It was just a preview of the Government’s plans, but the microchip and semiconductor industry is already awaiting an official announcement after words from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on 4 April regarding a new Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (‘PERTE’). He even put forward a figure of more than 11 billion euros only related to public investment in this case.

The new PERTE affects an industry that is high-tech but whose work is essential in today's society. As Sánchez explained, “Semiconductors are the basic element in all technology sectors and are therefore of global geostrategic importance in the context of digital transformation.”

An unexpected announcement
The Prime Minister made the unexpected announcement during his speech at the second edition of the ‘Wake Up, Spain!’ economic forum organised by digital newspaper El Español at Casa de América. PERTEs are a strategic tool in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, and Sánchez considers them essential for the reindustrialisation and technological modernisation of Spain.

The Government has approved nine PERTEs so far: electric and connected vehicles, the aerospace industry, water management digitalisation, the shipping industry, the agro-industry, cutting-edge medicine, the circular economy and renewable energies, hydrogen and storage and the new language economy. Altogether, the Government plans to mobilise more than 56 billion euros, including 19 billion euros from public investment.

Open calls for applications
Spain is implementing the European funds earmarked for economic recovery through several authorities. In this regard, the Prime Minister emphasised that Spain is the country that has mobilised the most funds so far. In the last nine months, 27.928 billion euros of expenditure has been authorised for the financial years 2021 and 2022. On 22 March the Recovery Plan website also listed a total of 1,612 calls worth 27.027 billion euros, and which can be accessed by individuals and companies.

Of the amounts already allocated, the General State Administration has already dealt with more than 524 calls totalling 8.552 billion euros. There are 11,486 projects benefiting from the plan's funds and as Sánchez explained, “These are projects that have already been allocated, with real benefits. As a consequence, we can also say that they are behind the economic recovery and very strong job growth.”

^{Photo: Government of Spain}