A Royal Decree grants aids of 20 million euros for R&D&I in the naval sector
The Spanish Council of Ministers approved last December 7 the new Royal Decree 1071/2021 that regulates the direct granting of aid for research, development and innovation (R&D&I) in the shipbuilding sector. The objective is to position Spain as a leader of the sector.
The aids will be charged to the Naval Sector Restructuring Fund and managed by Pymar, a organization established by Spanish shipyards to protect the interests of private shipbuilding in Spain and throughout Europe. This program has a maximum annual limit of 20 million euros, 25% more than in 2020.
These aids may be requested until December 31, 2023, coinciding with the date until which Commission Regulation (EU) No. 651/2014 of June 17 has been prolonged. If said regulation was extended again, the deadline for applying for these R&D&I aids in the Spanish shipbuilding sector would also be extended.
Support vessels for wind energy, hydrogen ships…
The Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, has pointed out that “the support of the Restructuring Fund makes it easier for the Spanish naval sector to develop innovative and unique projects, becoming a reference in different segments, such as support vessels for offshore wind energy or aquaculture”.
The program also guarantees from the design and construction of zero-emission hydrogen-powered ships to the design of prototypes with hybrid propulsion technology.
What types of projects are eligible?
Article 7 of this Royal Decree establishes that the following R&D&I projects are eligible for aid:
- Technical and environmental feasibility studies prior to industrial research or experimental development projects.
- Industrial research.
- Experimental development. It includes the building of ships and systems, the transformations of vessels and the construction of fixed platforms and floating mobile structures.
- Process and organizational innovation.
