• Are there any incentives for foreign investment? Which are they?
• What basic requirements do I have to meet in order to obtain the aid?
• Who and how could someone provide help?

Are there any incentives for foreign investment? Which are they?

Yes.

Spain has a significant number and wide variety of incentives intended to promote investment:

(i) to encourage and promote specific activities which are considered priority.
(ii) in certain regions with the aim of relieving inter-regional imbalances or the effects of adjustments
(iii) to promote employment and training.
This aid may consist of, among other things: (i) subsidies for which no repayment is required, (ii) special conditions on loans and credit, (iii) technical advice and training courses, (iv) tax incentives, (v) guarantees, (vi) tax deductions (vii) Social Security discounts.

What basic requirements do I have to meet in order to obtain the aid?

Generally speaking, individuals or entities that have a status which entitles them to the subsidy or that fulfill the circumstances stipulated in the terms and conditions which regulate the subsidy and its official allocation.

It is important to bear in mind that there may be limitations to applying for certain subsidies or aid, as they are not always compatible, or limits may have been established to the percentages subsidized.

Who and how could someone provide help?

In Spain, subsidies and aid can be obtained from the national government, the autonomous communities and local bodies, as well as aid financed using European Union funds.

These government bodies can grant subsidies and aid:

(i) Of a general nature, through a competitive process, comparing the applications submitted by means of assessment criteria established in the terms and conditions regulating the subsidies and their official allocation in order to award, with the limit established within the available credit, aid to those applications that have been rated most highly.

However, it is also possible, exceptionally and if the terms and conditions regulating the subsidy so permit, for the government body granting the aid to divide the maximum overall amount set aside for the allocation process among the applicants.

(ii) Additionally, they can be awarded directly:
- if this is expressly envisaged in the budget of the government body awarding the subsidies
- if this aid is stipulated by law for the government body awarding it.

Exceptionally, subsidies and aid may be awarded directly if there is proof that this is in the public, social, economic or humanitarian interest.