The European Commission adopted, on Wednesday 19 October, a revised Communication on State aid rules for research, development and innovation.
This ‘framework’ sets out the rules under which Member States may grant State aid to companies for RDI activities while ensuring a level playing field. The 2022 RDI Framework, which contributes to the EU’s strategic objectives relating to the green and digital transitions, entered into force on 19 October.
Targeted adjustments are intended to simplify the 2014 RDI Framework and to adapt the relevant rules to the current EU policy priorities. In particular, the amendments:
- update the existing definitions of research and innovation activities eligible for support under the RDI Framework. The amendments clarify their applicability to digital technologies and activities related to digitalisation (super-computing, quantum technologies, block chain, artificial intelligence, cyber security, big data and cloud or edge computing). The aim is to provide legal certainty for Member States and stakeholders while facilitating investment in RDI that will enable the EU’s digital transformation;
- enable public support for the testing and experimentation infrastructures needed to develop, test and upgrade technologies. Objective: to facilitate the development and deployment of cutting-edge and breakthrough technologies, in particular by small and medium-sized enterprises, while facilitating the green and digital transition of the EU economy, and contributing to the new European Innovation Agenda;
- simplify certain rules in order to facilitate the practical application of the RDI framework and to alleviate possible excessive administrative burdens on companies and public authorities (simplified mechanism for determining the indirect costs of projects eligible for support under the State aid rules).
The 2022 RDI Framework (https://aeur.eu/f/3oh ) maintains safeguards to ensure that aid is limited to what is necessary and does not lead to undue distortions of competition. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)