Conditions Cybersecurity Innovation Fund

The General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) is a regulation of the European Union which exempts certain categories of State aid from the obligation to obtain prior approval from the European Commission. State aid refers to financial assistance or subsidies that are provided to companies by national governments. The purpose of the GBER is to reduce the administrative burden for certain types of State aid and make it easier for Member States to grant such aid.

The GBER sets out specific conditions and criteria that aid measures must meet to be eligible for this exemption. These conditions are intended to ensure that the aid does not distort competition in the EU single market and is in keeping with the EU's wider objectives. Companies wishing to receive State aid or Member States wishing to grant State aid must adhere to the rules and guidelines of the GBER to ensure that the aid complies with EU law.

Economic activities in the light of subsidies refer to business or commercial activities aimed at the production, distribution or trading of goods or services within an economic system. These activities are carried out with the aim of generating profit or adding economic value. Economic activities within this scheme are only eligible where they fall within the categories of industrial research, experimental development, a feasibility study or process and organisational innovation (only businesses are eligible for these activities).

Non-economic research activities which fall within the categories of fundamental research, industrial research, experimental development or a feasibility study (carried out by a research organisation with a view to increasing knowledge and understanding) only apply to research organisations.

Pursuant to the regular de minimis regulation, governments can grant aid to businesses up to an amount of €200,000 over a period of three fiscal years without this constituting State aid. The de minimis regulation applies in principle to aid granted to businesses in all sectors. Several sectors are excluded:

• the fishery and aquaculture sector;
• the primary agricultural production sector;
• the marketing of agricultural products, in the following cases:
  • when the amount of the aid is fixed on the basis of the price or quantity of such products purchased from primary producers;
  • where aid is conditional on being partly or entirely passed on to primary producers;
  • aid to export-related activities towards third countries or Member States;
  • aid contingent upon the use of domestic over imported goods.

Experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts, without any direct commercial application or use in view.

Industrial research is undertaken aimed at the acquisition of new knowledge and skills for developing a new product, process or service or for bringing about a significant improvement in existing products, processes or services. It comprises the creation of component parts of complex systems, and may include the construction of prototypes in a laboratory environment or in an environment with simulated interfaces to existing systems as well as of pilot lines, when necessary for the industrial research and notably for generic technology validation. Routine or periodic changes made to existing products, production lines, manufacturing processes, services and other operations in progress are not considered as industrial research, even if those changes are improvements.

Is closer to the market: you acquire, combine, shape and use existing scientific, technological, business and other relevant knowledge and skills with the aim of developing a new or improved product, process or service. This may also include, for example, activities aiming at the conceptual definition, planning and documentation of new products, processes or services.

Experimental development may also comprise prototyping, demonstrating, piloting, testing and validation of new or improved products, processes or services in environments representative of real life operating conditions where the primary objective is to make further technical improvements on products, processes or services that are not already substantially set. Routine or periodic changes made to existing products, production lines, manufacturing processes, services and other operations in progress are not considered as experimental development, even if those changes are improvements.

You evaluate and analyse the potential of a project, aimed at supporting the process of decision-making. You do this by objectively and rationally uncovering a project's strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. You also identify the resources required to carry the project through and ultimately its prospects for success.

The implementation of a new organisational method at the level of a business, in an business' workplace organisation or external relations, for example through the use of new or innovative digital technologies. Excluded from this definition are changes that are based on organisational methods already in use in the business, changes in management strategy, mergers and acquisitions, ceasing to use a process, simple capital replacement or extension, changes resulting purely from changes in factor prices, customisation, localisation, regular, seasonal and other cyclical changes and trading of new or significantly improved products.

The implementation of a new or significantly improved production or delivery method, including significant changes in techniques, equipment or software, at the level of the business, for example through the use of new or innovative digital technologies or solutions. Excluded from this definition are minor changes or improvements, increases in production or service capabilities through the addition of manufacturing or logistical systems which are very similar to those already in use, ceasing to use a process, simple capital replacement or extension, changes resulting purely from changes in factor prices, customisation, localisation, regular, seasonal and other cyclical changes and trading of new or significantly improved products.