R&D state aid rules set to change by 2022

European Commission mulling tweaks to public subsidy rules

Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission vice-president in charge of competition policy, has said the Commission aims to tweak its enforcement of rules around public support for R&D and other activities by the end of 2021.

Vestager said in a 30 January speech that the Commission would consult the public on the changes, which would “not necessarily [be] dramatic”. As well as covering R&D, the changes could also affect risk finance for growing businesses, big collaborative innovation projects, energy and the environment.