Aid for Basque SMEs achieved an investment of 2,059 million in 2021

Zigor Aldama

"The objectives of the aid for Basque SMEs have been fulfilled,".This is optimistic today Arantxa Tapia has.According to the data provided by the Minister of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment of the Basque Government, 511.5 million public funds were allocated to promote 8 to promote 8.096 of the 13.400 projects presented to the different calls open in the 68 programs designed by the Executive.There are 81.5 million more than those initially budgeted, a reflection of the interest of the Basque business fabric for getting into the train of the different transformations that are underway, among which digital and ecological."It shows that the Basque company is not stopped and makes investments for the future is that it has accompanied the aid and has multiplied by four," Tapia said.Thus, the total investment related to the programs reached in 2021 the 2.059 million euros, a figure that already exceeds 2019.And the counselor advances that the dynamism of the Basque SME continues to grow this year from the hand of a gradual reduction of restrictions to international mobility.

However, Tapia acknowledges that uncertainty endures, although the reasons that cause it are different from those of the beginning of the pandemic."It is motivated by the high prices of raw materials, energy and logistics, as well as the supply crisis and the impact of the sixth wave," he has listed.To this is added the delay in the arrival of European funds, which has caused the delay of some plans.For example, a circular economy program equipped with a budget of 13 million from the Next Generation EU is still in assessment phase.However, Tapia is also optimistic about the arrival of European financing, whose bulk is waiting for this year.

Las ayudas para las pymes vascas lograron una inversión de 2.059 millones en 2021

With regard to the destination that public aid has had, those that focus on technology, with an initial budget of 210 million that have finally increased to 225 million.."It has been proven that companies have maintained their firm commitment to R&D as a preparation tool for an exit of the crisis," says the Basque Government.The pending subject is in the innovation of microenterprises."You still have to influence them," said Tapia, who has also asked to "accelerate the adoption of new digital technologies," such as 5G or artificial intelligence.

The investment support programs for industrial development also closed 2021 with aid granted for a far higher than the initially budgeted -100 million compared to 59-.In that positive field, the digital transformation was followed -with 17.8 million destined, 3 more than the budgeted -and the entrepreneurship -6.8 million granted against an initial budget of 4.2--.Tapia has stood out above all the second, "which, contrary to what has happened in Spain and in Europe, has registered very positive data".

In his opinion, all this has encouraged record tax collection and employment recovery.For his part, the head of Spri, Aitor Urzelai, has influenced the impact of contracting and training programs, which have allowed 74 highly qualified people to attract almost 800 scholarships, and have formed 18.000 people in digital capabilities.

At the opposite end, among the programs that did not distribute the available budget, are the industrial relaunch programs -which were barely left at 1.1 of the 6 million planned -, those destined for the SMEs of the first sector -for which which6.3 million have been left without granting-and those of the food industry-which have been 4.7 million-.The Government already works on the plans for the aid of 2022, which will try to "socialize them in the most extensive and capillarized way".

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