Catalan companies have attracted 1,540 million euros since 2021 in the set of state-wide calls for Next Generation funds. With this figure, Catalan companies have attracted 20% of these aids granted in Spain as a whole.
Specifically, 549 industrial projects from Catalan companies have benefited from these calls, promoted by various ministries based on European funds. Among them, the presence of SMEs stands out: 66% of the beneficiary projects have been promoted by small and medium-sized companies, according to data from the Generalitat's business competitiveness agency, Acció.
From a territorial point of view, Barcelona and its surroundings have concentrated most of the Next Generation funds, with 21% in the Barcelonès region, followed by Vallès Occidental (16%), Baix Llobregat (13%) and Vallès Oriental (9%), as explained by the Minister of Business and Labor, Miquel Sàmper, at the Associació Tecnio congress in Terrassa.
Among the sectors that have attracted funds, sustainable mobility stands out, with 30% of the resources, and R&D projects, with 29%. In addition, Catalan companies have attracted 636.2 million euros for sustainability and digitalization projects in the industrial sector.
Since the opening of Acció's Next Generation EU Office in November 2021, more than 2,300 companies have received advice through the Generalitat agency. In fact, 22% of Catalan companies that have accessed these funds have passed through the office. In addition, nine out of ten companies that have accessed its services have ended up applying to more calls than they initially had planned.
Among the activities that the Government prioritizes is the consolidation of R&D projects focused on collaboration between companies and research groups. "It must be as important to do research as it is to transfer it. It is essential to continue making Catalonia a highly innovative country," the minister defended.
The Generalitat is committed to promoting knowledge transfer"Knowledge transfer is an indispensable engine to improve the country's competitiveness and boost Catalonia as one of the most innovative regions in Europe," he remarked before the members of the association, which brings together university groups and research centers with the Tecnio accreditation granted by the Generalitat through Acció.
Acció precisely organizes sessions on how to access the Next Generation funds, in which 14,300 participants have registered. In addition, there are currently more than 7,000 registered in the personalized alert service about the Next Generation calls.