The Research and Innovation Foundation will announce STEP, a new funding programme for setting up facilities and production lines for manufacturing new innovative products/services in the coming period.
The aim of the STEP programme is to support enterprises in Cyprus to set up facilities and production lines for the development and production of innovative products and services, in line with the EU’s Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) regulation in the following areas:
– Digital and Deep Technology Innovation
-Clean and resource efficient technologies
– Biotechnologies
Funding will be provided in line with the State Aid Regulation through the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) and the provisions of the De Minimis Regulation.
The programme finances production activities for the creation of facilities and production lines for which entities can secure funding under GBER Articles 14 or 17 or 22 or 29 or De Minimis. Training Activities related to the establishment of production facilities and production lines may also be included in projects (Article 31) as well as Other Production Activities, Communication Activities, Activities for the Recruitment of Personnel specialised in the relevant field, Activities for Attracting Investment and Market Penetration (De-Minimis). In addition, entities may also include Development Activities for the development of the innovative product/service (Article 25 and/or Article 28).
Proposals can be submitted by a Small, Medium or Large Enterprise (Host Organisation).
A general description of the Programme, eligible activities and eligible costs per supported category are included in the attached presentation.
It is expected that the following, among others, will be submitted as part of the proposal:
- Techno-economic analysis and Business Plan.
- Estimate of the cost of the machinery and equipment required to set up the facility/production line (which is part of the budget of the proposed project) based on at least 3 comparable offers from 3 independent suppliers that can meet the requirements of the Host Organisation.
- Expert opinion on the eligibility of the selected article of State aid for the set-up of the facilities and production lines. The opinion will be evaluated by RIF with the assistance of State Aid experts.
- Results of the analysis on freedom to operate, including existing IPRs already held by the entity, relevant to the project, as well as commercial licenses (if and where applicable).
- Evidence of the commencement of necessary communications with competent authorities with regards to obtaining licenses, certifications, etc.
- Sufficient documentation of the entity’s ability to access materials and/or components, etc. that are of appropriate quality and specification for the proposed product/service, where applicable.
- Documentation of the existence of own funds through a description of the sources of financing (e.g. bank loans, equity, investments, etc.). The justification of the existence of own funds refers to the percentage of the contribution that needs to be invested from the part of the beneficiary due to the allowed Aid Intensity based on the State Aid Regulatiosns.
- Contract of employment of the Project Coordinator with the Host Organisation.