Funding for R&D&I as a key factor

Miguel Ángel Granda, director of R&D Promotion at Leyton Iberia, presented the vision of the firm specialising in innovation financing, "which advises companies, from startups to multinationals, and, of course, SMEs when it comes to facilitating decision-making in the acquisition of digital tools and integration of automation projects through aid programs and innovation incentives”.

Granda pointed out that "we improve the operational and economic performance of companies by identifying and justifying projects related to R&D&I tax rebates (worth 850 million in 2021), for social security bonuses for research staff, a constantly growing helpline (37 million in 2021) and national aid and subsidies (32 million in the same year). We work in the circular flow of benefits, so that the savings in expenses can be used for innovation, research and development. We accompany the process through a comprehensive consulting, listening and active adaptation service and we are achieving 100% success in responding to the requirements of the Public Administration: Files fully aligned with current jurisprudence”.

The manager from Leyton explained that in the dynamics of promoting the digitisation-automation binomial in a sustainable way, "it will be necessary to change the way of working in a model that leads the company to be more competitive not only through a return on investment as quickly as possible. Also to cover the needs and desires of a customer in constant renewal because the factory of the future is constantly evolving and allows a greater development of the knowledge of the company with which new business opportunities are generated. Digital tool and enabler providers help to respond to market demands, but it is necessary to prioritise what and when, taking sequencing into account because customers will demand new improvements in quality and efficiency, in many cases whitout allowing its impact on the price. This way, customer loyalty is achieved through flexibility and trust. Leyton helps companies boost business opportunities to create wealth by defining financing opportunities to achieve business objectives”.

Granda stated that "the greatest intensity of aid is associated with collaborative projects with a high variety of calls and subsidies, non-refundable or low-interest, but rather electric mobility, the take-off of renewable energies, R&D+i industrial processes, as well as as well as the training and development of workers' capacities”.

He explained the map of aid to companies according to their degree of technological maturity and made reference to the Circular Economy PERTE of special interest to the automotive sector. “There are different tools depending on the degree of technological maturity and the type of company that are considered for more or less subsidy depending on the risk of the innovative project. The aids do not cover 100% of the cost of the budget, but it can be completed with other incentives to reduce the necessary private contribution”. He described the relationship between the level of technological development, depending on the use of vectors such as IoT, sensors, advanced software, artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0, and the investment to be made in future scenarios. At the highest level of this relationship, "aid such as local taxation, bonuses for research staff, tax deductions for R&D, as well as subsidies and credits come into play. We can verify that 60% of the companies with which we connect use the aid for R&D&I in product, but not in process and productive systems, which opens up an important potential for industrial companies”.

“From consultancies like Leyton, we are detecting a series of habitual hesitance when it comes to accessing tax benefits. How much time do I have to invest? An initial technical meeting hour is enough to identify innovation projects and estimate the potential of the company. We can manage existing documentation in the company, to minimise the impact on the company. asand Leyton, since the certification of its activity by both Industry and the Treasury, guarantees the safety of work against a possible review by the Administration, with 100% success in requirements and an additional guarantee with our fee return clause. Regarding the cost, the fees are quantified at 100% on the savings identified based on the customer’s potential”.

Miguel Ángel Granda said that innovation in processes is found in “the reduction of the carbon footprint, in the process and quality time; the use of artificial intelligence; real-time monitoring, inspection and smart control, process automation, product traceability and Blockchain, and the reduction in the use of natural resources. Also in the value chain and logistics, in terms of response time, management efficiency, process analysis through Big Data, improvement in demand forecasting, data capture, interconnection between departments and suppression of bottlenecks”.

Presentation published in 2.375 issue by AutoRevista

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