EU state aid rules altered to speed up funding of research

Co-funded R&D projects and Seal of Excellence recipients to benefit from “major simplification”

The European Commission has changed EU state aid rules to make it easier for member states to support R&D, in what it described as a “major simplification”.

Introduced on 23 July, the changes affect R&D projects co-funded by the EU and member states, applicants to the EU R&D programme that have been awarded the Seal of Excellence, and EU Teaming actions, which are meant to boost centres of excellence in under-performing countries by pairing them with leading scientific institutions elsewhere.