An information session on the National Test Beds Network measure was held at ANI Porto’s premises on 15 May at 9.15am.
The session was organised by ANI, as Managing Entity since January 2024, and by IAPMEI, as Intermediary Beneficiary of this PRR – Recovery and Resilience Plan measure. It was also co-organised by the Digital Transition Monitoring Group, which also includes DGAE, COMPETE, Startup Portugal and AMA.
The face-to-face session was aimed exclusively at the leaders of the Test Beds and was broadcast online for the other co-drivers. It focused on presenting the documents recently published on the IAPMEI website, namely the Payment Methodology and the Rules for Eligibility of Expenditure. The leaders of the consortium also had the opportunity to clarify some issues relating to the implementation and operationalisation of the measure.
As a result of the session, it was proposed that there should be greater synergy between the Test Beds and the Monitoring Group, with more clarification sessions planned for the future, as well as the updating of documents such as the FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions.
As part of the PRR’s investments, component C16 – Empresas 4.0 brings together investments with the mission of strengthening the digitalisation of companies and catching up with the digital transition process. It is in this component that the National Test Beds Network measure resides, which aims to support the creation and provision of infrastructures and equipment for testing and experimenting with products and services, in physical or virtual space, with the aim of increasing technological maturity and the number of pilot products and services developed by SMEs and Startups.
The Test Beds are therefore a fundamental instrument for innovation and accelerating the digital transition, seeking to overcome the “valley of death” that often separates research and commercialisation, by sharing knowledge and increasing the market viability of the solutions tested.
This measure has a budget of 150 million euros from the RRP and aims to create 30 Test Beds and test 3000 pilot products by 2025. There are currently 31 Test Beds selected, with 18 in the final evaluation phase for the 4th Call.
All the documentation on this measure can be found on the IAPMEI website here.
