Things
The "First Playable Fund", with an initial endowment of 4 million euros, is a fund established at the Ministry of Economic Development with the aim of supporting the development of the digital entertainment industry at a national level through the granting of contributions non-refundable in favor of projects which, through the development of the conception and pre-production phases, intend to create a video game prototype intended for commercial distribution.
Who is it aimed at?
Companies that, on the date of submission of the application for the subsidy: - mainly carry out the economic activity of "Software publishing" or "Software production, IT consultancy and related activities", - are based legal in the European Economic Area, – are subject to taxation in Italy as a result of their tax residence, or due to the presence of an operational headquarters in Italy, to which the creation of the prototype can be traced back, – have a minimum fully paid-up share capital and an equity net of not less than ten thousand euros, both in the case of companies established in the form of joint-stock companies, both in the case of individual production companies and of companies established in the form of partnerships, - are duly established and registered as active in the Register of companies of the territorially competent Chamber of Commerce, - are in the full and free exercise of their rights, are not in voluntary liquidation and are not subject to insolvency proceedings with liquidation purposes, - guarantee, in the case in which they also operate in different sectors or also carry out other activities excluded from the scope of application of the de minimis regulation, with appropriate means such as the separation of activities or the distinction of costs, that the aforementioned activities carried out in the excluded sectors do not benefit from aid granted pursuant to the de minimis regulation, – have returned sums due following provisions for the revocation of benefits granted by the Ministry of Economic Development, - are not recipients of a disqualification sanction referred to in Article 9, paragraph 2, letter d), of Legislative Decree 8 June 2001, n. 231 and subsequent amendments and additions, - whose legal representatives or administrators have not been convicted, with a final sentence or criminal decree of conviction which has become irrevocable or sentence of application of the sentence upon request pursuant to article 444 of the code of criminal procedure, for crimes that constitute grounds for the exclusion of an economic operator from participation in a procurement or concession procedure pursuant to the legislation on public contracts relating to works, services and supplies in force on the date of submission of the application.
What does it predict
The projects eligible for the benefits must: - involve, through the development of the conception and pre-production phases, the creation of a video game prototype intended for commercial distribution, - be created at its operational headquarters located in Italy, as indicated in the application of facilitation, foresee, each, the creation of a single prototype, - foresee eligible expenses and costs not lower than 20,000.00 euros in total, - be started after the date of submission of the facilitation application, where the start date means the date of the first title of expenditure/cost eligible for benefits, - be completed within 18 months from the date of the provision granting the benefits, where completion date means the date of the last title of expenditure/cost eligible for benefits. The benefits are granted in the form of a non-repayable contribution, to the extent of 50% of the eligible expenses and costs incurred for the implementation of the admitted project. The contribution is recognized pursuant to "de minimis" and in compliance with the limits established by Regulation (EU) no. 1407/2013, pursuant to which the maximum aid that can be granted for each "single company" cannot exceed the amount of €200,000.00 over three financial years.
