Final Resolution of the 2023 Call for Operational Groups Published
- The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA) has published the final resolution of the 2023 call for aid to Operational Groups, through which 65 innovation projects will be funded with more than €37 million from the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (MRR).
- At artica+i, we will participate in three of these projects, acting as the technical office for their management and economic-administrative monitoring. Additionally, we have experience in previous calls with successful cases such as GOVALMAVIN, GOPHYTOVID, GOMAIZSOSTENIBLE, and REBO2VINO.
Key Data on the 2023 Call for Aid to Operational Groups
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA) published on August 5th the final resolution of the 2023 call for aid for the preparation and execution of innovative projects by Operational Groups in the agri-food and forestry sector.
After evaluating the 151 applications submitted in this call, a total of 65 innovation projects have been approved for funding and will receive grants totaling more than €37 million. These projects will be executed by supra-autonomous Operational Groups of the European Innovation Partnership for agricultural productivity and sustainability (EIP-Agri), until May 2027.
- Advance Payment Request Deadline: With the publication of the resolution, a 20-working-day period begins for submitting the advance payment request, which can reach up to 50% of the granted subsidy amount.
- Geographic Distribution: The distribution of innovative initiatives extends across the entire national territory, with Andalusia, Castilla y León, the Valencian Community, the Community of Madrid, and Extremadura leading the number of proposals in this call.
- Beneficiary Entities: The beneficiary entities are diverse within the agri-food and forestry sector. Private entities have the highest participation, followed by non-profit organizations, technology and research centers, as well as associative figures, agri-food cooperatives, and public scientific entities.
Due to the high demand and quality of the submitted applications, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food has announced that it plans to publish a new call in 2025, with €46 million, the largest innovation investment in the new #PAC.
Learn About the 3 Innovation Projects from the 2023 Call with artica+i as Their Technical Office: SOLARWINE, AGRI-TEVENAT, and LIVLAB-IN
Among the approved innovation projects that received the highest evaluation scores, SOLARWINE, an operational group presented by our Innovation Consulting team, stands out. However, we are also participating in two other favorably resolved initiatives: AGRI-ROVENAT and LIVLAB-IN.
In these three projects, we will act as the technical office responsible for the justification and certification of expenses before the MAPA during the two execution periods established by this 2023 call.
Our Success Stories: artica+i’s Experience as a Technical Office for Innovative Projects of Operational Groups
Our experience in previous calls for Operational Groups dates back to the 2018 call, in which two projects were approved, and their technical offices were managed by artica+i: GOVALMAVIN and GOPHYTOVID.
GOVALMAVIN
- GOVALMAVIN was an initiative led by the Wine Technology Platform, aiming to analyze the advantages of using clay amphorae in winemaking compared to other materials to produce fresh, fruity, and high-quality wines. This initiative was developed between 2018 and 2020 with a budget of €540,000 and financial support from the EU, through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA).
GOPHYTOVID
- The GOPHYTOVID project, led by Familia Torres, aimed to reduce the use of chemically-derived phytosanitary products in viticulture and to evaluate the practical application of bioprotective alternatives in vineyards. This initiative involved a total of 16 partners and had a budget of over €600,000, funded through the aid program for the execution of innovation projects by Operational Groups, co-financed by the EU and the National Rural Development Program (PNDR).
- Project URL: https://gophytovid.es/
Following the success of these projects, we have continued to participate in initiatives that have received funding in subsequent calls.
GOMAIZSOSTENIBLE
- Approved in the 2020 call, the GOMAIZSOSTENIBLE initiative, in which we also participated during its execution period from 2021 to 2023, was launched. This initiative, coordinated by Vertex Bioenergy, aimed to improve the environmental sustainability and profitability of corn cultivation through the application of digital technologies and tools. A total of 11 partners developed this project with a budget exceeding €530,000, co-financed 80% by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and 20% by MAPA.
- Project URL: https://maizsostenible.com/
REBO2VINO
- The most recent Operational Group in which we are participating is REBO2VINO, approved in the 2022 call and currently underway. This initiative, led by the Spanish Wine Federation, seeks to analyze the impact and feasibility of a glass bottle reuse system in the Spanish wine sector, applying the principles of the circular economy. From 2022 until March 2025, the FEV is working with four other partners with a budget of over €560,000, entirely funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the European Union, within the framework of the 2014-2022 National Rural Development Program, with funds from the European Recovery Instrument (EU Next Generation).
- Project URL: https://rebo2vino.es/
Count on Us for Upcoming Aid Calls! As experts in Innovation Consulting, artica+i can help you with personalized services.
Our Innovation Consulting team has experience in this and previous Operational Group calls.
- We accompany our clients from the initial phase of designing the project’s technical idea, creating public-private consortia and partnerships, to drafting and submitting the application. Once the application is approved and the project is underway, we can participate in the projects as a subcontracted technical office, overseeing the technical-economic monitoring and justification of the innovation project, as well as providing support in designing and implementing the necessary communication and dissemination strategy.
Managing public funds, regardless of their origin, requires the utmost rigor at all stages of application: from applying for aid, to the technical-economic monitoring and justification phase of funded activities, without forgetting the public resolution phase, appeals, and acceptance.
- At artica+i, we have a team of specialists in economic-administrative management with extensive experience in previous MAPA Operational Group calls, who have developed specific tools for cost management and control of available resources (human, material, and economic) that facilitate this process for our clients.
Regardless of the experience and technical knowledge of the beneficiary entities, it is essential to pay close attention to the economic-administrative procedures and processes that accompany any certification process of the expenses and investments made before the public administration. Professionalizing this task not only ensures proper management of the received funds but also helps minimize the risks of penalties and reimbursement obligations that may result from incorrect management of public aid.
