Assessment of aid possibilities for companies – programming period 2021-27

In 2022, the long-awaited aid calls for the 2021-27 programming period were issued on a large scale, as the Operational Programme Technology and Applications for Competitiveness (OPTAC) was finally approved and subsequently launched.

The main subjects of the calls were energy projects and research and development, which were complemented by digitalisation and the circular economy. OPTAC stands alongside the Modernisation Fund, which made its first calls accessible in 2021, and the National Recovery Plan, which was opened to interested parties in March 2022.
For companies (including large enterprises), we identified the five most significant programme resources for companies (including large enterprises). We will now briefly present and assess them.

Operational Programme Technology and Application for Competitiveness
With an allocation of CZK 81.5 billion, OTAC ranks among the most important aid programmes for businesses from the European Structural and Investment Funds thanks to the fact that it is targeted almost exclusively at the corporate sector. However, a certain drawback of the programme is the fact that it does not support the implementation of projects in Prague. Calls are currently launched for energy saving and wind power projects, innovation vouchers, clusters, networks and knowledge transfer between business and the research sector. By the end of 2023, OPTAC calls will be issued in the area of support for digitalisation, marketing, technology acquisition within projects supported by micro-regions, small hydropower plants and biomethane injection, as well as support for energy distribution networks, water saving, the circular economy and improved high-speed internet coverage.

Modernisation Fund
Within the Modernisation Fund (MF), photovoltaic power plants have received extensive support and it is anticipated that such support will continue. Other interesting areas of support include improving energy efficiency and/or reducing greenhouse-gas emissions in industrial production for facilities included in the EU Emissions Trading System and modernisation of heating plants. An advantage of this programme is the possibility to implement projects in Prague.

National Recovery Plan
Like the Modernisation Fund, the NRP has provided massive support for the installation of photovoltaic power plants. A total of 5,839 applications have been submitted, requesting aid in the aggregate amount of more than CZK 9.5 billion, which the provider, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, aims to satisfy financially, though the original allocation of the programme was half that amount. Unfortunately, this marks the end of support for this activity within the programme, which had the least administratively burdensome aid applications. Potential applicants requesting subsidies for photovoltaic power plants will be referred to the other programmes mentioned above. Similarly as in the case of support for photovoltaic power plants, water savings in enterprises and the circular economy will no longer be subsidised within the NRP, as OPTAC will take over support for these areas in the future. This is of course bad news for applicants who want to implement their projects in Prague. Support for the digitalisation of companies has also been a significant activity within the NRP.The initial calls are already closed and the first projects are currently being approved, but the next opportunity should open up in the first half of 2023. Implementation of projects in Prague will still be possible.

Operational Programme Environment
An opportunity to receive aid from the Operational Programme Environment is open for operators of waste-sorting facilities until the end of the year. Such entities can receive a subsidy for up to 85% of eligible costs for recycling lines for recovery of sorted materials.

Operational Programme Just Transition
This programme is focused on aid opportunitiesin the so-called “coal regions”, i.e. in the Karlovy Vary, Ústí and Moravia-Silesia regions. Applications are currently being accepted in relation to strategic projects. In general, the following are supported: small and medium-sized enterprises, research and innovation, digitalisation, clean energy and energy savings, the circular economy, land reclamation and reuse, retraining and job-search assistance. Large enterprises will also be eligible to apply for aid within certain fields of activity. Aid schedules are constantly evolving and being updat- ed, so please do not hesitate to contact us for the latest

Vratislav Kubík
Project and Sales Manager
Erste Grantika Advisory