Last Wednesday, September 8, the Government announced the opening of the call for aid to AI and digitalization projects,based on the contributions received by the expression of interest launched in July.
the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation,through the public business entity Red.es, has open the deadline for applications for the call for aid to AI and digitalization projects,made from the contributions received in an expression of interest that took place in July 2021.
Some grants that aim to promote the realization of projects and actions of the Strategic Action in Digital Economy and Society, inaddition to promoting technological development to incorporate artificial intelligence in the production processes of value chains.
The aid budget will be EUR 105 million. An investment of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which is framed in the Agency España Digital 2025 and in the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence.
Typology of aid for AI and digitalization projects
Aid for AI and digitalisation projects may be granted in the form of monetary grants, in kind or a combination of both. They are intended to fully or partially finance actions and projects that include:
- Development, promotion and adoption of digital technologies:
The grants will be used to finance the development of sectoral tractor projects, and the development and validation of demonstrators and platforms in different technological and sectoral areas, which can analyze their viability in real environments. It also includes the transmission, knowledge, dissemination and application of the results.
- Development of strategic areas of business R&D&I and entrepreneurship in the technological field:
They will also promote technological development and entrepreneurship in the face of societal challenges, which promote the development of the knowledge and technologies necessary to address and seek solutions to complex problems that are associated with these challenges. To this end, research, technological development and innovation are incorporated.
Beneficiaries of this aid
- Enterprises.
- Foundations, associations (including federations, confederations or unions thereof) and professional associations.
- Local entities.
- Universities and university institutes.
- Public research bodies.
- Other public R&D centres.
- Technology Centers and Support Centers for Technological Innovation.
Budget for aid for industrial research projects and experimental development in AI and other digital technologies
The budget of the aid is 105 million euros, of which 50 million will be allocated to finance industrial research projects and 55 million to projects aimed at experimental development,related to the following digital technologies:
- Artificial intelligence.
- Internet.
- Massive data and information processing technologies.
- High-performance and cloud computing.
- Natural language processing.
- Cybersecurity.
- Biometrics and digital identity.
- Blockchain.
- Robotics.
- Virtual and augmented reality.
- Special effects and simulation.
- 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
On the other hand, each applicant entity may finance a maximum of three projects.
As reported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, a minimum budget will be allocated for eligible industrial research projects of 500,000 euros and a maximum of 10 million euros.
For experimental development projects the minimum will be 300,000 euros and the maximum of 5 million euros,indirect taxes excluded. In both cases, the beneficiaries must co-finance the remaining percentage, in addition to indirect taxes, which will not be subsidized.
the maximum aid intensity rate ranges from 25% to 80% of eligible expenditure depending on the type of activity, the size of the company and whether or not the results of the projects are likely to be widely disseminated through conferences, publications, open access databases or free or open source software. Likewise, beneficiaries will be able to obtain financing through the “ICO-Red.es Acelera” line.
Deadline for applying for aid for AI and digitalization projects
Companies will have until October 8, 2021 to apply for these grants,submitting their application by filling out the form enabled in the Electronic Office of Red.es, where you can also consult all the information.
