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The Sicily Region has approved the legal bases for six strategic actions of the PR FESR 2021-2027, opening new perspectives for the growth and transformation of companies. Below, a detailed guide on all measures, beneficiaries, eligible expenses, help intensity and evaluation criteria. The call to action is available for each action to download the official legal base.
1.1.1 - Collaborative research and technology transfer
Objective: Promote industrial research and experimental development projects in collaboration between companies (SMEs, Mid Caps, large companies in partnership with SMEs), organisms and research infrastructures. Equipment: over 151 million euros. Beneficiaries:- Large companies (in effective collaboration with SMEs)
- PMI and MID CAP
- Research bodies and infrastructures
- Staff (researchers, technicians, auxiliaries)
- Instrumentation, equipment, properties and land (amortization for the duration of the project)
- Contractual research, patents, consultancy, dissemination results
- Materials, supplies, additional general expenses (up to 20% of direct costs)
- 50% for industrial research, 25% for experimental development
- 100% for non -cheap organisms/infrastructures
- Technical quality and innovation
- Composition of the partnership
- Economic sustainability
- Impact on circular economy and product/process innovation
1.1.2 - Companies innovation
Objective: Increase the level of innovation of micro, small and medium -sized Sicilian enterprises, also through aggregations. Equipment: over 19 million euros. Beneficiaries:- Mpmi and their operational aggregations for at least a year in Sicily
- Obtaining, validation and defense of patents and intangible assets
- Insertion of highly qualified personnel
- Innovation consultancy and support services (up to 20% of the budget)
- Minimum 40,000 euros
- Maximum: 60,000 (micro), 100,000 (small), 150,000 (medium)
- Up to 50% for patents and staff
- Up to 80% for consultancy services
- Level of innovation
- Impact on processes/products
- Technical quality and economic-financial sustainability
1.2.2 - Digitization of companies
Objective: Accelerate the digital transition of Sicilian Mpmi and strengthen the digital innovation hub and intermediaries ecosystem of innovation. Equipment: over 16 million euros. Beneficiaries:-
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- Mpmi and their operational aggregations for at least one year
- Innovation intermediaries (poles, research infrastructures, digital innovation hub)
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- Specialist consultancy for digital diagnosis and technological innovation
- Acquisition/development/implementation of basic and advanced digital technologies (Blockchain, Ai, IoT, Cybersecurity, Cloud, etc.)
- Purchase of equipment and software
- For intermediaries: seminars, workshops, digital assessments, digital transition advice
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- Minimum 20,000 euros
- Maximum: 60,000 (micro), 100,000 (small), 150,000 (medium), 220,000 for intermediaries
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- Quality of the proposal
- Innovation
- Impact on youth/women's occupation
- Technologies share s3
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1.1.3 - spaces for innovation
Objective: Promote the creation and enhancement of innovation poles, acceleration and incubation programs for start-ups and innovative SMEs. Equipment: over 9.5 million euros. Beneficiaries:-
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- Innovation poles (consortia, business networks, consortium companies/cooperatives)
- Innovative mpmi consisting of no more than 60 months
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- Poli enhancement, acceleration (min. 6 mpmi), incubation (min. 3 aspiring entrepreneurs)
- Consultancy, Training, Networking, Marketing, Infrastructure Management Services
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- Up to 50% for modernization and pole operation
- Up to 220,000 euros for consultancy services for innovation for a member company
- Up to 50,000 euros for accelerated start-ups, 30,000 euros for incubated companies
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- Impact on the ecosystem
- Networking and open innovation skills
- Economic sustainability
- Social innovation
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1.4.1 - Human capital qualification
Objective: Develop entrepreneurial and technological skills in the aggregations of SMEs, with a focus on Upskilling, Restkilling and double transition (green and digital). Equipment: over 25 million euros. Beneficiaries:-
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- Mpmi aggregations with legal personality
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- Consultancy and support services for innovation to strengthen strategic, technological and managerial skills
- Preliminary studies on the needs of skills
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- Number of employees involved
- Quality of the proposal
- Contribution to local skills
- Synergy with other interventions
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2.1.2 - Energy redevelopment in companies
Objective: Promote energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in the production cycles and company properties of MPMI. Equipment: over 40 million euros. Beneficiaries:-
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- Mpmi with operational headquarters in Sicily for at least one year
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- Energy redevelopment Properties and production plants
- Replacing systems/machinery with more efficient solutions
- Purchase equipment, systems, energy management software
- Technical expenses for energy diagnosis (compulsory), design, testing, construction sites
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- Up to 60% for micro and small businesses, 50% for medium -sized enterprises (in exemption); maximum 60% in de-minimis
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- Technical adequacy
- Energy saving, emissions reduction
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- Monitoring systems, impact on renewable self -consumption
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FAQ - 1.1.1 Collaborative research and technology transfer
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What are the sectors excluded from the loan?
Projects are excluded in the primary production sectors of agricultural products, fishing, aquaculture and other detailed in EU regulations. -
How is the collaboration between large companies and SMEs assessed?
Large companies can only participate in the presence of an effective collaboration with one or more SMEs, and the incentive effect must be demonstrated. -
Are the communication and dissemination activities of the results?
Yes, they are admissible as consultancy services, if aimed at spreading design results. -
How should the expenses between industrial research and experimental development be reported?
The expenses must be accounted for and reported separately, maintaining a clear accounting demarcation between the two types of activities.
FAQ - 1.1.2 Companies innovation
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What are the limits on consultancy costs?
The costs for consultancy and support services cannot exceed 20% of the maximum investment amount provided for each type of business. -
Is it possible to finance staff already present in the company?
No, the highly qualified staff must be included in a function of new creation and cannot replace any other staff already present. -
Which sectors are excluded from the announcement?
Fishing, aquaculture, primary production of agricultural products, tobacco and activities listed in Annex I of Directive 2003/87/EC are excluded. -
Is there an obligation to consistency with the S3 Sicily strategy?
Yes, all interventions must be consistent with the intelligent specialization strategy (S3) and return to one of the thematic areas identified by it.
FAQ - 1.2.2 Companies digitization
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What is the difference between support for companies and intermediaries of innovation?
Companies can receive contributions for the adoption of digital technologies, while intermediaries obtain funds for support, training and digital assessment activities aimed at SMEs. -
Can companies participate in multiple digitization programs?
No, the mpmi that participate in acceleration programs financed in the field of action 1.1.3 are not eligible. -
Is the minimum involvement of companies in intermediaries projects?
Yes, intermediaries must involve at least 3 Sicilian mpmi in their programs to be admitted to financing. -
Are priority criteria for the assignment of resources are planned?
Yes, the involvement of a higher number of participants compared to the minimum required is considered an element of priority during the evaluation phase.
FAQ - 1.1.3 spaces for innovation
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Who can propose acceleration or incubation programs?
Only innovation poles set up such as consortia, business networks, consortium companies or cooperatives can propose acceleration/incubation programs. -
How many companies or aspiring entrepreneurs must be involved in programs?
At least 6 Mpmi for acceleration programs and at least 3 aspiring entrepreneurs for incubation programs. -
Can programs have a thematic focus?
Yes, it is possible to propose vertical programs on themes such as youth or female entrepreneurship, provided they fall into the areas of S3 Sicily. -
Are there direct contributions to participating companies?
Yes, companies that successfully complete programs can receive contributions for consultancy services and for the implementation of the acquired know-how.
FAQ - 1.4.1 Human capital qualification
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Must aggregations already be established at the time of the application?
They can participate both aggregations already established and to be established, provided that they acquire legal personality and operational headquarters in Sicily within the terms provided for by the notice. -
Is it possible to finance preliminary studies on skills needs?
Yes, preliminary studies also include the eligible expenses to identify the skills necessary for the development of companies. -
What are the priority thematic areas?
The proposals must be consistent with one of the areas of S3 Sicily: agri -food, sea economy, energy, life sciences, smart cities, tourism, environment. -
How is the quality of the proposal assessed?
The mapping of the needs of skills is evaluated, the composition of the partnership and the contribution to the rise in local skills.
FAQ - 2.1.2 Energy redevelopment in companies
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Is energy diagnosis to access the contribution mandatory?
Yes, energy diagnosis is mandatory and must be accompanied by an energy performance attestation (APE) ex-ante and ape ex-post simulation. -
What are the eligible technical expenses?
Expenses for design, works management, testing, safety, construction sites and energy certificates are allowed, up to 10% of the total eligible expenses. -
Is it possible to finance only the renewable share of cogeneration/trigenration systems?
Yes, only the renewable component is admissible for aid in the exemption regime. -
Are prizes for the adoption of advanced consumption measurement systems?
Yes, the presence of advanced systems for measuring energy consumption and energy manager is a criterion of rewarding in the ranking.
