CENTIDE La Rioja: direct subsidy for the national center for packaging technologies

Key data

The packaging and packaging sector has had, since November 12, 2026, a public R&D&i infrastructure backed by the State. The Royal Decree 983/2026 formalizes the direct grant of a subsidy to the Foundation for the Transformation of La Rioja to finance the industrial equipment of CENTIDE (National Center for Packaging Technologies). The direct grant—without competitive bidding—is justified by reasons of public interest and by the situation of extended budget in 2026, which prevents processing nominative subsidies through the ordinary route.

The project aligns with the European Green Deal and the circular economy agenda, positioning Spain as a reference in recycling technologies, selection and ecodesign of packaging at the European scale.

What does this regulation establish?

The Royal Decree regulates the terms of the direct grant and precisely identifies the destination of the funds and the actors involved. These are the key elements:

The direct grant is an exceptional mechanism provided for in the General Subsidies Law that allows the Government to allocate public funds without competitive bidding when sufficient reasons of public interest are present. In this case, the urgency of equipping CENTIDE and the technical impossibility derived from the extended budget justify this route.

Economic and operational impact

For the industrial packaging and packaging sector, the creation of CENTIDE means the emergence of a new public actor with which they can collaborate on R&D&i projects, reduction of recycling costs and adaptation to the ecodesign requirements imposed by European regulations.

• Access to public R&D&i infrastructure: Companies in the sector will be able to use CENTIDE services without needing to invest in their own selection and recycling equipment.
• Technology transfer: The center will act as a bridge between research and industrial application, reducing the time and cost of adopting new technologies.
• Ecodesign and regulatory compliance: With European regulatory pressure on packaging (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation), having a specialized center facilitates the adaptation of products and processes.
• International projection: CENTIDE is conceived with national and international vocation, which can open opportunities for collaboration and visibility for Spanish companies in the sector.

The direct and immediate impact falls on the Foundation for the Transformation of La Rioja, which receives the funds and assumes responsibility for executing the project. For the rest of the sector, the impact is indirect but relevant in the medium term, when the center is operational and offers its services.

Who does it affect?

• Foundation for the Transformation of La Rioja: Direct beneficiary of the subsidy and responsible for executing the CENTIDE project.
• Packaging and packaging manufacturers: Companies that produce packaging of any material (plastic, glass, cardboard, metal) and that will be able to access the center's services.
• Recycling and packaging waste management companies: They will be able to benefit from applied research and selection and recycling machinery available at CENTIDE.
• Companies using packaging (food, beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, logistics): Sectors that need to adapt their packaging to ecodesign and circular economy requirements.
• Research centers and universities: With the possibility of collaboration in R&D&i projects through CENTIDE.
• Public administrations in La Rioja: Involved in the governance and development of the project at the regional level.

Practical example

A plastic packaging manufacturing company based in La Rioja that needs to adapt its production line to the new recycled content requirements imposed by European packaging regulations now has a concrete support route: CENTIDE.

Instead of investing on its own in equipment for analysis and certification of recycled materials—which can represent an investment of hundreds of thousands of euros for an SME—it will be able to access the center's research and technology transfer services. CENTIDE has selection and recycling machinery for packaging financed with public funds, which reduces the entry barrier for companies that could not otherwise afford these costs individually.

Furthermore, if the company wants to develop a new package with ecodesign criteria to access more demanding European markets, it can rely on the center's specialized services without needing to outsource that development to high-cost private consultants.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if your company belongs to the packaging and packaging sector: Manufacturers, recyclers, intensive packaging users and logistics companies should mark CENTIDE on their strategic radar.
2. Monitor project development: The subsidy has just been formalized. Monitor communications from the Foundation for the Transformation of La Rioja and the Ministry for Ecological Transition to find out when the center will be operational and what services it will offer.
3. Evaluate R&D&i needs in ecodesign and recycling: Anticipate what projects or regulatory adaptations you could address with CENTIDE support once it is operational.
4. Explore collaboration routes: If you are a large company or research center, consider establishing contact with the Foundation for the Transformation of La Rioja to explore collaboration agreements within the framework of CENTIDE.
5. Review compliance with European packaging regulations: CENTIDE aligns with the European Green Deal. Take the opportunity to internally audit the degree of compliance of your company with ecodesign requirements and recycled content already in force or in process.

Official source

Consult complete regulations at official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-23665