18.04.2018

Innovation plays a specific and fundamental role within the framework of the new CAP . It involves digitalization, advisory measures for farmers, and advances in technology, all of which are interrelated.

There are two sub-measures for the European Innovation Agency (EIA) in the National Rural Development Program (NDRP) that are competitively awarded grants. 16.2, for aid to the execution of innovative projects, is €45.7 million. Its regulatory bases (BBRR) are available here , and the first call for proposals will be published soon. The new features of this phase are: the composition of the Governing Body (GOB), which is limited to a maximum of eight members of the GOB and eight members of the beneficiary group; the participation of public entities as members of the applicant group and subcontracted members under Law 9/2017 on Public Sector Contracts; and the advisability of preventing any subcontracted member from receiving more than €15,000. This is a €12 million call for proposals.

Regarding submeasure 16.1, €11.3 million is allocated for assistance in the creation of Operational Groups. Its BBRR was published by Royal Decree 253/2016 on June 10, 2016, in the first call for proposals in November 2016. The amendment was submitted on March 23, 2018 , and the second call for proposals is now available. Operational Groups may register for the next 20 days.

The requirements for applicants are: at least one must belong to one of the agri-food, forestry, or research sectors; the activity must be carried out in different autonomous communities or established in more than one; a representative must be designated, who must submit a binding document along with the rest of the call for proposals and must comply with the requirements of the LGS.

Innovation projects will have minimum content that includes the objective pursued, the area of interest affected, the problems to be solved, the design of the GO, the detailed work program in terms of activities and responsibilities, a knowledge and information dissemination plan, an implementation schedule, and the expected milestones, results, and impacts.

The maximum subsidy limit per group is €100,000, with partial maximum and minimum limits for each type of expense established in the respective call for proposals. The maximum amounts for staff, accommodation, and food must also be taken into account. Referring to the budget for the 2018 call for the creation of the GO, the above-mentioned budget amounts to approximately €7 million.

Check out the explanatory videos of these rules on our channel.