Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme

Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme | 36

(Note: The grant rate will be up to 100% of eligible programme costs, capped at a maximum of 80% of the programme market rate.) The value of the supports provided by the Grantee Company (i.e. the supported intermediary) must be at market rates and the amount of this support must be recorded against the De Minimis aid balance of the supported company (i.e. the end beneficiary). The following general conditions apply to this funding: ώ For each enterprise availing of the services delivered by the grantee companies over any rolling three-year period, such subsidies cannot be of a value in excess of the end user’s De Minimis entitlement under the EU Commission State Aid De Minimis Regulation 1407/2013. Any further services can only be provided by the grantee company to the enterprise at full market rate. ώ The grantee company shall maintain records of the subsidisation of services so that it can ensure that the aggregate of all subsidies paid to all end users over the 3 years starting with the project commencement date is at least equal to the amount of grant monies received under this fund. Any funding not passed on by the end of the three-year period, will be liable for interest penalties. ώ The grantee company shall require each end user/beneficiary to submit to it, on an annual basis, a De Minimis declaration addressed to the grantee company stating the amount of De Minimis aid it has received over the previous three years. STREAM FOUR Funding Stream Four – Investigation and Scoping of new projects through Feasibility funding or Priming funding This aid will fund costs towards the investigation of new projects from early-stage project concepts to development of business propositions or through priming funding to support detailed development of projects through design/costing and planning to enable an application for project support at a future stage. Note on Stream Four Stream Four will support the investigation of new projects through Feasibility Study Funding for early-stage project concepts (with grants from €25k up to €50k) or to support Priming Funding (that is, funding to support detailed preparation of more advanced infrastructural project concepts with grants from €50k up to €200k). Such Priming Funding may also be used towards costs related to completion of an Environmental Impact Assessment if the project is required to complete same. The outcome of this Stream should be projects which have confirmed the opportunity they are targeting and made progress towards developing detailed plans for delivery of the ensuing project 19 . The completion of this process should enable the development of a high-quality application for more significant future funding under Stream One, and Stream Two.

19 Note that support under Stream Four does not confirm any rights, obligations or commitment by the State to further funding of the ensuing project.

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