Press Release: State aid: Commission approves €35 million Spanish aid to ITP for development of Trent 1000 aircraft engine

The European Commission authorised, under the EC Treaty rules on state aid (Article 88(2)), €35 million of public funding that Spain intends to give to Industria de Turbo Propulsores (ITP) for the development of the low-pressure turbine for the Trent 1000 engine. The latter is being developed by Rolls-Royce for the Boeing B787. After an in-depth investigation, launched in March 2007, the Commission found that the project satisfied the requirements of the EU framework for state aid for research, development and innovation. In particular, the project incites ITP to carry out additional research, the public funding will be reimbursed according to the success of the project and the relevant provisions on eligible costs and aid intensity have been respected. The Commission therefore concluded that the aid does not threaten to distort competition in the Single Market.