Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism allocates 200 million euros to R&D projects in ICT sector

This initiative is being undertaken within the framework of Order IET/786/2013, of 7 May, and forms part of the Digital Agenda for Spain and the Strategic Action on the Economy and Digital Society of the 2013-2016 Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation Plan.

The funding is aimed at incentivising the launch of individual R&D projects under two distinct sub-programmes to optimise the impact of public resources by segmenting the project spectrum:

1. Technology Promotion Sub-programme. This is aimed at incentivising national or international projects with a minimum budget of 200,000 euros and a maximum budget of 2 million euros that are based on nascent technologies with strong potential to transform the ICT sector. This sub-programme has a provision of 35 million euros in subsidies and 105 million euros in loans.

2. Major Projects Sub-programme. This is focused on projects with minimum subcontracting of 25% and a budget in excess of 2 million euros and up to 10 million euros with significant technological value and strong traction and socio-economic impact potential. This sub-programme has a provision of 15 million euros in subsidies and 45 million euros in loans.

Funding characteristics and method of payment

This round of funding differs from previous rounds insofar as it separates two types of funding in such a way that the amount provided will be linked to the assessment of the technological innovation involved in the project and the loan will be optional and limited by the amount requested.

The funding provided as subsidies will amount to 50% of the fundable budget if the score obtained in the technological innovation criteria is greater than or equal to 17 points, 35% if it is greater than or equal to 13 and less than 17, and 30% if it is higher than 8 and less than 13.

An interest rate of 0.18% will be applied to the financial aid issued in this way with a repayment period of five years including a two-year grace period.

Funding will always be paid partially in advance and will require the establishment of guarantees, the amount of which will depend on the score obtained by the beneficiary in the financial solvency criteria.

Those companies interested in taking part in this round of funding have until 18 June to present their applications.

Priority themes:

The thematic scope of the projects is defined in each one of the sub-programmes.

The priority themes for the Technology Promotion Sub-programme are:

a) Industries of the future:

• Components and systems
• Internet of the future
• Cloud Computing solutions
• Big data solutions
• High Performance Computing (supercomputing)
• Robots and autonomous systems
• Smart cities
• The Internet of things

b) Cyber-security and digital confidence

c) Healthcare and welfare

d) Agri-food and environmental management, energy efficiency and transport and logistics

e) Digital content

The priority areas for the Major Projects Sub-programme are those contained under 'industries of the future'.