In September will start new EU initiative  – program Eurostars. Small and medium companies which are interested in gaining funds to lead research works can take part in it.

Supporting European companies which lead research works is the main purpose for the EU program Eurostars which will start in autumn. It is directed to small and medium companies and it should encourage them to run joint, international research and innovative projects.

Companies which satisfy EU criterion of SME can take part in program Eurostars, but they need to give at least 10% their incomes for research activity. First call for papers  will end on 3^rd of December 2007. From preliminary foundation result there will be in disposal of enterprises 57 million euro. It will allow financing about 80 projects.

There is an additional requirement – grants are not directed for single firms. They must be connected to greatest groups, just as it has place in Scientific Frame Program. Firm which is a leader of such group covers from 30 for 70 percent of value of project. The rest is support by union. There is also an order to duty part of research outside, for example for college.

Program is disposed on fast results and market effects. Duration of investigative project can not exceed three years. Implementation of product has to occur in two year after completion of development work.

Before firm will think about compete for this funds it should answer on question, if there are some others union support programs. Eurostars is all-European program so it means that polish project will be competed in efforts about grants with projects from other EU states.

SOURCES OF GRANTS ON INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITY

- Structural funds
- 7^th  frame program
- Frame program in favor of competitiveness and innovation
- Technological initiative

Complimentary meeting for Thursday Innovatorium was Friday conference organized by Patent Office devoted changes in  pro-innovation politics in country. From presentation of National Agency of Development Enterprises and Ministry of Science shows, that in coat of modern creation of advancement instrument of innovative great deal  happen in economy.
Realization of Operative Program “Innovative Economy”  is key to this possible success of concept innovative economy, which  has exactly hit to Brussels. If it will be accepted, then in 2013 hits in market about 9 billion euro assigned for fund of cooperation of science with business, start-up and implement, development of academic enterprise, on realization of big project, for example development work over nuclear reactor. Proposed by Ministerial Offices advancement  system of innovative is very composed and sufficiently subtle. For example conception of incubator appeals for Israel experiences, where state helps to indirect manners of development new innovative enterprises, they are transferring money by incubators, which act according to logic of market. That means they help enterprises like investors, they are taking in return part of market share. Measure successful decision is growth of value of enterprises. If it is possible to recover money from participation, investment was appropriate.
Obviously, the main problem will be the way of realization of this compound politics. It is possible to imagine in fairest scripts, that during  next Innovatorium will be also sitting representatives of PARP for taking the most impressive ideas.

Source: Polityka; Edwin Bendyk, 05 February 2007

Over 8.2 billion euro from Brussels will stimulate innovation of polish enterprises – reports Rzeczpospolita. The first fund will turn out in this year.

Chairman of PAN prof. Micha³ Kleiber underlines, that Poland still does not have model of co-operation knowledge and industry. That makes polish enterprises stay behind in the european rating of creativity.

According to data of Rzeczpospolita in the European Union medium 42% enterprises introduce innovate but in Poland only 25%. In Poland outlay for inquiry and development are widly lower (0.6% GDP in 2005) than in UE (medium over 1.8%).

EU dotation will supply enterprises, which employ scientists and those who can encourage higher education institution „to land” explorers to industry.

Source: Gazeta Prawna, no. 127, 17th July 2007

The part of funds from EU for entrepreneurs available in years 2007 – 2013 on the base of modified  minimis aid rules. The most important change is to extend the aid area up to 200 thousands euro.

In EU every support for entrepreneurs  available from public means is treated as a public aid and it must be strictly controlled. It also concerned  Union funds. Because of that beneficiaries who trying to get European means should pay attention to rudiments of giving the aid.  If it is given wrong, they will have to bear costs. 

In years 2007 – 2013 money  from EU funds will be given basing on tens of aid programs. Most of them need notification in European Commission and it will be used in precisily appointed range.  However two aid models will be concerned  most of support for firms. One of them is called minimis. It is the most popular form of giving support for entrepreneurs.  It is related to low amount so European commission doesn’t pay attention to it and leaves control on it for UE members.
Jerzy Pazdzierz from public aid monitoring department in Office for Competition and Consumer Protection explains that rules of giving support have changed since this year.

Higher range

‘The most important change is to  extend max aid limit to 200 thousand. Earlier the limit was 100 thousand euro’ – says Jerzy Pazdzierz.

First time from this year minimis could be directed to firms from road transport sector. However the level of support  can’t be higher than 100 thousands euro, but public funds still can’t be used on buying of transport means.   

According to Jerzy Pazdzierz during last three years aid limit can’t exceed 200 thousands euro range. Applying for union grants the entrepreneur should calculate whether he can get it in the case the aid is treated as a minimis aid.  

What the minimis is?

Minimis aid is kind of support from government for entrepreneurs, which doesn’t need European Commission notification. Minimis isn’t a big project so it doesn’t influence on commercial exchange and doesn’t endanger  competition, so on the base of 87 article of European Community Pact it isn’t treated as a public aid.   

Source: www.gazetaprawna.pl (17.07.2007)