Research, Development &
Innovation
2014 - 2020
Contents
• Scope of R&D&I framework
• GBER aid for R&D&I
• Research Organisations and State aid
Scope of R&D&I framework
• Research and knowledge dissemination
organisations
• Indirect state aid via publicly funded research
organisations
• Public procurement of research and development
services
• Individual aid awards outside of the GBER
GBER Aid for R&D&I
• R&D projects and feasibility studies
• Research Infrastructure investment
• Innovation cluster investment & operating aid
• Innovation support for SMEs
• Process & organisational innovation
• Local infrastructure investment aid
• (Young innovative SMEs finance)
Article 25 R&D projects
• Notification thresholds doubled for all
types of research
• Repayable advance = add 50% to
threshold and 10% to max aid intensity
• Revenues from commercially usable
prototypes & pilots – no longer
deductible
• Feasibility studies simplified at 50%
(+SME bonuses)
Article 29 Process & organisational
innovation
• Mainly for SMEs, but smaller amount available for
collaborating large companies
• For introduction of new and significantly improved
processes & methods of working
• Must be able to show the change is not driven by
usual business cycle / pressures
Eligible costs for Art. 25 & 29
Must be directly incurred for the project and eligible
only to the extent used for the project:
• Personnel costs
• Costs of instruments and equipment
• Costs of buildings and land
• Additional overheads
• Other operating expenses, including materials,
supplies and similar products
Article 26 Research infrastructure
• Only applies to research structures (partly) used for
economic purposes
• Allows 50% aid for the economic part (and 100% for
non-economic part)
• Industrial partners contributing at least 10% can get
preferential access - must be proportionate & terms
publicly available.
Article 27 Innovation clusters
• For investment & operational costs
• Investment costs – 50% of construction or upgrade of facilities
• Operating costs - 50% for up to 10 years Personnel & admin
costs of:
– Start up costs of knowledge sharing & business support
activities
– Marketing
– Management of facilities, training programmes &
conferences
Article 28 Innovation aid for SMEs
• Single category covering:
– Creating and defending IPR
– Secondment of highly qualified personnel
– Costs for innovation advisory & support services
• 50% aid intensity
– Can provide 100% for old Article 36 up to De
minimis level
Research Organisations and state aid
• “Research and knowledge-dissemination organisation”
• Considered outside of state aid rules when:
– If 100% public funded, economic activity <20%
– If public & private funded, public funding does not
exceed costs of non-economic activities.
• Otherwise, public funding of economic activities by
research organisations are subject to state aid rules
– Need to identify beneficiary and exemption
Economic & non-economic activities
• Economic activities:
– Renting out infrastructure
– Contract research
– Supplying goods or services
• Non-economic activities:
– Public education
– Independent or collaborative research
– Wide knowledge dissemination
Avoiding in-direct aid
• Market price
• Collaborative projects
– Joint project (design, division of labour, access to
results) with shared risks
– Terms & conditions must be set before start
• IPR must be held by Research organisation and may be
widely disseminated unless paid for by industrial
collaborative partner
Further Sources of Info
• European Commission website
– http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/legislati
on/legislation.html
– http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/moderni
sation/index_en.html