The EU Court of Justice provides further guidance on how economic activities linked to non-economic functions must be treated in a State aid context (Aanbestedingskalender)

SEPARABILITY OF ECONOMIC FROM NON-ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES*Introduction Pure research whose results are widely disseminated is undoubtedly a non-economic activity. Research reports are often published on the internet. But the design and management of a research organisation’s website can be an economic activity. Plenty of private companies provide these services for a fee. Does that mean that in the process of complying with the requirement for wide dissemination of research results, a research organisation becomes an undertaking? The answer is no. The activity that in principle can be economic is necessary for the fulfilment of the non-economic functions of the research organisation and does not go beyond what at minimum must be done to achieve wide dissemination research results. In other