The process
Since IPCEIs are supported from national budgets, Member States are in the driving seat to form an IPCEI, identify the scope of the projects and select participating companies and projects. For the time being, a centrally managed EU IPCEI fund does not exist.
Member States that wish to initiate an IPCEI, should use the dedicated Joint European Forum for IPCEI to share their ideas with all other Member States. Member States should actively plan their participation in an IPCEI and actively cooperate with all other Member States.
For companies interested in participating in an IPCEI, the correct point of contact is always the competent authorities in the Member States.
The Commission services stand ready to support the Member States plans, provide guidance and assess notified projects as swiftly as possible.
The Code of Good Practices
Following the approval of State aid for IPCEIs so far, Member States and the Commission have both gained experience and knowledge on the assessment of State aid for IPCEIs. Based on this knowledge, experience and lessons learned, the Commission, on 1 February 2023, announced in its Communication “A Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age” that it would prepare a Code of Good Practices (“Code”) for a transparent, inclusive, and faster design of IPCEIs allowing for a streamlined assessment, and share it with the Member States.
This Code constitutes a manual of good practices addressed to national authorities, the Coordinator Member State selected by the national authorities, undertakings benefitting from aid based on the IPCEI rules (“IPCEI direct participants”), and the Commission services, for the purpose of facilitating the development and assessment of IPCEIs.