AENOR "Research + Development + Innovation" (R+D+I) Certification in Spain(Spanish version)
The IV Research Technological Development and Demonstration European Frame Program, corresponding to the period of 2002 - 2006 and creation of the European Area of Research and Innovation, forms part of the European activities of R+D+I.
In this field the sustainable economic development as well as the employment encouragement and the social cohesion is promoted, in order to obtain in 2010, the most competitive European Area and the generation of knowledge of the world.
The Frame Program fixes the priorities and indicates the horizontal lines of research. It also insists on the small and medium companies and the international cooperation, mentioning also, in its Article 3 that the research must be done considering the ethical principles.
In Spain, the 2nd National Plan of R+D+I for the next four years is being elaborated and the innovation policy promotion is continued, but more focused to the industrial sectors, looking for the increase of investment in R+D+I. The objective for 2010 is to achieve that the contribution of two thirds of the investment may be made by the companies, mainly, the Spanish SMEs (approx. a 95% of the Spanish industry), and only one third of this investment may be contributed by the State.
It was necessary to standardize these activities to help the companies not to see the activities of Research, Development and Innovation like as an abstract question, only attainable by the great companies, but to allow them to structure and to value these activities and to elaborate a policy of management of the R+D+I that will increase the competitiveness of the Spanish industry and will locate it on the same level as the other European countries.
The Spanish Science and Technology Ministry has supported from the beginning the project and the main interested parties are participating in it: the involved Administrations, Universities, the technological institutions and research centers, the more excellent networks of technology transference, enterprise associations and the most significant companies.
AENOR developed and published the following standards:
- UNE 166000:2002 EX - "R&D&I: Terminology and definitions of R&D&I activities"
- UNE 166001:2002 EX - "R&D&I management: Requirements for R&D&I projects"
- UNE 166002:2002 EX - "R&D&I management: R&D&I management system requirements"
- UNE 166003:2002 EX - "R&D&I management: Competence and evaluation of R&D&I project auditors"
- UNE 166004:2002 EX - "R&D&I management: Competence and evaluation of R&D&I management systems auditors"
The implementation of R+D+I management systems will allow the companies to generate their own technology and to systematize the creation of new products and services, in order to do them more competitively and to assure its permanence and to improve its market position in the future.
The Spanish Law of Company Taxes gives generous fiscal incentives to those companies which invest in Research, Development and Technological Innovation. In this sense, also the Spanish law that supports the general budgets of the State for 2004 has introduced some significant improvements:
- Increase from the 10 to 20% of the applicable lowering of duties on the expenses of the qualified researching personnel, assigned in exclusive right to R+D activities and the expenses corresponding to R+D projects contracted with Universities, public research bodies or centers of innovation and technology.
- Increase from EURO 500 000 to 1 000 000 of the base of deduction by acquisition of technology outpost (clear, licenses, know-how, designs, etc.).
- Extension of the Maximum annual deduction by R+D to 50% of the complete quote.
In order to guarantee the objectivity and confidentiality of the investigators who participate in the certification process, AENOR carries out a strict process of selection and qualification that culminates in the acceptance of the expert by the company applying for the certificate. In case of disagreement with the technical report emitted by this expert, the company has in addition the possibility of rejecting it and of asking for the opinion of a second expert.
At the moment AENOR emits two types of certificates of R+D+I projects:
- Certificate of Contents and Budgets: The conformity of the project is certified according to the Standard UNE 166001:2002 EX.
- Certificate of Contents and Execution: Besides the conformity with the mentioned standard and the technical report of expert, a unique audit of expenses is made, in case the project has finished; or an annual audit is carried out, in case the project is on course.
granted to these projects assures
that the certified technical and economical reports have been elaborated according to the legal requirements,
and in some cases, also considering the requirements of the standard UNE 166001:2002 EX. This standard helps
the companies with R+D+I projects to get prepared in a systematic way, avoiding duplicities in the work made,
appropriate planning of the different stages; establishing periodical objectives which permit the risks and
critical points identification on time; and managing of appropriate form the economic resources and personnel available.
With the certification of the Projects and Systems of R+D+I management, AENOR tries to increase the activities of the companies in this field, contributing to their future competitiveness and helping them to confront the new challenge.
The activities of R+D+I and the maintenance of the technological monitoring system in AENOR are allowing to the development of new products and services of standardization and certification in fields like the one of the corporative social responsibility, renewable energies and climatic change, the aquaculture and the commerce, and are contributing to the continuous creation of knowledge within the organization and its maintenance in the future based on their values.
Example of R+D+I Management System Certification process:
Example of R+D+I Project certification process:
AENOR
Asociación española de Normalización y Certificación
www.aenor.es