The artistic glass sector in Murano, particularly for first-processing companies, is facing economic challenges due to a significant increase in natural gas costs, a situation that has emerged following the post-pandemic economic recovery. To support these companies experiencing temporary difficulties, a special measure has been introduced in the form of non-repayable grants.
Relevant Sector
This measure is aimed at the industrial and artisan sectors, with particular attention to companies involved in the artistic glass sector that operate in the initial processing of glass.
Eligible Beneficiaries
The support is intended for Murano artistic glass companies, specifically those classified under the ISTAT ATECO 2007 code 23.1, “Manufacture of glass and glass products,” and its related subcategories. These companies must meet specific eligibility requirements to access the fund.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the grant, companies must meet the following criteria:
- Be duly registered in the Business Register at the relevant Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture, or in the register of artisan businesses, with operations ongoing as of October 1, 2021. The company registration (visura camerale) will be used as a reference to verify the registration date.
- Have an operational headquarters in Murano as of October 1, 2021, as shown in the company registration.
- Be operational: the company must be fully and freely operating, not in voluntary liquidation, and not subject to insolvency proceedings either ongoing or initiated before the application submission date.
- No unlawful or incompatible aid: the company must not have received state aid deemed unlawful or incompatible by the European Commission, or, if it has, it must have repaid or placed such aid in a blocked account.
- Not be an “undertaking in difficulty”: companies must not be classified as “in difficulty” according to the General Block Exemption Regulation as of December 31, 2019. However, micro or small enterprises that were in difficulty on that date may still apply, provided they are not undergoing insolvency proceedings and have not received rescue or restructuring aid.
- Comply with the general criteria for the granting of subsidies and economic benefits.
Available Support
The aid consists of a non-repayable grant calculated based on the company’s actual natural gas consumption during the period from October 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. The calculation takes into account the difference between the natural gas price during that period and a reference price set at €0.25 per cubic meter.
Example of Grant Calculation
Let’s assume a company consumed 150,000 standard cubic meters (smc) of natural gas, and the unit gas price shown on the bill is €0.913/smc for the “raw gas” and €0.014/smc for the “PCS adjustment for raw gas.” In this case, the total gas price is:
0.913 + 0.014 = €0.927/smc (total price per smc)
The grant will therefore be calculated as follows:
150,000 smc x (0.927 – 0.25) = €101,550.00 in non-repayable grant.
Application Deadline
Companies must submit their grant application by June 30, 2022. It is strongly recommended to pay close attention to deadlines and application procedures in order not to miss the opportunity to access the fund.
This measure represents an important opportunity for Murano companies—particularly those involved in artistic glassmaking—to support their post-pandemic recovery and cope with rising energy costs. If your company meets the eligibility criteria, don’t miss the chance to benefit from this non-repayable contribution.
