35 | Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme
ώ Trade Fairs: The cost of participation in any recognised Trade Fair outside Ireland may be eligible for assistance at up to 50% of eligible costs. Eligible costs are cost for which it can be established that they are directly related to one or more of the activities listed in a) to c) above. This may include the costs incurred for renting, setting up and running the stand at a trade show. Attendance at conferences, summits, forums, symposiums, stand-alone company events, demonstrations or meetings are not eligible for support. The maximum financial assistance grant available for Trade Fair participation is €75K overall. An innovation cluster project can participate at the same Trade Fair on three occasions (maximum) irrespective of location, over the funding period. ώ Rental of Temporary Project Space: In exceptional circumstances where it is necessary to rent a temporary premises from which to perform one or more activities listed in a) to c) above (which must be duly substantiated), the cost of renting/leasing this accommodation for the period of time strictly needed for this purpose will be eligible at a grant rate of 50%. This support will not exceed 24 months on aggregate and there must be a commercial lease/license in the name of the grantee in place. STREAM THREE Funding for Stream Three – Services to SMEs to drive innovation solutions The support is designed to be strategic in supporting the transformation of Regional SMEs operating in an ecosystem that requires support. The services to be provided by Not-for- Profit DAC’s / CLG’s will be made accessible to eligible Regional SMEs by way of De Minimis Passthrough/pass-on aid, meaning these SMEs will be able to benefit from these services at reduced rates (based on a pre-defined rate card), while other businesses will have to pay the higher market rates. The amount of that reduction will be recorded as De Minimis aid for the applicant SME. The aid will be provided to SMEs by the full passthrough/pass-on of the funding received by the DAC’s/CLG’s. In this regard, the DAC’s/CLG’s will fully pass-on the entire benefit of the funding received to their eligible users (including, where applicable, interest reflecting the time advantage of funding received but not passed-on, which will be determined at the end of each year based on the Commission’s standard rates and methodology) and any remaining benefit at the level of DAC’s/CLG will have to be recovered at the end of the project. Eligible Costs All eligible costs 18 are required to be directly related to the implementation of the work programme. Cost categories include: Programme Support Costs Direct costs include: the purchase of hardware or software; personnel costs of the DACs and CLGs which are directly linked to the delivery of services; sub-contractors involved in the delivery of these services; and travel and subsistence costs for hub personnel and sub- contractors. Indirect Costs include; of 7% of eligible direct costs for overheads, and a reasonable mark-up.
18 All eligible costs exclude VAT. Where applicants can certify through the Revenue Commissioners that they have unrecoverable VAT, it may be deemed an eligible expense under this fund.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker