Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises

(2003/C 186/12)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Aid No: XS 101/02

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Wales

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Cost Down Programme

Legal basis: Welsh Development Agency Act 1975, as amended

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The scheme will provide the following funding to support SMEs over a three-year period:

2002/3: GBP 90000

2003/4: GBP 110000

2004/5: GBP 110000

2005/6: GBP 40000

The funding will support a maximum of 90 SMEs which meet the definition in Annex 1 to the SME Block Exemption

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity will be 47 % of the consultancy costs. It is estimated that no one SME will receive more than GBP 3900 worth of aid

Date of implementation: 19 August 2002

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 July 2005

Objective of aid: The scheme involves specialist consultancy support to SMEs. This consultancy aims to assist SMEs in pinpointing cost-reduction opportunities. The consultants will be using a proven process commencing with a cost audit to identify targets for cost reduction followed by one or more cost-reduction projects. This covers both in-house costs and the costs of bought-in materials or services.

The consultancy provided will not be a continuous or periodic activity

The sustainable reduction of business costs is a major issue affecting competitiveness and the ability of an SME to grow

Economic sector(s) concerned: All sectors, without prejudice to special rules in regulations and directives concerning state aid in certain sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: Mike Firth Welsh Development Agency Principality House

The Friary

Cardiff CF10 3FE United Kingdom

Other information: Larger companies may be provided with similar support under the de minimis rule

Aid No: XS 61/02

Member State: Italy

Region: Autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Investment aid for industry and craft businesses

Legal basis: Azione 2.1.1 del complemento di programmazione del Docup obiettivo 2 2000-2006 approvato con DGR n. 846 del 22.3.2002, da attuare tramite bandi

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company:

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Maximum aid intensity: 15 % for small firms; 7.5 % for medium-sized firms

For firms in areas exempted under Article 87(3)(c) of the EC Treaty: 8 % nge + 10 % gge for small firms; 8 % nge + 6 % gge for medium-sized firms

Date of implementation: 31 May 2002 (date of publication of the first notice inviting applications)

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Up to 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: The measure is intended to assist tangible and intangible investments by SMEs in the industrial production and services sector and SMEs in the crafts production and services sector aimed at setting up and/or establishing new business initiatives as well as the consolidation, enhancement and technological updating of existing firms. The aim is to promote and foster the expansion of the production base and make businesses more competitive as well as providing stable employment

Economic sector(s) concerned: Manufacturing and service SMEs in the industrial and crafts sectors, with the exception of specific activities in agrifoodstuffs, synthetic fibres, motor vehicles, shipbuilding and coal and steel

Name and address of the granting authority: For craft SMEs: Regione autonoma Friuli Venezia-Giulia Direzione regionale del Lavoro e della Previdenza, della cooperazione e dell'artigianato Servizio per lo sviluppo dell'artigianato Via Giulia, 75/1 I - 34100 Trieste E-mail: lavoro.coop.art@regione.fvg.it

For industrial SMEs: Regione autonoma Friuli Venezia-Giulia Direzione regionale dell'industria Servizio dello sviluppo industriale Via Trento, 2 I - 34100 Trieste E-mail: s.svil.ind@regione.fvg.it

Aid No: XS 81/02

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: West Midlands (Objective 2)

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Telford/Wolverhampton High-Tech Corridor, Advanced Engineering Cluster 2002 to 2005

Legal basis: Sections 5 and 6 Regional Development Agencies Act 1998, Greater London Authority Act 1999 and Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Total costs: GBP 1918000 over three years

2002/03: GBP 659000

2003/04: GBP 659000

2004/05: GBP 600000

No company will receive aid exceeding GBP 70000

Maximum aid intensity: No company will receive consultancy advice exceeding 50 % of the value of the project. For any individual company, this will never amount to more than GBP 70000

Date of implementation: 1 September 2002

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31 August 2005

Objective of aid: To provide SMEs with consultancy services in order to form and promote an Advanced Engineering Cluster Network and mini networks to play a key role in developing business, competitiveness and performance in the advanced engineering sector.

This sector has been identified as one of the sectors with highest growth potential in the region and has been approved as part of the structural funds SPD by the Regional Policy DG.

To raise productivity in companies and organisations in the advanced engineering sector by facilitating access to specialist inputs (consultancy) and enhancing access to information.

To increases companies' and organisations' incentives to innovate

Economic sector(s) concerned: Other manufacturing (advanced engineering sector), without prejudice to the regulations on sensitive sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: Government Office for the West Midlands 77 Paradise Circus, Queensway Birmingham B1 2DT United Kingdom

Other information: Responsible Officer

Dr. Alan Collins

University of Wolverhampton 01902 321780

Aid No: XS 82/02

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: West Midlands

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: SME Internationalisation Envelope WM 2002 to 2006

Legal basis: Industrial Development Act 1982, Sections 7 and 11

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Total funding GBP 5 million

2002: GBP 1 million

2003: GBP 1,25 million

2004: GBP 1,5 million

2005: GBP 0,75 million

2006: GBP 0,5 million

Maximum aid intensity: 50 %

No one company will receive more than GBP 60000 of public assistance under this programme

Date of implementation: 1 September 2002

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 31 March 2006

Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to provide consultancy to SMEs. This consultancy will help improve the competitiveness of SMEs through advice on:

(i) development of new products;

(ii) development of new markets;

(iii) improvement of business processes.

Without assistance, SMEs in many sectors lack the necessary skills and knowledge to develop strategies and plans relating to international trade and developing new markets.

This consultancy support will enable SMEs to invest and diversify more, safeguarding old jobs and creating new ones in the process.

The aid will not be used to assist in the establishment and operation of a distribution network, e.g. export-related activities

Economic sector(s) concerned: All sectors, without prejudice to special rules, in regulations and directives concerning State aid in certain sectors

Name and address of the granting authority: Pat Laughlin

Director Business Growth

Advantage West Midlands 3 Priestly Wharf

Holt Street

Aston Science Park

Birmingham B7 4BN United Kingdom +44 0 (121) 380 35 00 +44 0 (121) 380 35 01 E-mail: info@advantagewm.co.uk

Aid No: XS 98/02

Member State: Spain

Region: Extremadura

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an individual aid: Aid to promote access to industrial property in sectors not covered by Annex I to the EC Treaty, excluding activities linked to exporting and any projects depending on the use of national producers to the detriment of Community producers

Legal basis: Decreto 106/2002, de 23 de julio, de Promoción de la Propiedad Industrial en Extremadura (Diario Oficial de Extremadura n° 88, de 30 de julio de 2002)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 30051

Maximum aid intensity: 50 % of the external consultancy costs necessary for gaining access to industrial property

Date of implementation: 31 July 2002 (entry into force; no aid has yet been granted)

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 31 December 2006

Objective of aid: (a) Helping SMEs in Extremadura to gain access to industrial property

(b) Facilitating access to industrial property as a means of protection, a source of technological information and a method of boosting the competitiveness of SMEs in Extremadura

Economic sector(s) concerned: Other industrial sectors (excluding steel, shipbuilding, synthetic fibres, coalmining, motor vehicles and industries covered by Annex I to the Treaty). Other services (excluding financial and transport services)

Name and address of the granting authority: Director General de Promoción Empresarial e Industrial Consejería de Economía, Industria y Comercio - Junta de Extremadura Paseo de Roma, s/n. mgonzalez@eic.juntaex.es Tel. 924-005485 E - 06800 Mérida (Badajoz)