Economic Interest Groups (EIGs) have established themselves as a form of business collaboration that channels private investment into research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) projects. This model connects companies with investment capacity to organizations that need funding to develop technological initiatives, taking advantage of the tax incentives provided for under Spanish law.
However, for this model to function with the necessary safeguards, it is essential to verify both the technical nature of the projects and the consistency of the expenses associated with their implementation.
In this context, the certification of R&D&I projects by an ENAC-accredited entity plays a particularly important role: it provides an independent evaluation, facilitates the issuance of Binding Reasoned Reports, and strengthens investor confidence.
What is an AIE, and how does it work in R&D&I projects?
An Economic Interest Grouping (EIG) is a legal entity established to facilitate or carry out the economic activities of its members. In the field of R&D&I, it can be used as a vehicle for structuring technology projects and channeling funding for them.
Three key figures are typically involved in this model :
- The AIE: acts as the project owner and the entity applying for certification. The investing companies participate in it.
- Investment companies: They provide financing through their participation in the consortium and may benefit from the applicable tax regime, provided that the legal requirements are met.
- The development or technology company: carries out the research, development, or technological innovation activities in accordance with the contractual agreements established with the AIE.
The AIE may contract a development company to carry out the project through the appropriate service agreements and ownership agreements. The contractual documentation must adequately reflect the responsibilities, intellectual property rights, and participation of each entity.
This model allows the developer company to obtain funding for its R&D&I project before beginning implementation, facilitating access to the resources needed to carry it out. At the same time, the investing companies that provide this funding can benefit from the tax incentives associated with R&D&I activities, provided that the requirements set forth in the applicable regulations are met.
Why are AIEs an option for financing R&D&I projects?
Funding is one of the main challenges for companies undertaking R&D&I projects. These initiatives typically require significant investments and may involve technical uncertainty, lengthy implementation periods, and difficulties in accessing financial resources.
EIEs offer an alternative way to match the financing needs of technology companies with other organizations' interest in participating in projects that generate tax incentives.
Benefits for Investing Companies
Spanish law provides for corporate income tax deductions for research, development, and technological innovation activities.
Generally speaking, the R&D tax deduction starts at 25% of expenses that meet the legal requirements and can reach 42% on certain increases in spending compared to the average of the two previous fiscal years. For activities classified as technological innovation, the general rate is 12%.
Under the tax regime applicable to AIEs, partners may participate in the allocation of certain income and deductions, in accordance with the conditions set forth in tax regulations.
Thus, participation in an EIG can represent a tax planning opportunity linked to the financing of actual and properly documented R&D&I activities.
Benefits for Development Companies
For technology companies, this model can facilitate access to private financing for research and innovation projects.
Among its advantages are the ability to promote projects that require significant resources, expand implementation capacity, and reduce dependence on other sources of funding.
Therefore, IEAs can create value for both parties: development companies gain access to resources for innovation before undertaking the project, and investors participate in transactions that may generate tax incentives, within the applicable legal framework.
Why is it important to certify an AIE's R&D&I projects?
Independent certification is one of the key elements for strengthening the technical and documentary reliability of projects carried out through AIEs.
Through this process, an accredited certification body evaluates the nature of the activities and, depending on the scope of the certification, the consistency of the budgets or the justification for the expenses incurred.
This assessment provides a detailed and independent report that is of great value to both the AIE and investment and development companies.
Legal Certainty and Support from the Binding Reasoned Report
One of the main benefits of certification is its contribution to legal certainty in the application of tax incentives for R&D&I.
Certification issued by an ENAC-accredited entity serves as the technical basis for requesting the corresponding Binding Reasoned Report from the competent ministry.
This report is binding on the tax authorities under the terms established by the regulations, particularly with regard to the classification of activities as research, development, or technological innovation.
In this way, companies have access to independent technical support that helps reduce uncertainty regarding the nature of the certified activities.
However, the certification and the Reasoned Report do not replace compliance with the other applicable tax requirements.
Technical Assessment and Validation of Expenses
Not all innovative activities are treated the same for tax purposes. The distinction between research and development (R&D) and technological innovation (TI) is crucial, as these two categories are subject to different deduction rates.
During the certification process, independent experts analyze the project's characteristics, its objectives, technological innovations, and the activities carried out to determine the appropriate rating.
In addition, when the scope of the certification includes the budget or actual expenditures, their appropriateness for the project's activities and their documentary justification are evaluated.
This review makes it possible to identify potential issues, inconsistencies, or expenses that do not meet the applicable criteria, thereby facilitating their resolution during the evaluation process.
Greater confidence and transparency for investors
Investor confidence is one of the key differentiators of R&D&I project certification through AIEs.
Various entities with technical, financial, and tax responsibilities are involved in these transactions. For this reason, having an independent assessment is particularly important.
Certification provides an objective assessment of the technological nature of the project and, depending on the scope of the contract, of the costs associated with its development.
For investment firms, this assessment provides an additional guarantee of transparency and traceability, as it offers verified technical information about the project in which they are participating.
For AIEs and development companies, it facilitates the presentation of evidence to the various parties involved in the transaction and strengthens the project's credibility.
Ultimately, certification not only serves to validate R&D&I activities; it also helps build trust among the parties involved in their funding and implementation.
What is the certification process for an AIE?
The certification process for R&D&I projects carried out through AIEs requires an analysis of both the technical characteristics of the activities and the relationships between the participating entities.
Although the documentation and scope vary depending on the type of certification, the procedure can be summarized in the following steps.
1. Identification of the project and the participating entities
The scope of the project, the identity of the EIA, the development companies, and the contractual relationships between them are determined.
At this stage, it is especially important to clearly establish project ownership and the key milestones in its development.
(1) Date of incorporation of the AIE, as well as the entities that comprise it.
(2) The effective date of execution of such prior agreement (if any), as well as the signatory entities
(3) The date on which the Contract, under which the AIE assumes ownership of the project, was effectively signed by all parties, as well as the signatory entities.
(4) The specific date on which the AIE assumes ownership of the project.
(5) Business name and tax identification number (NIF) of each “first-tier” partner organization participating in the project.
2. Technical Evaluation of the Project
An independent expert reviews the technical report, the objectives, and the activities carried out or planned, assessing whether they constitute research and development or technological innovation.
This evaluation makes it possible to determine the technical rating of the activities in accordance with the applicable criteria.
3. Financial and Documentary Review
For certifications that include a budget or actual expenditures, the financial consistency of the project and the corresponding supporting documentation are reviewed.
In the case of AIEs, this review takes on special importance due to the involvement of development companies.
4. Incident Resolution and Issuance of the Certificate
When nonconformities or issues requiring clarification are identified, they are reported for resolution in accordance with the certification procedure.
5. Issuance of the certificate
Once the evaluation has been successfully completed, a certificate corresponding to the scope of the evaluation is issued.
This certificate may serve as supporting documentation for the request for a Binding Reasoned Report, when applicable.
Requirements and Key Considerations for Certifying AIE Projects
The certification of R&D&I projects through AIEs involves specific considerations stemming from their legal structure and the participation of different companies in carrying out the activities.
Among the issues that require special attention are the following:
- Ownership and Project Dates. It is necessary to correctly identify when the AIE is established, when it assumes ownership, and what activities are carried out during the period covered by the certification.
- Contractual relationship with the development company. The agreements must clearly define the responsibilities of the parties and provide a basis for carrying out the activities.
- Traceability of expenses. The financial evaluation must include sufficient evidence of the expenses associated with the project, including documentation from the implementing companies when applicable.
- Technical and financial consistency. The reported resources, activities, and expenses must be consistent with the objectives and the work actually performed.
- Compliance with certification criteria. Applications must meet the current technical and documentation requirements, including those applicable to AIEs and their partner entities.
Proper preparation of these elements facilitates the certification process and helps reduce issues during the evaluation.
ACERTA's Experience in Certifying AIEs and R&D&I Projects
The certification of projects carried out through Economic Interest Groups (EIGs) requires technical expertise and knowledge of the specific characteristics of these operations. ACERTA has been certifying EIG applications since 2019, gaining experience in research, development, and technological innovation projects across various sectors.
This trend is reflected in the 2026 results: so far, the number of AIE applications has increased by 63% compared to 2025, with 50% coming from the software sector, followed by manufacturing (16%) and pharmaceuticals (11%). With the year not yet over, there have been no credit rating downgrades or major budget cuts.
ACERTA combines this expertise with a specialized team and close collaboration throughout the certification process, while maintaining the rigor, independence, and impartiality required by its work.
Do you need to certify an R&D&I project carried out through an AIE? Contact the ACERTA team to learn about the requirements and scope of the certification.
Questions Frequently Asked Questions
- Certification does not, in and of itself, constitute a general requirement for all R&D&I projects. However, it is essential when applying for a Binding Reasoned Report and obtaining an independent technical evaluation to support the project’s classification.
- Certification provides an independent assessment of the technical nature of the project and, depending on its scope, of the associated costs. This enhances transparency, traceability, and the confidence of the companies participating in its financing.
- R&D and technological innovation projects are subject to different technical and tax criteria. Their classification depends on the specific characteristics and activities of the project and determines the applicable deduction percentages.
- In the model described, the AIE acts as the applicant for certification and the project owner, while the actual implementation may be carried out by a contracted development company.
- For R&D&I projects carried out through AIEs, the technical report, legal and contractual documentation, budgets, and supporting evidence of expenses are reviewed, depending on the scope of the certification.
Since the AIE subcontracts the project’s execution to the development company, it is mandatory to provide the latter’s technical and financial documentation, applying the same document review criteria as if the development company were the entity applying for certification.