VALENCIA, 26 Dec. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Valencian Instituto de Competitividad Empresarial (Ivace), attached to the Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Commerce and Tourism, recovers the aid to support innovative projects of digital transformation within the call for innovation of its R&D and Business Plan published in the Newspaper Official of the Generalitat Valenciana (DOGV).

The budget for innovation projects amounts to 10 million euros and the deadline for submitting applications will begin on January 9, 2024 and will end on February 22.

For the Minister of Innovation and president of Ivace, Nuria Montes, “this novelty in the 2024 aid aims to reduce the gap that exists in the implementation of industry 4.0 in SMEs and provide them with the resources and tools necessary to implement solutions technologies that improve their competitiveness and their positioning in the market”.

“SMEs,” added the Minister of Innovation in a statement, “are part of the main driving forces of economic growth and job creation and need aid that responds to market demands.”

The budget that the Ivace Innovation Unit is going to allocate to promoting innovation in the business fabric of the Valencian Community amounts to ten million euros with which it will finance innovation projects in products, processes, industry 4.0 and innovation in the field of Electronic, Information and Communication Technologies (TEICs).

With this budget, financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, Ivace will finance up to 45% of the expenses derived from the contracting of consulting and technical assistance services, registration of patents, trademarks, utility models and industrial designs, expenses for technical personnel participating in the project as well as the acquisition of tangible assets (capital goods) or intangible assets (software).

With the exception of the TEICs Innovation line, this year there is no limit on the presentation of projects per company. The deadline for submitting applications begins on January 9, 2024 and will end on February 22.

Within the product innovation action, the development of new products that have tangible results at the end of the project execution is supported, as well as the significant improvement of those already manufactured by the company.

The line of process innovation supports the implementation of eco-efficient production methods or techniques in the company, the reduction of consumption of virgin raw materials, the obtaining of products and services based on eco-design as well as the obtaining of technological solutions. Innovative circular eco solutions aimed at improving waste management.

Aid for digital transformation supports advanced and additive manufacturing projects, advanced and collaborative robotics projects, connected devices in commercial and consumer applications (Ilot), artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality projects, as well as digital twin projects.

And the aid included in the innovation action in TEICs aims to finance the development of innovative solutions in the field of information, electronics and communications technologies that result in new applications, devices or solutions, prepared for its marketing to third parties.

In accordance with the provisions of the Budget Law of the Generalitat, Ivace may advance up to 75% of the subsidy granted to micro and small businesses and up to 50% of the aid granted to medium-sized companies with the presentation of a guarantee by the company of 25% of the amount to be advanced.

The call for innovation aid is part of Ivace’s R&D and Business Plan focused on promoting a circular and low-carbon economy, a disruptive digital economy, an innovative society that favors innovation for people.