Grants for machinery and technology are among the most sought-after forms of support for manufacturing companies. They finance the acquisition of new machines, production lines, measuring equipment and related software, usually with the aim of increasing productivity, introducing a new product, or reducing energy and material intensity. A condition is usually that the asset is new, not used, and that the technology represents a step forward compared with the company's current state, not merely the replacement of worn-out equipment. The intensity of aid depends on the size of the enterprise and the region, so the own contribution tends to be substantial and must be demonstrable. The most common obstacle is procurement – the description of the subject of the contract must not favour a single manufacturer, which is difficult with specific technologies. Preparation should therefore include market research with several comparable offers and a technical description built on parameters, not on a model name.
See also: Regional investment aid, Aid intensity, Procurement of an IT supplier.
