State aid: Commission approves €100 million Slovenian scheme to support companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak, as well as research, development and production of coronavirus-relevant products

The European Commission has approved a €100 million Slovenian scheme to support companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak, as well as research and development (R&D) and production of coronavirus-relevant products. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. It is composed of four measures. Under the first two measures, the public support will take the form of direct grants and loans with zero interest rate, respectively, and will be open to small and medium-sized companies registered in the national Business Register. The aim of the measures is to help those companies counter the liquidity shortages they face due to the coronavirus outbreak. The other two measures aim at enhancing and accelerating R&D projects and the production of products that are relevant to the coronavirus outbreak. The public support, which will take the form of direct grants, will be open to companies of all sizes. The Commission found that the Slovenian scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, with respect to direct grants and loans with zero interest rate, the aid will not exceed €800,000 per company. With respect to support to R&D projects and to the production of coronavirus-relevant products, (i) the aid will cover a significant share of the necessary R&D and investment costs; and (ii) any result of the research activities will be made available to third parties  in the European Economic Area at non-discriminatory market conditions through non-exclusive licences.  On this basis, the Commission approved the measure under EU State aid rules. More information on the Temporary Framework and other actions taken by the Commission to address the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.57782 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.