- The grants are aligned with the regulations and best practices being promoted by the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) to protect the freedom and pluralism of European media
The Government activates the first 35 million euros of the Aid Plan for the Digitization of the Media
26/12/2024
- A total of 4 measures in key areas such as Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence or Data
Madrid, December 26, 2024.- The Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Public Service activates the first 35 million euros of the Aid Plan for the Digitization of the Media, presented less than a month ago by the head of the department, Óscar López.
The objective of this aid is to digitally strengthen the media and communication sector, to preserve its competitiveness and that it can offer truthful information to citizens, as stated in article 20.1 of the Spanish Constitution.
Aid distribution
The measures – some already called for, others will be launched before the end of the year – are as follows:
a) 15 million euros through the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) in Cybersecurity
INCIBE has today published a public invitation for the development of collaboration agreements for the promotion of cybersecurity with the media and communication. 10 million will be destined to projects focused on strengthening and improving cybersecurity capabilities through the development of resources and the remaining 5 million euros to proposals aimed at the training of professionals that strengthen cybersecurity talent.
With this action, INCIBE aims to improve the cybersecurity of Spanish companies and media professionals, for which it is considered essential to collaborate in the training, awareness and sensitization in cybersecurity of employees and users of the media that can carry out training and awareness actions in cybersecurity.
The deadline for submission of proposals begins today and will be extended until June 30, 2025. Projects must be implemented by 30 June 2026 (capacity building projects) and 31 December 2025 (training projects).
This invitation may be attended by media companies, non-profit entities, business federations and associations or self-employed professionals whose representatives, associates, federates or participants are companies or media professionals, whether publishers, radio, television or the press.
The work will be carried out through the formalization of collaboration agreements between INCIBE and the collaborating entity for activities with a common purpose that will focus on the following concepts:
- Develop resources for awareness and communication actions in the field of cybersecurity.
- Develop digital competencies in cybersecurity at all educational levels, through the development of specific resources, tools and materials.
- Train professionals who strengthen cybersecurity talent.
- Among others, and provided that its link with the previous objectives is justified, the following actions may be developed:
- Cybersecurity tools or solutions.
- Programs to promote a culture of cybersecurity.
- Generation of awareness and awareness resources in cybersecurity of media professionals or citizens in general such as the generation of specific materials, training or events.
b) 10 million euros for Artificial Intelligence projects
The second line of grants will provide EUR 10 million to finance AI integration projects (under experimental development) in the media value chain of the publishing sector. These grants are aimed at large or medium-sized companies with publications of supraautonomic circulation, in more than 2 autonomous communities, that certify paper publication, either daily or periodic, and that also have an associated digital medium.
Convened by the Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, the applications that can be developed with this aid include:
- Fact-checking: tools to identify and combat fake news.
- Content personalization: systems that adjust the news to the interests and needs of the user.
- Moderation of comments: solutions to manage interactions on websites and social networks.
- Indexing, metadata and content search: including techniques such as Retrieval Augmented Generation.
- Transcription and accessibility: advanced systems that facilitate inclusion and access to information.
- Generation of summaries: tools to simplify texts and make news more accessible.
- Other innovative AI applications that strengthen the media business model.
This helpline will be launched before December 31 in non-competitive competition.
c) EUR 2 million for the dynamization of productivity and the promotion of innovation based on data sharing
The call for technology-based or data-oriented products and services, currently opened by the Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, reserves a specific line of support for projects aimed at the media.
The objective of the call is to support the development of the technology industry through aid for the development of products and services aimed at data spaces and business data. These projects must offer solutions that promote the development of data spaces and the participation of companies, such as:
- Building Blocks of Data Spaces
- Data Products and Services
- Data processing tools
- Data Space Platforms
- Discovery of data
- Tools to Ensure Regulatory Compliance
The call, which was opened on December 20, will remain open until January 31, 2025. The grants will be granted in non-competitive competition and the projects must be completed by 30 June 2026.
d) 8 million euros for the creation and operation of data spaces in strategic sectors.
Within the framework of the Sectoral Data Space Program, the call finances “experimental development” projects, grouped in two lines for two different types of projects:
- Line 1. Demonstration centers: development of technological platforms of data spaces in strategic sectors.
- Line 2. Use cases: development of specific use cases to promote the promotion of strategic sectors
| Sector | Line Demonstrators (euros) | Use Cases Line (euros) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agri-food | 1,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Sustainable mobility and transport | 1,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Health | 1,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Social and care economy | 1,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Mass Media | 2,000,000 | 6,000,000 | 8,000,000 |
| Other sectors | 10,000,000 | 44,577,854,07 | 54,577,854,07 |
| Total | 16,000,000 | 58,577,854,07 | 74,577,854,07 |
This second call for Data Spaces will be published before December 31, 2024.
Commitment to informative quality
All these measures reflect the commitment of the Government of Spain to the right of citizens to receive truthful information, as well as support for the technological transformation of the media sector to preserve its competitiveness and its role as a fundamental vehicle for the formation and expression of free and informed public opinion that our democracy requires.
The Council of Ministers approved on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 the media aid plan endowed with 124.5 million euros, one of the measures included in the Action Plan for Democracy of the Government of Spain.
More information about the calls: