ACCIÓ's “Cupons for Innovation and Strategy” call was recently published, with funding lines in the form of grants of up to €20,000 so that startups and SMEs based in Catalonia can, among other things, implement new technologies, export to new countries, transform their business model, receive financial advice or help with the continuity of their startup
What types of coupons are there?
Coupons for internationalization: these grants are aimed at SMEs with operational headquarters in Catalonia and that do not yet export or that export up to a maximum of 15% of their turnover (having invoiced a minimum of 100,000€ and exported a minimum of 5,000€ in 2019). They aim to encourage the internationalization of companies and can be exchanged either for the coupon for the development of an international promotion plan (with maximum support from 2,400€) or by the coupon for outsourcing an Export Manager (with maximum support from €4,000). The subsidized projects can be executed between the date of publication of the call and June 30, 2021. Coupons for Industry 4.0: these are grants aimed at SMEs with a minimum of 4 years of experience and based in Catalonia. Their objective is to grant aid for the contracting of industry 4.0 technologies for the improvement of the company's products, services and processes. These coupons can be redeemed either for the Industry 4.0 diagnostic coupon (diagnosis that allows the identification of opportunities for improvement that help companies to incorporate new technologies and make a strategic and cultural change towards industry 4.0 with maximum help from 8,000€) or by the Industry 4.0 implementation coupon (integration of industry 4.0 technologies, pilot tests and access to technological infrastructures with maximum support from 20.000€). The subsidized projects can be implemented between January 1, 2020 and November 30, 2021. Coupons for innovation and strategy: these grants aimed at SMEs with a minimum of 4 years of life and based in Catalonia can be exchanged for the coupon for new disruptive initiatives (transformation of the company's business model by adapting to new technologies with maximum help from 8,000€), the Tax coupon (to obtain a certificate in the field of R+D+i with maximum support from 2,500€), the Coupon for the management model and innovation processes (to implement a new innovation management system and improve products, services and internal processes that involve structural changes with maximum assistance from 6,000€), the Industrial property coupon (maximum aid of 2,500€ for drafting and filing patents or utility models, and €4,000 of maximum help to define a strategic plan for the company's industrial and intellectual property) or the coupon to the circular economy (to apply ecodesign criteria to products, services and processes with maximum support from 6,000€). The subsidized projects can be executed between the date of publication of the call in the DOGC and November 30, 2021. Funding coupons: these are grants aimed at SMEs with an operating establishment in Catalonia and can be exchanged for advice and/or support in any of the following services: refinancing liabilities, seeking funding or carrying out a contingency plan. The maximum aid is 2,500€. The subsidized projects can be executed between the date of publication of the call and until February 28, 2021. Coupons for startups: these grants are aimed at helping start-ups that have been affected by the paralysis of economic activity caused by Covid-19. These coupons can be redeemed for advice in the financial field, in commercial or marketing strategy, in internal management or process improvement, or for strategic advice, with maximum assistance from 1,600€. For a startup to be a beneficiary, it must meet the following requirements: having legal personality and between 6 months and 10 years of life, entrepreneurs (not companies) must have the majority of the company's capital and must develop a clearly innovative product, service or business model with great growth potential. The subsidized projects may be executed between the date of publication of the call and until February 28, 2021. The beneficiary company may receive up to a maximum of two coupons, provided that one of them is the Industrial Property Coupon or the tax coupon (within the Innovation and Strategy Coupons). The coupons are granted in chronological order of request and are usually sold out in a short time.
