The IMPROVE project releases series of news on how the participating regions with their addressed policy Instruments are reacting to the crisis generated by Covid-19. First, the measures taken at the lead partner region of Exremadura:
Due to the current situation caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19, and regarding the instruments to support R&D at regional level, the General Secretariat of Science, Technology, Innovation and University has recently made more flexible some requirements for the projects financed by ERDF Operational Programme of Extremadura 2014-2020, with the aim of facilitating the development and implementation of existing projects once the state of emergency declared in Spain has ended.
About the rules on aid granted for industrial research and experimental development projects, financed through Investment Priority 1(b) of the ROP, they include the extension of the implementation of the projects for the same period of the state of alert, plus one month, thus extending the maximum period of implementation.
It is also established that companies may cancel the bank policies, loans or guarantees that they have arranged to meet the requirement of economic viability of the project. Such cancellation will not be considered a breach.
On the other hand, the alarm period will not be counted for the purposes of compliance with the requirements for hiring personnel to be charged to the project, provided that a Temporary Employment Regulation File is filed; and the 24-month period from notification of the concession resolution for payment of the remaining 40% of the subsidy is eliminated.
The order, issued by the Regional Ministry of Economy, Science and Digital Agenda, is already in force and its effects go back to the date of the declaration of the state of alarm.
In line with this, FUNDECYT-PCTEX (Lead Partner of IMPROVE project) has implemented a set of exceptional support measures for companies housed in its infrastructures, including a 50% discount on invoicing for advanced services and rental housing. This measure also takes into account the particular situation of each SME, offering the possibility of a moratorium on payment for services and housing to those who request it.
Furthermore, FUNDECYT-PCTEX offers advisory services to the companies in the region on how to take advantage of all support instruments set up from R&D&I at regional, national and European level, all through on-line tools.
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