activities, alternatively according to one of the following methods: i. in the case of a project carried out jointly by multiple proponents, the project must include at least one SME among the proposing entities or a small mid-cap company in collaboration with non-large companies and/or research organisations; ii. in the case of a project carried out by a single proponent, the project must have, as the proposing entity, an SME or a small mid-cap company.
