The historic increase in the budget of the Ministry of Science and Innovation has allowed for new calls to be launched and existing ones to be strengthened.
At Geprom, we want to highlight the opportunities that funding and grants from the Ministry of Science and Innovation represent for the industrial environment.
We aim to provide full support, through our technical experts, so that companies can take advantage of public funding and European funds. These actions, focused on comprehensive management of tax incentives for R&D&I and handling calls for grants and public subsidies, allow companies of all sizes to advance their Industry 4.0 and digital transformation projects across all sectors, from identifying technological opportunities and projects to their justification.
The Minister of Science and Innovation, Pedro Duque, presented this Wednesday along with the directors of the State Research Agency (AEI), Enrique Playán; CDTI, Javier Ponce; and the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), Raquel Yotti, the main updates for this year’s calls, which in total reach direct investment commitments of 2.406 million euros. This represents nearly a 100% increase compared to 2020, when funding for projects, human resources, and scientific equipment amounted to 1.212 million euros.
During a press conference at the AEI headquarters, the Ministry of Science and Innovation highlighted the role of the agencies as promoters and facilitators of R&D&I in Spain. This role has been reinforced by the EU Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, which has enabled a significant increase in the Ministry’s budget for this year. Specifically, in the 2021 General State Budget (PGE), direct investment increased by 1.204 million euros, a 59.4% rise, reaching 3.232 million euros.
In 2021, a total of 2.406 million euros will be allocated in competitive R&D&I calls from the AEI, CDTI, and ISCIII, practically doubling direct funding. Specifically, AEI calls increased from 747 to 1.523 million euros; CDTI from 335 to 645 million euros; and ISCIII from 131 to 238 million euros. The directors detailed how the increase in resources will be distributed in their calls this year.
State Research Agency (AEI)
The State Research Agency, the main public body in Spain responsible for promoting scientific and technical research in all fields, has launched three new calls: proof of concept, strategic projects, and green and digital transition. Additionally, it has strengthened calls for scientific-technical equipment, public-private collaboration, and postdoctoral contracts with significant resource increases.
Key updates:
- New Proof of Concept Call: With 40 million euros, aimed at financing the initial transfer of scientific-technical knowledge obtained by applicants. 954 applications have been received and are currently under evaluation.
- New Strategic Projects Call: With 43 million euros in grants and an additional 43 million in loans, aimed at financing the initial phase of public-private collaboration. 447 applications with 1.557 participants have been received, currently under evaluation.
- New Green and Digital Transition Call: With 296 million euros in grants, funding projects aimed at accelerating the dual green and digital transition. Eligible for usual beneficiaries of the R&D&I project calls.
- Scientific-Technical Equipment Call: Record budget of 180 million euros in grants (compared to 27 million in direct aid in 2019, plus 160 million in repayable advances from FEDER and loans). Oriented to providing high-performance equipment to common services of public research organizations, universities, and other public R&D&I centers. 701 applications received, soon in evaluation.
- Public-Private Collaboration Call: Previously “Collaboration Challenges,” with a budget of 150 million euros in direct grants and 250 million in loans to companies (70 million in grants and 190 million in loans in 2019). Can fund the incorporation of PhDs into companies.
- Postdoctoral Contracts Calls: Cover the first two phases of the new scientific career, complemented this year with Ramón y Cajal and, from 2022, the “tenure track” call. Total funding for training and incorporation calls is 90.8 million euros (42 million in 2020). Contracts increased from 556 to 900, with more resources for research projects and mobility.
CDTI
The CDTI, Spain’s main agency promoting innovation and technological development of Spanish companies, supporting their R&D&I projects domestically and abroad, increased its direct aid by 92% compared to 2020 (from 335 million to 646 million euros). It has strengthened previous calls and launched new programs.
- Cervera Technological Centers Aid: Call increased, resolving 20 million euros in aid, with an additional 15 million from the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan.
- New Aeronautical Technology Program: 40 million euros in grants in 2021, currently under evaluation.
- NEOTEC Aid: Budget of 36.5 million euros (11.5 million more than in 2020), prioritizing projects hiring PhDs to enhance knowledge absorption and generation.
- Invierte Program: Stimulates investment in Spanish technology and innovative companies, supporting previously certified private investors. In 2021, also supporting venture capital vehicles specialized in Technology Transfer. Total budget 177 million euros.
Additional 2021 calls:
- Science and Innovation Missions: 141 million euros, 45 million more than the 2020 edition.
- Sustainable Automotive Technology Program: 40 million euros to fund projects for zero-emission vehicle transition.
- SME Aid with European Innovation Council Excellence Seal: 20 million euros.
ISCIII
The Carlos III Health Institute manages the Strategic Health Action (AES), aiming to improve citizen health and wellbeing, develop preventive, diagnostic, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative aspects, and reinforce international competitiveness of the National Health System’s R&D&I.
The increase in ISCIII resources raised AES funding from 131 million euros in 2020 to 238 million euros in 2021. This increase allows for: higher human resources program contracts and compensation, increased average project funding, consolidation of independent clinical research calls, creation of a new infectious disease area within CIBER, redesign of cooperative research networks focused on health outcomes, and improved international precision medicine programs.
Two new calls will also be launched:
- Precision Personalized Medicine Research Projects: Nearly 30 million euros, aimed at progressive deployment of personalized medicine in the National Health System via new R&D&I projects coordinated with the IMPACT infrastructure (Predictive Medicine, Genomic Medicine, Data Science).
- Unique Scientific Infrastructures and Equipment Acquisition: 15 million euros, funding unique infrastructures in research centers and technological renewal to enhance cohesion of the system.
Recent R&D&I Success Case: IoT4DigitalTwin H2020
Geprom has experience in national and international R&D&I projects across all industrial sectors. The most recent success case is the IoT4DigitalTwin project, part of the European IoT4Industry initiative under Horizon 2020. Geprom and Gefasoft formed a consortium to implement a digital twin at Celsa (Spanish multinational, leader in the metallurgical sector) and continue advancing in Industry 4.0 with more flexible, customized, and efficient processes.
