The Government grants 500,000 euros to the Riojan packaging center

The Council of Ministers has approved the direct grant of a 500,000 euro subsidy to the Autonomous Community of La Rioja for the Packaging and Wrapping City project. The measure is formalized in Royal Decree 814/2026, of October 7, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) No. 251 on Friday, October 9, 2026, within Section I of general provisions. The text, with official reference BOE-A-2026-20979, enters into force the day following its publication.

The royal decree, promoted by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, regulates a singular aid intended for investment expenses, primarily equipment, for the National Center for Packaging Technologies (CENTIDE). The regulation is based on article 22.2.c) of the General Subsidies Law 38/2003, of November 17, which allows for direct granting when reasons of public, social, or economic interest exist that hinder a public call for applications.

The Government justifies the choice of La Rioja as it is the only region with a manufacturing industry in the packaging and wrapping sector and the capacity to develop the project, both due to the number of companies that comprise it and its impact on the regional economy and high-quality direct employment. The collaboration between administrations dates back to the action protocol signed on June 15, 2022, and has an immediate precedent in Royal Decree 1311/2024, of December 23, which already regulated a subsidy to the community for this same initiative.

Three lines of action

The regional strategic project Packaging and Wrapping City is structured around three main lines:

• The development of CENTIDE, a publicly owned infrastructure dedicated to R&D+i and the industrial scaling of solutions for the sector.
• The consolidation and growth of the packaging industrial district in the region.
• The creation of the European digital innovation hub EDIH La Rioja 4.0.

The state funds will specifically be used to finance the equipment for Line 3, “Innovative Packaging,” within the “Research Area in Innovative Design and New Functionalities.” This involves acquiring laboratory-level packaging manufacturing equipment to allow the development of new packaging with different configurations using alternative materials or with new functionalities.

Amount, deadlines, and justification

The subsidy amounts to 500,000.00 euros, charged to budget item 28.08.467C.750 of the General Secretariat for Innovation. Payment will be made via bank transfer in a single advance payment following the signing of the granting resolution.

The planned schedule is as follows:

• The application must be submitted within a maximum period of fifteen business days from the entry into force of the royal decree.
• The granting resolution will be issued and notified within a maximum period of three months.
• The execution period for the actions will be twenty-four months from the effective payment, extendable by up to twelve more months.
• The justification must be submitted within a maximum of three months from the completion of the execution.

The regulation exempts the beneficiary entity from providing guarantees and allows the aid to be compatible with other sources of financing, provided that the sum does not exceed the total cost of the activity. Total and manifest failure to meet the objectives will require the full reimbursement of the aid; if the execution significantly approaches full compliance, the principle of proportionality will be applied.

The aid consolidates state support for a cross-cutting sector for agri-food, wine, footwear, or automotive, and seeks to position the Riojan packaging industry as a national and European benchmark. The royal decree is signed by the King and countersigned by Minister Diana Morant Ripoll.

Source: Official State Gazette, no. 251, October 9, 2026, Sec. I. General provisions, page 134407 (official reference: BOE-A-2026-20979).