Recovery Plan: 3 most current calls for companies in the areas of renewable sources, decarbonisation and dig

Enterprises from across the whole of Slovakia, regardless of their size, have the opportunity to obtain financial support for innovative projects in these key areas.

The Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation of the Slovak Republic (MIRRI) has, under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, announced long-awaited calls that can help companies implement their project plans, particularly in the area of:

• construction of RES facilities above 500 kW, including battery systems,
• decarbonisation at levels TRL 4 – 8,
• digitalisation at levels TRL 4 – 8.

Research and innovation calls, such as decarbonisation and digitalisation precisely are, require a certain degree of technology readiness in order to be eligible for support from public funds. The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is a simple tool that helps assess and measure the maturity of technologies. Using nine levels, you can better assess what stage a technology is at. In essence, the more developed a technology is, the more applicable it is in practice.

For companies, levels TRL 4 – 8 are precisely suitable, which represents testing – verification of the technology in a relevant environment – prototype verification – demonstration of the system in practice, up to the actual integration of the technology that is qualified for the real environment.

All the listed calls are open to small, medium and even large enterprises across the whole of Slovakia (including the Bratislava region). They offer companies the opportunity to adapt to new trends and to innovative approaches in today’s dynamic business environment. We bring you basic information on the individual calls in the following lines.

1. Construction of RES above 500 kW, including batteries

The most interesting call for companies is the call supporting the construction of new facilities for generating electricity from RES, including a combination with battery storage.

Enterprises may apply for financial assistance for:

✅ A) construction of a new RES electricity generation facility, which uses

• solar or wind energy for the direct generation of electricity,
• geothermal energy, biomass, biogas, landfill gas or gas from wastewater treatment plants to generate electricity using combined heat and power generation,

✅ B) a facility for storing electricity from RES can be applied for only together with activity A.

The total installed capacity of the electricity generation facility must be min. 0.5 MW and max. 5 MW.

The total allocation of the call amounts to 63 million euros (63,740,000 euros), where the max. amount of support is 2.5 million euros in the case of activity A, or max. 5 million euros for the combination A + B.

The aid intensity is max. 45 %.

The deadline for submitting an application is only until 15 January 2024.

Please note that if you want to take part in the call, you must have reserved capacity from the distribution company for connecting the RES electricity generation facility.

2. Decarbonisation of the economy for companies

The call is aimed at supporting the development of innovative solutions in the area of decarbonisation. Its main aim is to support the green transformation as well as adaptation to climate change.

The funds will be redistributed to research and development projects focused on innovative solutions in the area of decarbonisation at levels TRL 4 – 8. Specifically on:

✅ climate sciences and addressing climate change,
✅ carbon-free energy (energy = storage, supply, energy grids and systems),
✅ electrification,
✅ hydrogen, battery technologies and alternative fuels,
✅ clean, safe, affordable and smart transport and mobility,
✅ low-emission industrial processes and materials,
✅ the bioeconomy, sustainable agriculture and forestry.

The total allocation of the call amounts to 41 million euros (41,360,000 EUR), where the min. amount of support is 200 thousand euros and the max. 2 million euros.

The aid intensity that can be obtained is 65 – 80 % for industrial research and 40 – 60 % for experimental development, depending on the size of the enterprise.

In the case of partners that are research organisations, the aid intensity goes up to a level of 100 %.

The deadline for submitting an application is 15 March 2024.

3. Digitalisation of the economy for companies

The call is primarily aimed at supporting the development of digital solutions that will help in the transition to a digital economy.

Through research and development, at levels TRL 4 – 8, projects will be supported that can excel in digital technologies such as:

✅ industrial technologies (e.g. automation in industry),
✅ key digital technologies (e.g. cybersecurity, quantum technologies, sensors, the Internet of Things, microelectronics, electronic components and cloud solutions),
✅ emerging enabling or supporting technologies,
✅ advanced materials for the area of digitalisation,
✅ artificial intelligence,
✅ advanced computing.

The total allocation of the call amounts to 45 million euros (45,320,000 euros), where the min. amount of support is 200 thousand euros and the max. 1 million euros.

The aid intensity that can be obtained is 65 – 80 % for industrial research and 40 – 60 % for experimental development, depending on the size of the enterprise.

In the case of partners that are research organisations, the aid intensity goes up to a level of 100 %.

The deadline for submitting an application is 15 March 2024.

Please note that for both the decarbonisation and digitalisation calls, the most important condition for taking part in the call is to have an approved application, a so-called „short proposal“, directly from Brussels.

Did the announced calls catch your interest?

Research and development calls are fairly demanding. More detailed information and consultations on the overall eligibility of your project will be gladly provided by specialists from our member company EOSNEBOTRA at the address klient@eosnebotra.sk.

Source: APZD