National Network of Test Beds
Last update of the initiative: 29/09/2023
Financial support aimed at creating Test Beds under the National Network of Test Beds measure.
The creation of Test Beds is supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência, PRR), which provides infrastructure and equipment from entities with installed capacity to deliver services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Startups. These services consist of testing and experimenting with innovative products and services from these SMEs and Startups, in physical or virtual spaces.
Objectives
Promote business innovation in the production of new goods and services or in significant improvements to existing production through knowledge transfer and application.
More Information on Accessing This Incentive
Types of supported operations
Eligible operations under this notice aim to establish a Test Bed as part of the National Network of Test Beds.
For support purposes, Test Beds are considered innovation hubs under the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), operating collaboratively between the companies running them and the SMEs and Startups they serve. These services focus on experimentation and testing of new products and/or services at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 5–9, with a strong digital and/or virtual/digital simulation component, aiming to accelerate productisation, industrialisation, and commercialization.
These services primarily target SMEs and Startups, providing infrastructure and technological capacity to enable member companies to develop and test new products and services and accelerate their digital transition, either through physical or virtual spaces.
Eligible Entities
Applications for the creation and operation of a Test Bed may be submitted by individual companies or consortia of companies. For consortia, the application is submitted by the lead entity, which must include the governance and coordination model in accordance with the terms of the consortium agreement under Decree-Law No. 231/81 of 28 July.
For Excellence Test Beds, eligible consortia may include Non-Business Entities from the R&I System, provided the application is approved under TEF, following the rules established by the Digital Europe Programme (DEP), Regulation (EU) 2021/694 of 29 April.
Total Funding Available
The PRR allocates €150 million for companies to create Test Beds under the National Network of Test Beds measure, providing these services to SMEs and Startups.
Type of Support
The support is granted as non-repayable funding.
Eligible Expenses
Eligible expenses include:
- Investment in tangible and intangible assets, including:
- Acquisition of equipment and software essential for the operation of the Test Bed
- Development of digital platforms
- Acquisition of patents
- Operating costs related to the Test Bed:
- Human resources costs for operating the Test Bed, including training
- Acquisition of technical and specialized services necessary for the creation and operation of the Test Beds
- Travel and accommodation costs related to Test Bed operation
- Patent registration and maintenance costs
- Indirect costs
Useful Links
All information and documents regarding applications for support from the National Network of Test Beds can be found here:
This content is adapted and summarized. For further information, consult the regulations, notices, and other information provided by the managing entities of the incentive.
Funding
