By Regional Executive Resolution No. 627 of 29 June 2023, the ERDF Programme 2021–2027 call for proposals entitled ‘Support for the implementation of projects aimed at converting business activities from a linear to a circular approach’ was approved.
In implementation of Specific Objective 2.6 “Promoting the transition to a circular and resource-efficient economy (ERDF)” – Action 2.6.1 “Funding of measures aimed at converting business activities from a linear to a circular approach” of the Liguria ERDF Operational Programme 2021–2027, this call for proposals aims to support, through de minimis aid, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises which, within operational units located in the region, carry out measures aimed at converting business activities from a linear to a circular approach.
This call for proposals, in particular, is aimed at implementing measures designed to:
• to optimise the use of raw materials by replacing non-renewable materials with renewable, recycled, permanently recycled, biodegradable and compostable materials;
• to make the most of industrial by-products and reintegrate them into the value chain, by supporting waste recovery activities and businesses that use secondary raw materials, including through industrial symbiosis initiatives;
• improve production efficiency by reducing resource consumption and production waste, or ensuring that such waste is managed as by-products;
• to facilitate the dismantling of a product’s various components, taking into account the types of materials used, thereby promoting their recovery, treatment and recyclability;
• to extend the product’s lifespan by promoting sustainable eco-design practices, and by manufacturing products and components that are more repairable and maintainable, so as to enable the replacement of parts that are technologically obsolete or damaged, or to allow the product to be reused, including following any maintenance.
The expected outcome of these measures is to help achieve the target set out in the Liguria ERDF Regional Programme 2021–2027, which is to increase the quantity of waste used as raw materials, with an increase of 15,000 tonnes per year by 2029.
The beneficiaries are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, whether operating individually or as a group, which meet the following criteria:
• to be duly incorporated and registered in the Companies Register with the Chamber of Commerce with jurisdiction over the relevant territory by the date of submission of the application;
• not to be in a state of compulsory liquidation, under a composition with creditors (with the exception of a composition with creditors on a going-concern basis, whether direct or indirect, for which the approval order provided for in Article 112 et seq. of the Code on Corporate Crisis and Insolvency has already been issued), and any other insolvency proceedings provided for by Legislative Decree No. 14/2019, as amended by Legislative Decree No. 83/2022, nor be subject to ongoing proceedings for the declaration of any such situation against them;
• not be the intended recipients regarding measures of forfeiture, suspension or prohibition as referred to in Article 67 of Legislative Decree No. 159 of 6 September 2011, as amended and supplemented, and that they are not aware of the existence of any such grounds in respect of the persons referred to in Article 85 of the same decree;
• not to have the characteristics a firm in difficulty within the meaning of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2014/651, as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No 2021/1237 of 23 July 2021, subject to the exceptions provided for in Article 1(4)(c).
• carry out an economic activity classified under an ISTAT ATECO 2007 code. In order to verify that the applicant undertaking falls under one of the ISTAT ATECO 2007 codes, reference shall be made exclusively to the code of the operational unit in which the project is carried out
Each organisation may submit only one application, either as an individual organisation or as part of a consortium.
Projects must be carried out at local premises situated within the Liguria Region, which are duly registered with the relevant Chamber of Commerce and are fully at the company’s disposal.
The projects:
• They must be completed by 31.08.2024 with a report on the activities carried out and the expenses incurred, to be completed by 30.09.2024;
• They must be carried out at the operational site located in the Liguria region; all expenses for which funding is sought must be attributable to that site;
• They must have eligible costs totalling between 25,000 euros and 250,000 euros.
The application must be completed exclusively via the “Online calls for applications” by Filse SpA.
For further information, please visit the official website by the Liguria Region.
To download the text of the call for applications directly, click here.
