With this initiative, the Spanish Government seeks to encourage the modernization of the country's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by introducing new machine tools into their production processes. To be eligible for subsidies, the acquisition of these new devices and infrastructure must result in one of the following three scenarios:
• An expansion of existing production capacity.
• The diversification of an existing establishment's production into new, additional products.
• A fundamental change in the overall production process of an existing establishment.
“This plan is very positive for SMEs. Not only because it includes the eligibility of a large number of machine tools that will boost industrial activity on the Iberian Peninsula, but also because it provides relief for all those companies that have suffered the brunt of the pandemic's consequences,” says Román Cazorla, head of the MOEM segment at Eaton Iberia. “There is still a long way to go to boost industrial activity in SMEs, but it is a good start to updating machinery and beginning the path to successful recovery,” he adds.
The list of equipment and machinery eligible for subsidies is quite extensive. The groups included in the project are: chip-removal machine tools, metal forming and sheet metal working machines, and additive manufacturing industrial components. These include devices such as lathes, milling machines, drills, beveling machines, presses, shaping machines, saws, riveting machines, etc.
Regarding eligibility for these subsidies, SMEs applying must have their industrial activity listed in Annex I of the order and must have been operating in that sector for at least three years prior to the application deadline. In other words, if the deadline is December 31, 2021, SMEs must have been operating in that sector since December 30, 2018.
The maximum amount each legal entity can receive is €300,000, and each grant will be limited to a maximum of €175,000 per machine. Furthermore, depending on the size of the business, the highest grant will be:
· For small businesses, 20% of eligible expenses.
· For medium-sized businesses, 10% of eligible expenses.
