Don't miss all the information about the call for digitization grants for tourism companies.
Within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, financed with Next Generation EU funds, there are grants for the digitalization of companies in the tourism sector. These grants encompass unique and transformed projects that contain improvements in digitalization and intelligence applied to management, promotion, enhancement and dissemination for destinations and the tourism sector.
The projects eligible for assistance from the program are the following, provided that they improve the competitiveness of the tourism sector through the incorporation of emerging or newly developed technologies in the field of Internet of Things, 5G, big data, cybersecurity or mobile applications, without limitation:
- Line 1: Innovative technological development projects that will incorporate emerging or newly developed technologies with medium/low technological risk (TRL 6-8 technology maturity level). The projects will have a maximum execution of 18 months.
- Line 2: Projects for the implementation and adoption of new technologies that will incorporate technologies previously tested in the market with low technological risk (TRL 8-9 technology maturity level). The projects will have a maximum execution of 12 months.
What is the amount of the aid?
The modality of the aid is in the form of a grant and the amount of the grant depends on the grant line. For Line 1 projects, the minimum budget is €500,000 and the maximum is €5,000,000, and for Line 2 projects it will be between €300,000 and €750,000. For Line 1 and 2 projects, the maximum aid intensity is up to 50% of the total project budget. The amounts and intensities of aid are individual, but companies must be part of a group.
The general budget for these grants is 25 million euros. The beneficiary will receive the advance payment of the grant prior to the justification for carrying out the project, without the need to provide guarantees.
Who can benefit from the aid?
Companies that belong to the tourism sector can benefit from digitization grants, in the form of a group, provided they are incorporated, have their own legal personality and tax address in Spain.
Companies shall be considered to be entities that carry out an economic activity regardless of their legal form and their funding and whose purposes and activities include the management, promotion, enhancement and dissemination of tourist resources classified under one of the following codes of the National Classification of Economic Activities (CNAE):
- 493 Other land passenger transport.
- 4931 Urban and suburban passenger land transport.
- 4932 Transportation by taxi.
- 4939 Types of passenger land transport NCOP.
- 511 Passenger air transport.- 5110 Passenger air transport.
- 5221 Activities related to land transport.
- 5222 Activities related to maritime and inland waterway transport.
- 5223 Activities related to air transport.
- 551 Hotels and similar accommodations
- 5510 Hotels and similar accommodations.
- 552 Tourist accommodations and other short-term accommodations.
- 5520 Tourist accommodations and other short-term accommodations.
- 553 Campsites and RV parks.
- 5590 Other accommodation.
- 56 Food and beverage services.
- 561 Restaurants and food stalls.
- 5610 Restaurants and food stalls.
- 5621 Provision of prepared meals for events.
- 5629 Other food services.
- 7711 Rental of cars and light motor vehicles.
- 7721 Rental of leisure and sports equipment.
- 7911 Activities of travel agencies.
- 7912 Activities of tour operators.
- 799 Other booking services and related activities
- 7990 Other booking services and related activities
- 855 Other education.
- 91 Library, archive, museum and other cultural activities.
- 9004 Entertainment hall management.
- 9102 Museum activities.
- 9103 Management of historic places and buildings.
- 9321 Amusement park and theme park activities.
- 329 Recreational activities and entertainment
What is the composition of the projects?
For the presentation of projects for both Line 1 and Line 2, the groups will be composed of one or more companies with the technical capacity to become a technological partner and with proven experience in the tourism field, together with tourism companies, provided that 70% of the total eligible costs are allocated to SMEs, in accordance with the definition of Annex I of Regulation (EU) No. 651/2014 of the Commission, of June 17, 2014. Although companies must appear in groups, the amounts and intensities of grants are individual.
What expenses are eligible?
The eligible expenses for the 2022 call are:
- Technical staff costs (Contribution Groups I, II or III): Maximum 45 €/h, including SS expenses borne by the company. You cannot exceed 1,800 hrs/year.
- Administrative staff costs: Maximum 30 €/h, including SS expenses borne by the company. You cannot exceed 1,800 hrs/year.
- Expenses for external collaborations: Maximum 30% of the eligible base of each participant in the action.
- Accommodation costs: Maximum 120 €/day
The deadline for applications is one month, from June 2 to July 2, 2022. You can find more information about the aid in the Next link.
