European Regulation 651/2014 indicates the maximum limits of public aid that can be granted for innovation processes. Depending on whether an applicant is a large enterprise, a medium-sized enterprise (less than 250 employees and annual turnover less than EUR 50 million or annual balance sheet total less than EUR 43 million) or a small enterprise (less than 50 employees and annual turnover or annual balance sheet total less than EUR 10 million), the limits vary depending on the program. This also varies according to the type of project, whether it is industrial research or experimental development.

In Commercial Projects:

  • Industrial research: the subsidy may amount to a maximum of 80% for small companies, up to 75% for medium-sized companies and up to 65% for large companies.
  • Experimental development: the subsidy may be up to a maximum of 660% for small companies, up to 50% for medium-sized companies and up to 40% for large companies.

In Pre-Commercial Projects:

  • Industrial research: the subsidy may amount to a maximum of 60% regardless of the size of the company.
  • Experimental development: the subsidy may amount to a maximum of 60% for small companies, up to 50% for medium-sized companies and up to 40% for large companies.

In the case of groupings of companies, these percentages refer to each company separately and only to its share of the budget.