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SMEs and Interreg projects DG REGIO, Open Days , Brussels , October 2013. Benefits of SMEs Involvement . Benefits for SMEs : Interreg Projects contribute to improving policy learning and sharing :.
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SMEs and Interregprojects DG REGIO, Open Days, Brussels, October 2013
Benefits of SMEs Involvement Benefitsfor SMEs: Interreg Projects contribute to improving policy learning and sharing : The SME involvement in Interreg Projects creates benefits for the Governmental Institutions:
Risks of SMEs Involvement Involvement of SMEs in Interreg- Pros and Cons, a view from the Private Sector Advisors: Dimensions Administrative Procedure Management Issue Financial Issue
Involvement of SMEs in Interreg projects: How to deal State aid Addressing the problems: Need to raise awareness of State aid rules; Need to clarify responsibilities; Clarifying ways of achieving State aid compliance; Regulatory changes to facilitate State aid application for European Territorial cooperation. Main Problems in the current funding period: Diverging views of Member States on State aid; Difficulties to set up schemes by several Member States; Difficult to monitor State aid in another Member State; Difficult in making use of block exemptions and in notifying State aid
Ways to achieve State Aid compliance Risks for SMEs • State Aid Too complex for a single SME; • Check and adhere to them at project or program level; • Avoid de‐minimis Check for the presence of State aid ( Criteria of Article 107 (1) TFEU; De minimis aid ( not more than EUR 200 000); Giving aid in line with the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) or possibly with rules on Services of General Economic Interest (SGEI); Notifying aid (pre–notification contacts with DG COMP, Commission will give guidance on any technical and substantive issue)
Return on investments Involvement of SMEs in Interreg projects: Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) IP Technology Patents Trademarks Designs R&D Manufacturing Marketing and Sales In modern complex systems, IP in SMEs business is modeled as follow: Products SMEs use Intellectual Property to: Take a risk in participation; To invest in their policy goals; To need a return on investment. Return on investments IPR regulations in Interreg Projects: Facilitate IPR at program level; To arrange IPR at project level; To build on experience in Framework Program and H2020