1.

Annex I to Decision No 195/04/COL should be amended as follows: ‘PART I GENERAL INFORMATION STATUS OF THE NOTIFICATION Does the information transmitted on this form concern:  a notification pursuant to Article 1(3) in Part I of Protocol 3 to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice?  a possible unlawful aid (1)? If yes, please specify the date of putting into effect of the aid. Please complete this form, as well as the relevant supplementary forms.  a non-aid measure which is notified to the EFTA Surveillance Authority for reasons of legal certainty? Please indicate below the reasons why the notifying EFTA State considers that the measure does not constitute State aid in the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement. Please complete the relevant parts of this form and provide all necessary supporting documentation. A measure will not constitute State aid if one of the conditions laid down in Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement is not fulfilled. Please provide a full assessment of the measure in the light of the following criteria focusing in particular on the criterion which you consider not to be met: — No transfer of public resources (For example, if you consider the measure is not imputable to the State or where you consider that regulatory measures without transfer of public resources will be put in place) — No advantage (For example, where the private market investor principle is respected) — No selectivity/specificity (For example, where the measure is available to all enterprises, in all sectors of the economy and without any territorial limitation and without discretion) — No distortion of competition/no affectation of intra-EEA trade (For example, where the activity is not of an economic nature or where the economic activity is purely local) 1. Identification of the aid grantor 1.1. EFTA State concerned … 1.2. Region(s) concerned (if applicable) … 1.3. Responsible contact person: Name: … Address: … Telephone: … Fax: … E-mail: … 1.4. Responsible contact person at the Mission to the European Union of the EFTA State concerned or any other contact point designated by the EFTA State: Name: … Telephone: … Fax: … E-mail: … 1.5. If you wish that a copy of the official correspondence sent by the EFTA Surveillance Authority to the EFTA State should be forwarded to other national authorities, please indicate here their name and address: Name: … Address: … … 1.6. Indicate EFTA State reference you wish to be included in the correspondence from the EFTA Surveillance Authority: … 1.7. Please indicate the name and the address of the granting authority: … … … … 2. Identification of the aid 2.1. Title of the aid (or name of company beneficiary in case of individual aid) … 2.2. Brief description of the objective of the aid. Please indicate primary objective and, if applicable, secondary objective(s): Primary objective (please tick one only) Secondary objective (2) Regional development   Research and development   Innovation   Environmental protection   Energy saving   Rescuing firms in difficulty   Restructuring firms in difficulty   Closure aid   SMEs   Employment   Training   Risk capital   Promotion of export and internationalisation   Services of general economic interest   Sectoral development (3)   Social support to individual consumers   Compensation of damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences   Execution of an important project of common European interest   Remedy for a serious disturbance in the economy   Heritage conservation   Culture   2.3. Scheme - Individual aid (4) 2.3.1. Does the notification relate to an aid scheme?  yes  no — If yes, does the scheme amend an existing aid scheme?  yes  no — If yes, are the conditions laid down for the simplified notification procedure pursuant to EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 195/04/COL fulfilled?  yes  no — If yes, please use and complete the information requested by the simplified notification form (see Annex II). — If no, please continue with this form and specify whether the original scheme which is being amended was notified to the EFTA Surveillance Authority.  yes  no — If yes, please specify: — Aid number: … — Date of EFTA Surveillance Authority approval (reference of the decision (Decision …/…/COL): … …/…/ … — Duration of the original scheme: … — Please specify which conditions are being amended in relation to the original scheme and why: … 2.3.2. Does the notification relate to individual aid?  yes  no — If yes, please tick the following appropriate box  aid based on a scheme which should be individually notified Reference of the authorised scheme: Title: … Aid number: … Letter of EFTA Surveillance Authority approval: …  individual aid not based on a scheme 2.3.3. Does the notification relate to an individual aid or scheme notified pursuant to the Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of 6 August 2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (General Block Exemption Regulation) (5)?  yes  no 3. National legal basis 3.1. Please list the national legal basis including the implementing provisions and their respective sources of references: Title: … … … … Reference (where applicable): … … … 3.2. Please indicate the document(s) enclosed with this notification:  A copy of the relevant extracts of the final text(s) of the legal basis (and a web link, if possible)  A copy of the relevant extracts of the draft text(s) of the legal basis (and a web link, if existing) 3.3. In case of a final text, does the final text contain a clause whereby the aid granting body can only grant after the EFTA Surveillance Authority has cleared the aid (stand still clause)?  yes  no 3.4. Access to full text of schemes - in case of an aid scheme please: — undertake to publish the full text of the final aid schemes on the internet.  yes Please provide the internet address: … — confirm that the scheme will not be applied before the information is published on the internet.  yes 4. Beneficiaries 4.1. Location of the beneficiary(ies)  in (an) unassisted region(s): …  in (a) region(s) eligible for assistance under Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement (specify at NUTS-level 3 or lower): …  mixed: specify: … 4.2. Sector(s) of the beneficiary(ies):  Not sector specific  Sector specific, please specify according to NACE rev. 2 classification (6): … 4.3. In case of an individual aid: Name of the beneficiary: … Type of beneficiary: …  SME Number of employees: … Annual turnover: … Annual balance-sheet: … Independence: … (please attach a solemn declaration in line with the Commission Recommendation on SME (7) or provide any other evidence to demonstrate the above criteria): …  large enterprise  firm in difficulties (8) 4.4. In case of an aid scheme: Type of beneficiaries:  all firms (large firms and small and medium-sized enterprises)  only large enterprises  small and medium-sized enterprises (9)  medium-sized enterprises  small enterprises  micro enterprises  the following beneficiaries: … Estimated number of beneficiaries:  under 10  from 11 to 50  from 51 to 100  from 101 to 500  from 501 to 1 000  over 1 000 5. Amount of aid/Annual expenditure (10) In case of an individual aid, indicate the overall amount of each measure concerned: … In case of a scheme, indicate the annual amount of the budget planned and the overall amount: … For tax measures, please indicate the estimated annual and overall revenue losses due to tax concessions for the period covered by the notification: … If the budget is not adopted annually, please specify what period it covers: … If the notification concerns changes to an existing scheme, please give the budgetary effects of the notified changes to the scheme: … 6. Form of the aid and means of funding Specify the form of the aid made available to the beneficiary (where appropriate, for each measure):  Direct grant  Reimbursable grant  Soft loan (including details of how the loan is secured)  Interest subsidy  Tax advantage (please specify):  Tax allowance  Tax base reduction  Tax rate reduction  Tax deferment  Other: …  Reduction of social security contributions  Provision of risk capital  Other forms of equity intervention (please specify): …  Debt write-off  Guarantee (including amongst others information on the loan or other financial transaction covered by the guarantee, the security required and the premium to be paid)  Other (please specify): … For each instrument of aid, please give a precise description of its rules and conditions of application, including in particular the rate of award, its tax treatment and whether the aid is accorded automatically once certain objective criteria are fulfilled (if so, please mention the criteria) or whether there is an element of discretion by the awarding authorities. … Specify the financing of the aid: if the aid is not financed through the general budget of the State/region/municipality, please explain its way of financing:  Through parafiscal charges or taxes affected to a beneficiary, which is not the State. Please provide full details of the charges and the products/activities on which they are levied. Specify in particular whether products imported from other EFTA States are liable to the charges. Annex a copy of the legal basis for the imposition of the charges …  Accumulated reserves  Public enterprises  Other (please specify): … 7. Duration 7.1. In the case of an individual aid: Indicate the planned date to put into effect the aid (If the aid will be granted in tranches, indicate the planned date of each tranche): … Specify the duration of the measure for which the aid is granted, if applicable: … 7.2. In the case of a scheme: Indicate the planned date from which the aid may be granted: … Indicate the planned last date until which aid may be granted: … If the duration exceeds six years, please demonstrate that a longer time period is indispensable to achieve the objective(s) of the scheme: … 8. Cumulation of different types of aid Can the aid be cumulated with aid received from other local, regional or, national or Community schemes to cover the same eligible costs?  yes  no If so, describe the mechanisms put in place in order to ensure that the cumulation rules are respected: … 9. Professional confidentiality Does the notification contain confidential information which should not be disclosed to third parties?  yes  no If so, please indicate which parts are confidential and explain why: … … … … Does the EFTA State submit a non confidential version of the notification on a voluntary basis?  yes  no If yes, the EFTA Surveillance Authority may publish this version without further asking the EFTA State to confirm its content. 10. Compatibility of the aid 10.1. Please identify which of the existing Regulations, frameworks, guidelines and other texts applicable to state aid provide an explicit legal basis for the authorisation of the aid (where appropriate please specify for each measure) and complete the relevant supplementary information sheet(s) in part III  Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of 6 August 2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (General Block Exemption Regulation)  Notification of an individual aid pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 800/2008  Notification for legal certainty  Regional aid  Notification of aid pursuant to Guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013 (11)  Notification of aid pursuant to point 64 of Guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013 (large investment projects)  Research and development and innovation aid  Aid for rescuing firms in difficulty  Aid for restructuring firms in difficulty  Aid for audio-visual production  Environmental protection aid  Risk capital aid  Aid in the transport sector  Shipbuilding aid 10.2. Where the existing Regulations, frameworks, guidelines or other texts applicable to state aid do not provide an explicit basis for the approval of any of the aid covered by this form, please provide a fully reasoned justification as to why the aid could be considered as compatible with the EEA Agreement, referring to the applicable exemption clause of the Agreement (Article 59(2), Article 61(2)(a) or (b), Article 61(3)(a), (b) or (c)), as well as other specific provisions relating to Transport. 10.3. Where the existing Regulations, frameworks, guidelines or other texts applicable to State aid do not provide an explicit basis for the approval and in so far that it is not requested by the relevant supplementary information sheet(s) in part III, please provide the following information concerning the likely impact of the notified measure on competition and trade between EEA Member States. This information is necessary to complete the assessment made by the EFTA Surveillance Authority which balances the positive impact of the aid measure (reaching an objective of common interest) against its potentially negative side effects (distortions of trade and competition). 10.3.1. For individual aid: A. Impact on competition: Please specify and describe the product markets on which the aid is likely to have a significant impact, the structure and dynamics of those markets and the indicative market share of the beneficiary: … B. Impact on trade between EEA Member States. Please provide information on the effects on trade (shift of trade flows and location of economic activity): … 10.3.2. For aid schemes: A. Impact on competition: Please specify and describe the product markets on which the aid scheme is likely to have a significant impact, the structure and dynamics of those markets: … B. Impact on trade between EEA Member States. Please provide information on the effects on trade (shift of trade flows and location of economic activity) … 11. Outstanding recovery orders 11.1. In the case of individual aid: The authorities of the EFTA State commit to suspend the payment of the notified aid if the beneficiary still has at its disposal an earlier unlawful aid that was declared incompatible by an EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision (either concerning an individual aid or an aid scheme), until that beneficiary has reimbursed or paid into a blocked account the total amount of unlawful and incompatible aid and the corresponding recovery interest.  yes  no 11.2. In the case of aid schemes: The authorities of the EFTA State commit to suspend the payment of any aid under the notified aid scheme to any undertaking that has benefited from earlier unlawful aid declared incompatible by an EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision, until that undertaking has reimbursed or paid into a blocked account the total amount of unlawful and incompatible aid and the corresponding recovery interest.  yes  no 12. Other Information Please indicate here any other information you consider relevant to the assessment of the measure(s) concerned under State aid rules. 13. Attachments Please list here all documents which are attached to the notification and provide paper copies or direct internet links to the documents concerned. … … 14. Declaration I certify that to the best of my knowledge the information provided on this form, its annexes and its attachments is accurate and complete. Date and place of signature: … Signature: … Name and position of person signing: … ‘PART III.6.a SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION SHEET FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION AID: AID SCHEMES This supplementary information sheet must be used for the notification of any aid scheme (12) covered by the Guidelines of the EFTA Surveillance Authority for State aid for research and development and innovation (thereinafter “the R & D & I Guidelines”) (13) . It must also be used for aid schemes for Research and Development to SMEs, which do not fall under the General Block Exemption Regulation (14). 1. Basic characteristics of the notified measure 2. Research organisations and innovation intermediaries as recipients of state aid 2.1. Public funding of non-economic activities 2.2. Public funding of economic activities 3. Indirect state aid to undertakings through publicly funded research organisations 3.1. Research on behalf of undertakings 3.2. Collaboration of undertakings and research organisations 4. Compatibility of aid under article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement 4.1. Aid for R & D projects 4.2. Aid for technical feasibility studies 4.3. Aid for industrial property right costs for SMEs 4.4. Aid for young innovative enterprises (for small enterprises) 4.5. Aid for process and organisational innovation in services 4.6. Aid for innovation advisory services and for innovation support services (for SMEs) 4.7. Aid for the loan of highly qualified personnel (for SMEs) 4.8. Aid for innovation clusters 5. Incentive effect and necessity of aid 5.1. General condition 6. Cumulation 7. Reporting and monitoring 7.1. Annual reports 7.2. Access to full text of schemes 7.3. Information sheets, monitoring 8. Other information 1. Basic characteristics of the notified measure Please fill in the relevant parts of the notification form corresponding to the character of the notified scheme. Please find below a basic guidance. A. Please specify the type of aid and fill in the appropriate subsections of Section 4 (“Compatibility of aid under article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement”) of this supplementary information sheet:  Aid for R & D projects, fill in Section 4.1;  Aid for technical feasibility studies, fill in Section 4.2;  Aid for industrial property right costs for SMEs, fill in Section 4.3;  Aid for young innovative enterprises, fill in Section 4.4;  Aid for process and organisational innovation in services, fill in Section 4.5;  Aid for innovations advisory services and for innovation support services, fill in Section 4.6;  Aid for the loan of highly qualified personnel, fill in Section 4.7;  Aid for innovation clusters, fill in Section 4.8. Furthermore, please fill in also Section 5 (“Incentive effect and necessity of aid”) and Section 7 (“Reporting and monitoring”) in order to provide the requested confirmations. B. Does the aid scheme involve research organisations (15)/innovation intermediaries?  yes  no If yes, please fill in Section 2 and/or 3 (“Research organisations and innovation intermediaries” and “Indirect State aid to undertakings through publicly funded research organisations”) of this supplementary information sheet. C. Can the aid be combined with other aid?  yes  no If yes, fill in Section 6 (“Cumulation”) of this supplementary information sheet. D. Please confirm that if the SME specific aid (16)/bonus is granted, the beneficiaries comply with the SME definition as defined by the EEA legislation (17):  yes E. If the scheme involves commissioning/purchasing of R & D activities/results from undertakings by the public authorities, are the providers selected in an open tender procedure (18)?  yes  no If no, please note that such payments from the public authorities to undertakings would normally involve State aid. F. If applicable, please provide an exchange rate which has been used for the purposes of the notification: … … G. Please confirm that any aid granted under the notified scheme will be notified individually to the EFTA Surveillance Authority if it reaches the thresholds for a detailed assessment laid down in Section 7.1 of the R & D & I Guidelines.  yes H. All documents provided by the EFTA States as annexes to the notification form shall be numbered and document numbers shall be indicated in the relevant parts of this supplementary information sheet. 2. Research organisations and innovation intermediaries as recipients of State aid (19) 2.1. Public funding of non-economic activities A. Do the research organisations or non-for-profit innovation intermediaries carry out an economic activity (20) (an activity consisting in offering goods and/or services on a given market)?  yes  no If yes, please provide description of these activities: … B. If the same entity carries out activities of both economic and non-economic (21) nature, can the two kinds of activities and their costs and funding be clearly separated?  yes  no If yes, provide details: … If yes, please note that public funding of non-economic activities does not fall under Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement. If not, public funding of economic activities generally entails State aid. 2.2. Public funding of economic activities C. Can the EFTA State prove that: — the totality of the State funding is passed on from the research organisations or not-for-profit innovation intermediaries (carrying out economic activities) to the final recipients; AND — there is no advantage granted to the intermediaries?  yes  no Please provide details and evidence: … … If yes, please note that the intermediary organisations may not be recipient of State aid. As regards the aid to final recipients, normal State aid rules apply. 3. Indirect state aid to undertakings through publicly funded research organisations (22) 3.1. Research on behalf of undertakings A. Are the projects supported under the notified scheme carried out by research organisations on behalf of undertakings?  yes  no B. If yes, do the research organisations (acting as agent) render services to the undertakings (acting as principals) in situations, where: — the agents receive payment of an adequate remuneration for their services,  yes  no AND — do the principals specify the terms and conditions of these services?  yes  no Please provide details: … … C. Do the research organisations provide their services at market price?  yes  no If there is no market price, do the research organisations provide their services at a price which reflects full costs plus a reasonable margin?  yes  no Please provide details: … … If a research organisation renders services and if the answer to one of the questions in Section C is yes, there will be normally no State aid passed to the undertakings through the research organisation. 3.2. Collaboration of undertakings and research organisations A. Is the collaboration project carried out jointly by undertakings and research organisations?  yes  no If yes, provide details on the partnerships: … … B. If yes, do the participating undertakings bear the full cost of the projects supported under the notified scheme?  yes  no Are the results which do not give rise to intellectual property rights widely disseminated AND are any intellectual property rights which result from the activity of the research organisations fully allocated (23) to the research organisations?  yes  no Do the research organisations receive from the participating undertakings compensation equivalent to the market price for the intellectual property rights (24) which result from the activity of the research organisations carried out in the project and which are transferred to the participating undertakings?  yes  no Please provide details (please note that any contribution of the participating undertakings to the costs of the research organisations shall be deducted from the compensation): … … C. If none of the answers to questions of Section B is yes, the EFTA State may rely on individual assessment of the collaboration projects (25). Please provide an individual assessment of the collaboration projects, taking into account the above mentioned elements. Please attach also the contractual agreements to the notification. If none of the answers to questions of Section B is yes and if the individual assessment of the collaboration projects does not lead to the conclusion that there is no State aid, the EFTA Surveillance Authority will consider the full value of the contribution of the research organisation to the project as aid to undertakings 4. Compatibility of aid under article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement 4.1. Aid for R & D projects (26) 4.1.1. Research category (27) A. Please indicate which R & D stages (28) are supported under the notified scheme:  fundamental research;  industrial research;  experimental development. Give examples of major projects to be covered by the notified scheme: … … B. If individual R & D projects encompass different research categories, please explain how this will be taken into account in determining the maximum aid intensity of a given project (the maximum aid intensity applicable must reflect the stages of research involved). … … 4.1.2. Eligible costs All eligible costs must be allocated to a specific category of R & D (29) . Please specify (or tick) below. Fundamental research Industrial research Experimental development Personnel costs Costs of instruments and equipment Costs for building and land Cost of contractual research, technical knowledge and patents bought or licensed from outside sources at market prices Additional overheads incurred directly as a result of the research project Other operating expenses 4.1.3. Aid intensities and bonuses The aid intensity is calculated on the basis of the eligible costs of the project. It must be established for each beneficiary of aid, including in a collaboration project (30) . A. Basic intensities (without bonuses) (31): Fundamental research Industrial research Experimental development Maximum aid intensity B. Bonuses: — Do the supported projects benefit from a bonus?  yes  no If yes, please specify below. — Is an SME bonus applied under the notified scheme?  yes  no Specify the level of bonus applicable (32): … — Is a bonus for effective collaboration between undertakings (i) or collaboration of an undertaking with a research organisation (ii) or (only for projects of industrial research) dissemination of results (iii) applied under the notified scheme?  yes  no (i) If a bonus for an effective collaboration between at least two undertakings, which are independent of each other, is applied, please confirm that the following conditions are fulfilled:  no single undertaking bears more than 70 % of the eligible costs of the collaboration project; AND  the project involves collaboration with at least one SME or the collaboration has a cross-border character, i.e. research and development activities are carried out in at least two different Member States. Specify the level of bonus applicable (33): … (ii) If a bonus for an effective collaboration between an undertaking and a research organisation, particularly in the context of coordination of national R & D policies, is applied, please confirm that the following conditions are fulfilled:  the research organisation bears at least 10 % of the eligible costs; AND  the research organisation has the right to publish the result of the research projects insofar as they stem from research implemented by that organisation. Specify the level of bonus applicable (34): … (iii) If in the case of industrial research a bonus for wide dissemination of the results of the project is applied, please specify at least one of the following methods of wide dissemination:  technical and scientific conferences;  publication in scientific or technical journals;  availability in open access repositories (databases where raw research data can be accessed by anyone);  availability through free or open source software. Specify the level of bonus applicable (35): … C. Specify the total aid intensity of the projects supported under the notified scheme (taking into account the bonuses) (%): … 4.1.4. Special conditions for repayable advance (36) A. Is the aid to the R & D projects granted in the form of a repayable advance?  yes  no B. If yes, is the aid granted in the form of a repayable advance under the notified scheme expressed as gross grant equivalent (37)?  yes  no If yes, what is the aid intensity of repayable advance expressed as gross grant equivalent (38) applicable under the notified scheme: … Furthermore, please provide the complete methodology applied AND the underlining verifiable data on which the above mentioned methodology has been based: … … C. If the aid cannot be expressed in gross grant equivalent, what is the level of the repayable advance expressed as a percentage of the eligible costs: … In case the rates of repayable advance granted to the R & D project are higher than the rates indicated in Sections 5.1.2 and 5.1.3 (up to the maximum rates indicated in Section 5.1.5) of the R & D & I Guidelines, please: — notify to the EFTA Surveillance Authority the detailed information on the repayment in the case of success and define clearly what will be considered as a successful outcome of the research activities; AND — confirm the following:  the measure provides that in case of successful outcome the advance is repaid with an interest rate at least equal to the applicable rate resulting from the application of the EFTA Surveillance Authority notice on the method of setting the reference and discount rates (39);  in case of a success exceeding the outcome defined as successful, the EFTA State is entitled to request payments beyond payments of the advance amount including interest according to the reference rate foreseen by the EFTA Surveillance Authority;  in case of partial success, the EFTA State requires that the repayment secured is in proportion to the degree of success achieved. 4.1.5. Special conditions for fiscal measures (40) A. Is the aid to the R & D projects supported under the notified scheme granted in the form of a fiscal measure?  yes  no If the aid for the R & D project is granted in the form of a fiscal measure, please provide evaluation studies in order to enable the EFTA Surveillance Authority to assess the incentive effect of the R & D fiscal aid. B. If yes, please specify how the aid intensities are calculated:  on the basis of individual R & D project;  as the ratio between the overall tax relief and the sum of all eligible R & D costs incurred in a period not exceeding three consecutive fiscal years;  other: … Please provide details on the calculation method applied: … … 4.2. Aid for technical feasibility studies (41) 4.2.1. General conditions The studies are preparatory to (42):  industrial research;  experimental development. 4.2.2. Aid intensities Specify the maximum aid intensity (43) (%) for SMEs: … Specify the maximum aid intensity (44) (%) for large companies: … The aid intensity is calculated on the basis of cost of feasibility studies of the project. 4.3. Aid for industrial property right costs for SMEs (45) 4.3.1. Conditions Which stage of research (46) is concerned?  fundamental research;  industrial research;  experimental development. 4.3.2. Eligible costs and aid intensities A. Specify the eligible costs (47):  costs preceding the grant of the right in the first legal jurisdiction: …  translation and other costs incurred in order to obtain the granting or validation of the right in other legal jurisdiction: …  costs incurred in defending the validity of the right during the official prosecution of the application and possible opposition proceedings: … B. Specify the maximum aid intensity (%) (48): … 4.4. Aid for young innovative enterprises (49) (for small enterprises) Please confirm that: A.  the beneficiaries are exclusively small enterprises as defined by EEA legislation, in existence for less than 6 years at the time when the aid is granted; B.  the beneficiaries are innovative enterprises. Please confirm that the compliance with this condition is ensured through:  an evaluation carried out by an external expert demonstrating that the beneficiary will in the foreseeable future develop products, services or processes which are technologically new or substantially improved compared to the state of the art in its industry in the EEA, and which carry a risk of technological or industrial failure; OR  the evidence that the R & D expenses of the beneficiary represent at least 15 % of its total operating expenses in at least one of the three years preceding the granting of the aid or in the case of a start-up enterprise without any financial history, in the audit of its current fiscal period, as certified by an external auditor. Please provide details on how this is implemented: … … C. Specify the maximum aid amount applicable under the notified scheme: … Please confirm that the aid for young innovative enterprises will not exceed:  EUR 1 million in non-assisted areas;  EUR 1,5 million in regions eligible for the derogation in Article 61(3)(a) of the EEA Agreement;  EUR 1,25 million in regions eligible for the derogation in Article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement. D. Please confirm that:  the beneficiaries didn't receive aid for young innovative enterprises before and will receive this type of aid only once during the period in which they qualify as a young innovative enterprise. E. Do the enterprises benefit from a cumulation of aid?  yes  no If yes, please indicate how the specific cumulation rules for young innovative enterprise aid (Section 5.4 of the R & D & I Guidelines) will be complied with: … … 4.5. Aid for process and organisational innovation in services (50) 4.5.1. General conditions A. To which type of innovation in service activities (51) does the notified scheme refer to?  process innovation in service activities;  organisational innovation in service activities. Please provide a detailed description of the innovation in service activities (52) (process and/or organisational): … … … … B. Please confirm that:  the organisational innovation is related to the use and exploitation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to change the organisation;  the innovation is formulated as a project with an identified and qualified project manager, as well as identified project costs;  the result of the aided project is the development of a standard, of a business model, methodology of concept, which can be systematically reproduced, possibly certified, and possibly patented;  the process or organisational innovation is new or substantially improved compared to the state of the art in its industry in the EEA;  the process or organisational innovation projects entail a clear degree of risk;  the aid is granted to large enterprises only if they collaborate with SMEs in the aided activity and that the collaborating SMEs incur at least 30 % of the total eligible costs. Please provide details/evidence concerning all these elements: … … 4.5.2. Eligible costs and aid intensities A. Please specify the eligible costs (53): Eligible costs Personnel costs Costs of instruments and equipment Costs for building and land Cost of contractual research, technical knowledge and patents bought or licensed from outside sources at market prices Additional overheads incurred directly as a result of the research project Other operating expenses B. Specify the maximum aid intensity (54) for large enterprises (%): … Specify the maximum aid intensity (55) for medium enterprises (56) (%): … Specify the maximum aid intensity (57) for small enterprises (58) (%): … The aid intensity is calculated on the basis of the eligible costs of the projects. 4.6. Aid for innovation advisory services and for innovation support services (59) (for SMEs) 4.6.1. General conditions A. Specify the maximum aid amount (not exceeding EUR 200 000 per beneficiary within any three year period): … B. Please confirm that:  if the service provider does not benefit from a national or European certification the aid will not cover more than 75 % of the eligible costs;  the beneficiaries use the State aid to buy the services at market price (or if the service provider is a non-for-profit entity, at a price which reflects its full costs plus a reasonable margin). Please provide details on how this will be ensured. … … 4.6.2. Eligible costs A. What type of aid is granted?  aid for innovation advisory services;  aid for innovation support services. B. If it is an aid for innovation advisory services, specify the eligible costs:  management consulting: …  technological assistance: …  technology transfer services: …  training: …  consultancy for acquisition, protection and trade in Intellectual Property Rights and for licensing agreements: …  consultancy on the use of standards: … C. If it is an aid for innovation support services, specify the eligible costs:  office space: …  data banks: …  technical libraries services: …  market research: …  use of laboratory: …  quality labelling: …  testing and certification: … 4.6.3. Special conditions for a non-for-profit entity If the service providers are non-for-profit entities, the aid may be given in the form of a reduced price, as the difference between the price paid and the market price (or a price which reflects full costs plus a reasonable margin). A. Is the aid given in the form of a reduced price?  yes  no If yes, provide evidence of the existence of a system ensuring transparency about the full costs of the innovation advisory and innovation support services provided, as well as about the price paid by the beneficiaries, so that the aid received can be measured and monitored. … … 4.7. Aid for the loan of highly qualified personnel (60) (for SMEs) 4.7.1. General conditions A. Where do the highly qualified personnel (61) come from?  research organisations;  large enterprises. Provide details (if possible) on research organisations and on large enterprises. … … B. Please confirm that:  the seconded personnel are not replacing other personnel;  the seconded personnel are employed in a newly created function within the beneficiary undertaking; Specify please this newly created function: … …  the seconded personnel have been employed for at least two years in the research organisations or the large enterprises which are sending the personnel on secondment;  the seconded personnel work on R & D & I activities within the SME receiving aid. 4.7.2. Eligible costs and aid intensities A. Specify the eligible costs:  costs for borrowing and employing highly qualified personnel: …  mobility allowance for the seconded personnel: … B.  Please confirm that consultancy costs (payment of the service rendered by the expert without employing the expert in the undertaking) are excluded from eligible costs of the aid for the loan of highly qualified personnel. C. Specify the maximum aid intensity (62) (%): … 4.8. Aid for innovation clusters (63) 4.8.1. General conditions A. What type of aid is granted to the beneficiaries?  investment aid;  operating aid for cluster animation. B. Please confirm that:  the aid is exclusively granted to the legal entities operating the innovation clusters;  the beneficiaries are in charge of managing the participation and access to the clusters' premises, facilities and activities; Please provide details: … …  access to the clusters' premises, facilities and activities is not restricted. C. Do the fees charged for using the cluster's facilities and for participating in the cluster's activities reflect their costs?  yes  no If yes, please demonstrate how this is ensured: … … If not, please provide details (especially with respect to the existence of aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement, see Section 3.1 of the R & D & I Guidelines): … … D. Please attach an analysis of the technological specialisation of the innovation cluster, existing regional potential, existing research capacity, presence of clusters in the EEA with similar purposes and potential market volumes of the activities in the cluster: … … 4.8.2. Specific conditions concerning investment aid for cluster animation A. What type of investment is carried out?  setting up of innovation clusters;  expansion of innovation clusters;  animation of innovation clusters. B. For which facilities is the aid granted?  facilities for training and research centre;  open-access research infrastructures, laboratory, testing facility;  broadband network infrastructures. C. Specify the eligible costs:  costs relating to investment in land: …  buildings: …  machinery: …  equipment: … D. What is the basic aid intensity (%) (64): … E. Is any bonus granted to beneficiaries?  yes  no If yes, specify below: — Do you apply an SME bonus?  yes  no Specify the level of bonus applicable to small enterprises (65): … Specify the level of bonus applicable to medium-sized enterprises (66): … 4.8.3. Specific conditions concerning operating aid for cluster animation A. For how long is such aid granted: … years If the aid is granted for a longer period than 5 years, please provide convincing evidence in order to justify such longer period (67). … … B. Is the aid degressive?  yes  no C. Specify the eligible costs:  marketing of the cluster to recruit new companies to take part in the cluster: …  management of the cluster's open-access facilities: …  organisation of training programmes, workshops and conferences to support knowledge sharing and networking between the members of the cluster: … D. Aid intensity: — degressive aid (please specify degressive rates for each year) (68): … — non-degressive aid (%) (69): … 5. Incentive effect and necessity of aid (70) 5.1. General condition Please confirm that when granting the aid under the notified measure, it will be ensured that the R & D & I activities of individual beneficiaries will not commence prior to their aid application or granting decision in case of fiscal aid.  yes Please provide details on how the compliance with this condition will be ensured. … … In case the aid is granted for projects of large enterprises, to SMEs if it exceeds EUR 7, 5 million, for process and organisational innovation in services and for innovation clusters, please confirm that the incentive effect will be evaluated on the basis of at least one of the following indicators:  increase in project size;  increase in scope;  increase in speed;  increase in total amount spent on R & D & I;  other: … Please provide details on how this evaluation will be carried out: … … 6. Cumulation (71) A. Is the aid granted under the notified scheme combined with other aid (72)?  yes  no B. If yes, please describe the cumulation rules applicable to the notified aid scheme: … … … … C. Please specify how the respect of cumulation rules will be verified in the notified aid scheme: … … … … 7. Reporting and monitoring (73) 7.1. Annual reports Please note that this reporting obligation is without prejudice to the reporting obligation pursuant to EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 195/04/COL (74). A. Please undertake to submit annual reports on the implementation of the notified scheme to the EFTA Surveillance Authority, containing all the elements listed below (75): — name of the beneficiary; — aid amount per beneficiary; — aid intensity; — sectors of activity where the aided projects are undertaken.  yes B. Please undertake to explain in the annual report for all aid granted under an approved scheme to large undertakings how the incentive effect has been respected for aid given to such undertakings (76).  yes 7.2. Access to full text of schemes A. Please undertake to publish the full text of the final aid schemes as approved by the EFTA Surveillance Authority on the internet.  yes Please provide the internet address: … B. Please confirm that the scheme as approved by the EFTA Surveillance Authority will not be applied before the information is published on the internet (as required under Section A above).  yes 7.3. Information sheets, monitoring A. Please undertake, whenever aid for R & D & I is granted on the basis of aid schemes without falling under the duty for individual notification, and exceeds EUR 3 million (77), to provide the EFTA Surveillance Authority within 20 working days starting from the granting of the aid by the competent authority with the information requested in the standard form laid down in the Annex to the R & D & I Guidelines.  yes B. Please undertake to maintain detailed records regarding the granting of aid, with all information necessary to establish that the eligible costs and maximum allowable aid intensity have been observed.  yes C. Please undertake to ensure that detailed records referred to in Section B above are maintained for 10 years from the date on which the aid was granted.  yes D. Please undertake to submit the records referred to in Section B above on request of the EFTA Surveillance Authority.  yes 8. Other information Please give any other information you consider necessary to assess the measure(s) in question under the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s Guidelines for state aid for research, development and innovation. ‘PART III.6.b SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION SHEET FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION AID: INDIVIDUAL AID This supplementary information sheet must be used for the notification of any individual aid covered by the EFTA Surveillance Authoritie’s Guidelines for state aid for research and development and innovation (thereinafter“the R & D & I Guidelines”) (78). It must also be used for individual aid for Research and Development to SMEs, which does not fall under the General Block Exemption Regulation (79) or is subject to individual notification obligation as it exceeds the individual notification thresholds laid down therein. 1. Basic characteristics of the notified measure 2. Research organisations and innovation intermediaries as recipients of state aid 2.1. Public funding of non-economic activities 2.2. Public funding of economic activities 3. Indirect state aid to undertakings through publicly funded research organisations 3.1. Research on behalf of undertakings 3.2. Collaboration of undertakings and research organisations 4. Compatibility of aid under article 61(3)(b) of the EEA Agreement 4.1. General conditions (cumulative) 4.2. Description of the project 5. Compatibility of aid under article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement 5.1. Aid for R & D projects 5.2. Aid for technical feasibility studies 5.3. Aid for industrial property right costs for SMEs 5.4. Aid for young innovative enterprises (for small enterprises) 5.5. Aid for process and organisational innovation in services 5.6. Aid for innovation advisory services and for innovation support services (for SMEs) 5.7. Aid for the loan of highly qualified personnel (for SMEs) 5.8. Aid for innovation clusters 6. Incentive effect and necessity of aid 6.1. General condition 6.2. Evaluation of the incentive effect 7. Criteria triggering a detailed assessment 7.1. Projects and feasibility studies 7.2. Process or organisational innovation in service activities and innovation clusters 8. Additional information for detailed assessment 8.1. General observations 8.2. Existence of a market failure 8.3. Appropriate instrument 8.4. Incentive effect and analysis of the aid 8.5. Proportionality of the aid 8.6. Analysis of the distortion of competition and trade 9. Cumulation 10. Reporting and monitoring 10.1. Annual reports 10.2. Information sheets, monitoring 11. Other information 1. Basic characteristics of the notified measure Please fill in the relevant parts of the notification form corresponding to the character of the notified measure. In particular, please note that Section 8 is to be completed only if the notified measure is subject to a detailed assessment, i.e. only if condition(s) of Section 7 are met. Please find below a basic guidance. A. Is the aid granted in order to promote the execution of an important project of common European interest?  yes  no If yes, please fill in Section 4 (“Compatibility of aid under article 61(3)(b) of the EEA Agremment”) of this supplementary information sheet. Furthermore please fill in Section 10 (“Reporting and monitoring”). B. If no, please specify the type of aid and fill in the appropriate subsections of Section 5 (“Compatibility of aid under article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement”) of this supplementary information sheet:  Aid for R & D projects, fill in Section 5.1;  Aid for technical feasibility studies, fill in Section 5.2;  Aid for industrial property right costs for SMEs, fill in Section 5.3;  Aid for young innovative enterprises, fill in Section 5.4;  Aid for process and organisational innovation in services, fill in Section 5.5;  Aid for innovations advisory services and for innovation support services, fill in Section 5.6;  Aid for the loan of highly qualified personnel, fill in Section 5.7;  Aid for innovation clusters, fill in Section 5.8. Furthermore, please fill in: Section 6 (“Incentive effect and necessity of aid”) in order to verify the incentive effect, Section 7 (“Criteria triggering a detailed assessment”) in order to verify if the notified aid is subject to the detailed assessment of Section 8 (“Additional information for detailed assessment”) and Section 11 (“Reporting and monitoring”). C. Does the aid involve research organisations (80)/innovation intermediaries?  yes  no If yes, fill in Section 2 and/or 3 (“Research organisations and innovation intermediaries” and “Indirect State aid to undertakings through publicly funded research organisations”) of this supplementary information sheet. D. Can the aid be combined with other aid?  yes  no If yes, fill in Section 9 (“Cumulation”) of this supplementary information sheet. E. In case the notified individual aid is based on an approved scheme, please provide details concerning that scheme, including its publication reference (internet address) and State aid registration number: … … F. Please confirm that if the SME specific aid (81)?/bonus is granted, the beneficiary complies with the SME definition as defined by the EEA legislation (82):  yes Please provide relevant information and evidence: … … G. If the aid involves commissioning/purchasing of R & D activities/results from undertakings by the public authorities, are the providers selected in an open tender procedure (83)?  yes  no If no, please note that such payments from the public authorities to undertakings would normally involve State aid. H. If applicable, please provide an exchange rate which has been used for the purposes of the notification: … … I. All documents provided by the Member States as annexes to the notification form shall be numbered and document numbers shall be indicated in the relevant parts of this supplementary information sheet. 2. Research organisations and innovation intermediaries as recipients of state aid (84) If there are several research organisations or innovation intermediaries involved in the notified project, please provide the information below for each of them. 2.1. Public funding of non-economic activities A. Does the research organisation or non-for-profit innovation intermediary carry out an economic activity (85) (an activity consisting in offering goods and/or services on a given market)?  yes  no If yes, please provide description of these activities: … … B. If the same entity carries out activities of both economic and non-economic (86) nature, can the two kinds of activities and their costs and funding be clearly separated?  yes  no If yes, provide details: … … If yes, please note that public funding of non-economic activities does not fall under Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement. If not, public funding of economic activities generally entails State aid. 2.2. Public funding of economic activities A. Can the EFTA State prove that: — the totality of the State funding has been passed on from the research organisation or not-for-profit innovation intermediary (carrying out economic activities) to the final recipients; AND — there is no advantage granted to the intermediary?  yes  no Please provide details and evidence: … … If yes, please note that the intermediary organisations may not be recipient of State aid. As regards the aid to final recipients, normal State aid rules apply. 3. Indirect state aid to undertakings through publicly funded research organisations (87) If there are more research organisations or innovation intermediaries involved in the notified project, please provide the information below for each of them. 3.1. Research on behalf of undertakings A. Is the supported project carried out by research organisations on behalf of undertakings?  yes  no B. If yes, do the research organisations (acting as agent) render services to the undertakings (acting as principals) in situations, where: — the agents receive payment of an adequate remuneration for their services,  yes  no AND — do the principals specify the terms and conditions of these services?  yes  no Please provide details: … … C. Do the research organisations provide their services at market price?  yes  no If there is no market price, do the research organisations provide their services at a price which reflects full costs plus a reasonable margin?  yes  no Please provide details: … … If a research organisation renders services and if the answer to one of the questions in Section C is yes, there will be normally no State aid passed to the undertakings through the research organisation. 3.2. Collaboration of undertakings and research organisations A. Is the collaboration project carried out jointly by undertakings and research organisations?  yes  no If yes, provide details on the partnerships: … … B. If yes, do the participating undertakings bear the full cost of the projects supported under the notified scheme?  yes  no Are the results which do not give rise to intellectual property rights widely disseminated AND are any intellectual property rights which result from the activity of the research organisations fully allocated (88) to the research organisations?  yes  no Do the research organisations receive from the participating undertakings compensation equivalent to the market price for the intellectual property rights (89) which result from the activity of the research organisations carried out in the project and which are transferred to the participating undertakings?  yes  no Please provide details (please note that any contribution of the participating undertakings to the costs of the research organisations shall be deducted from the compensation): … … C. If none of the answers to questions of Section B is yes, the EFTA State may rely on individual assessment of the collaboration projects (90). Please provide an individual assessment of the collaboration projects, taking into account the above mentioned elements. Please attach also the contractual agreements to the notification. If none of the answers to questions of Section B is yes and if the individual assessment of the collaboration projects does not lead to the conclusion that there is no State aid, the EFTA Surveillance Authority will consider the full value of the contribution of the research organisation to the project as aid to undertakings. 4. Compatibility of aid under article 61(3)(b) of the EEA Agreement Aid for R & D & I to promote the execution of an important project (91) of common European interest may be considered to be compatible with the common market pursuant to Article 61(3)(b) of the EEA Agreement and as defined in Article 87(3)(b) of the EC Treaty. 4.1. General conditions (cumulative) A. Please confirm that:  the project contributes in a concrete, clear and identifiable manner to the EEA interest (92); AND  the advantage achieved by the objective of the project is not limited to one EFTA State or to the EFTA States implementing it, but extends to the EEA as a whole (93); AND  the project presents a substantive leap forward for the EEA objectives. Please provide details and evidence: … … B. Specify the positive effects of the aid:  important spill-overs for society;  contribution of the measure to the improvement of the EEA situation regarding R & D & I in the international context;  creation of new markets;  development of new technologies;  other positive effects. … … C. Please provide the terms of implementation of the project (including participants, objectives) (94): … … D. Please provide details and evidence illustrating that the aid is necessary to achieve the defined objective of common interest AND presents an incentive for the execution of the project (95): … … E. Please provide details and evidence demonstrating that the project involves a high level of risk: … … F. Please provide details and evidence illustrating that the project is of great importance with respect to its character and its volume (96): … … 4.2. Description of the project Please provide a detailed description of the project. For orientation please see Section 5.1 of this supplementary information sheet. … … 5. Compatibility of aid under article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement If there are several beneficiaries involved in the notified project, please provide the information below for each of them. 5.1. Aid for R & D projects (97) 5.1.1. Research category (98) A. Please indicate which R & D stages (99) are supported under the notified aid measure:  fundamental research;  industrial research;  experimental development. B. If the R & D projects encompass different research categories, please list and qualify the different tasks as falling under the categories of fundamental research, industrial research or experimental development or as not falling under any of those categories at all. … … 5.1.2. Eligible costs All eligible costs must be allocated to a specific category of R & D (100) . Please specify the eligible costs and indicate their amount. Fundamental research Industrial research Experimental development Personnel costs Costs of instruments and equipment Costs for building and land Cost of contractual research, technical knowledge and patents bought or licensed from outside sources at market prices Additional overheads incurred directly as a result of the research project Other operating expenses 5.1.3. Aid intensities and bonuses The aid intensity is calculated on the basis of the eligible costs of the project. It must be established for each beneficiary of the aid, including in a collaboration project (101). A. Basic intensities (without bonuses) (102): Fundamental research Industrial research Experimental development Maximum aid intensity B. Bonuses: Are bonuses applied under the notified measure?  yes  no If yes, please specify below. — Is an SME bonus applied?  yes  no Specify the level of bonus applicable (103): … — Is a bonus for effective collaboration between undertakings (i) or collaboration of an undertaking with a research organisation (ii) or (only for projects of industrial research) dissemination of results (iii) applied under the notified aid measure?  yes  no (i) If a bonus for an effective collaboration between at least two undertakings, which are independent of each other, is applied, please confirm that the following conditions are fulfilled:  no single undertaking bears more than 70 % of the eligible costs of the collaboration project; AND  the project involves collaboration with at least one SME or the collaboration has a cross-border character, i.e. research and development activities are carried out in at least two different EEA States. Specify the level of bonus applicable (104): … (ii) If a bonus for an effective collaboration between an undertaking and a research organisation, particularly in the context of coordination of national R & D policies, is applied, please confirm that the following conditions are fulfilled:  the research organisation bears at least 10 % of the eligible costs; AND  the research organisation has the right to publish the result of the research projects insofar as they stem from research implemented by that organisation. Specify the level of bonus applicable (105): … (iii) If in the case of industrial research a bonus for wide dissemination of the results of the project is applied, please specify at least one of the following methods of wide dissemination:  technical and scientific conferences;  publication in scientific or technical journals;  availability in open access repositories (databases where raw research data can be accessed by anyone);  availability through free or open source software. Specify the level of bonus applicable (106): … C. Specify the total aid intensity of the projects supported under the notified aid measure (taking into account the bonuses) (%): … 5.1.4. Special conditions for repayable advance (107) A. Is the aid to the R & D projects granted in the form of a repayable advance?  yes  no B. Is the aid granted in the form of a repayable advance under the notified measure expressed as gross grant equivalent (108)?  yes  no If yes, what is the aid intensity of repayable advance expressed as gross grant equivalent (109): … Furthermore, please specify on the basis of which approved aid scheme (110) is the aid granted and provide details on the complete methodology applied in order to determine the gross grant equivalent, underlying verifiable data. … … C. If the aid cannot be expressed in gross grant equivalent, what is the level of the repayable advance expressed as a percentage of the eligible costs: … In case the rates of repayable advance granted to the R & D project are higher than the rates indicated in Sections 5.1.2 and 5.1.3 (up to the maximum rates indicated in Section 5.1.5) of the R & D & I Guidelines, please: — notify to the EFTA Surveillance Authority the detailed information on the repayment in the case of success and define clearly what will be considered as a successful outcome of the research activities; AND — confirm the following:  the measure provides that in case of successful outcome the advance is repaid with an interest rate at least equal to the applicable rate resulting from the application of the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s notice on the method of setting the reference and discount rates (111);  in case of a success exceeding the outcome defined as successful, the EFTA State is entitled to request payments beyond payments of the advance amount including interest according to the reference rate foreseen by the EFTA Surveillance Authority;  in case of partial success, the EFTA State requires that the repayment secured is in proportion to the degree of success achieved. 5.1.5. Matching clause (112) A. Is the matching clause used in this notified measure?  yes  no If yes, higher intensities than generally permissible may be authorized. If yes, provide details and evidence that competitors located outside the EEA have received in the last three years or are going to receive, aid of an equivalent intensity for similar projects, programmes, research, development or technology: … … Do actual or potential direct or indirect distortions of international trade exist?  yes  no If yes, provide evidence: … … Provide also sufficient information to enable the EFTA Surveillance Authority to assess the situation, in particular regarding the need to take account of the competitive advantage enjoyed by a third-country competitor: … … 5.2. Aid for technical feasibility studies (113) 5.2.1. General conditions The studies are preparatory to (114):  industrial research;  experimental development. 5.2.2 Aid intensities Specify the maximum aid intensity (115) (%): … The aid intensity is calculated on the basis of cost of feasibility studies of the project. 5.3. Aid for industrial property right costs for SMEs (116) 5.3.1. Conditions Which stage of research (117) is concerned?  fundamental research;  industrial research;  experimental development. 5.3.2 Eligible costs and aid intensities A. Specify the eligible costs (118) and indicate their amount:  costs preceding the grant of the right in the first legal jurisdiction: …  translation and other costs incurred in order to obtain the granting or validation of the right in other legal jurisdiction: …  costs incurred in defending the validity of the right during the official prosecution of the application and possible opposition proceedings: … B. Specify the maximum aid intensity (%) (119): … 5.4. Aid for young innovative enterprises (120) (for small enterprises) Please confirm that: A.  the beneficiary is a small enterprise as defined by EEA legislation, in existence for less than 6 years at the time when the aid is granted; Please provide details and evidence: … … B.  the beneficiary is an innovative enterprise. Please confirm that the compliance with this condition is ensured through:  an evaluation carried out by an external expert demonstrating that the beneficiary will in the foreseeable future develop products, services or processes which are technologically new or substantially improved compared to the state of the art in its industry in the EEA, and which carry a risk of technological or industrial failure; OR  the evidence that the R & D expenses of the beneficiary represent at least 15 % of its total operating expenses in at least one of the three years preceding the granting of the aid or in the case of a start-up enterprise without any financial history, in the audit of its current fiscal period, as certified by an external auditor. Please provide details on how this is implemented: … … C. Specify the maximum aid amount applicable under the notified measure (121): … D. Please confirm that:  the beneficiary didn't receive aid for young innovative enterprises before and will receive this type of aid only once during the period in which it qualifies as a young innovative enterprise. E. Does the enterprise benefit from a cumulation of aid?  yes  no If yes, please indicate how the specific cumulation rules for young innovative enterprise aid (Section 5.4 of the R & D & I Guidelines) will be complied with: … … 5.5. Aid for process and organisational innovation in services (122) 5.5.1. General conditions A. To which type of innovation in service activities (123) does the notified measure refer?  process innovation in service activities;  organisational innovation in service activities. Please provide a detailed description of the innovation in service activities (124) (process and/or organisational): … … … … B. Please confirm that:  the organisational innovation is related to the use and exploitation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to change the organisation;  the innovation is formulated as a project with an identified and qualified project manager, as well as identified project costs;  the result of the aided project is the development of a standard, of a business model, methodology of concept, which can be systematically reproduced, possibly certified, and possibly patented;  the process or organisational innovation is new or substantially improved compared to the state of the art in its industry in the EEA;  the process or organisational innovation project entails a clear degree of risk;  the aid is granted to large enterprise only if collaborates with SMEs in the aided activity and that the collaborating SMEs incur at least 30 % of the total eligible costs. Please provide details/evidence for all these elements: … … 5.5.2. Eligible costs and aid intensities A. Please specify the eligible costs (125) and indicate their amount: Eligible costs Personnel costs Costs of instruments and equipment Costs for building and land Cost of contractual research, technical knowledge and patents bought or licensed from outside sources at market prices Additional overheads incurred directly as a result of the research project Other operating expenses B. Specify the maximum aid intensity (126) (%): … The aid intensity is calculated on the basis of the eligible costs of the projects. 5.6. Aid for innovation advisory services and for innovation support services (127) (for SMEs) 5.6.1. General conditions A. Specify the maximum aid amount (not exceeding EUR 200 000 per beneficiary within any three year period): … B. Please confirm that:  if the service provider does not benefit from a national or European certification, the aid will not cover more than 75 % of the eligible costs;  the beneficiaries use the State aid to buy the services at market price (or if the service provider is a non-for-profit entity, at a price which reflects its full costs plus a reasonable margin). Please provide details on how this will be ensured: … … 5.6.2. Eligible costs A. What type of aid is granted?  aid for innovation advisory services;  aid for innovation support services. B. If it is an aid for innovation advisory services, specify the eligible costs and indicate their amount:  management consulting: …  technological assistance: …  technology transfer services: …  training: …  consultancy for acquisition, protection and trade in Intellectual Property Rights and for licensing agreements: …  consultancy on the use of standards: … C. If it is an aid for innovation support services, specify the eligible costs and indicate their amount:  office space: …  data banks: …  technical libraries services: …  market research: …  use of laboratory: …  quality labelling: …  testing and certification: … 5.6.3. Special conditions for a non-for-profit entity If the service provider is a non-for-profit entity, the aid may be given in the form of a reduced price, as the difference between the price paid and the market price (or a price which reflects full costs plus a reasonable margin). A. Is the aid given in the form of a reduced price?  yes  no If yes, provide evidence of the existence of a system ensuring transparency about the full costs of the innovation advisory and innovation support services provided, as well as about the price paid by the beneficiaries, so that the aid received can be measured and monitored. … … 5.7. Aid for the loan of highly qualified personnel (128) (for SMEs) 5.7.1. General conditions A. Where do the highly qualified personnel (129) come from?  research organisations;  large enterprises. Provide details (if possible) on research organisations and on large enterprises. … … B. Please confirm that:  the seconded personnel are not replacing other personnel;  the seconded personnel are employed in a newly created function within the beneficiary undertaking; Specify please this newly created function: … …  the seconded personnel have been employed for at least two years in the research organisations or the large enterprises which are sending the personnel on secondment;  that the seconded personnel work on R & D & I activities within the SME receiving aid. 5.7.2. Eligible costs and aid intensities A. Specify the eligible costs and indicate their levels:  costs for borrowing and employing highly qualified personnel: …  mobility allowance for the seconded personnel: … B.  Please confirm that consultancy costs (payment of the service rendered by the expert without employing the expert in the undertaking) are excluded from eligible costs of the aid for the loan of highly qualified personnel. C. Specify the maximum aid intensity (130) (%): … 5.8. Aid for innovation clusters (131) 5.8.1. General conditions A. What type of aid is granted to the beneficiary?  investment aid;  operating aid for cluster animation. B. Please confirm that:  the aid is exclusively granted to the legal entity operating the innovation cluster;  the beneficiary is in charge of managing the participation and access to the cluster's premises, facilities and activities; Please provide details: … …  access to the clusters' premises, facilities and activities is not restricted. C. Do the fees charged for using the cluster's facilities and for participating in the cluster's activities reflect their costs?  yes  no If yes, please demonstrate how this is ensured: … If not, please provide details (especially with respect to the existence of aid within the meaning of Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement, see Section 3.1 of the R & D & I Guidelines): … D. Please attach an analysis of the technological specialisation of the innovation cluster, existing regional potential, existing research capacity, presence of clusters in the EEA with similar purposes and potential market volumes of the activities in the cluster: … … 5.8.2. Specific conditions concerning investment aid for cluster animation A. What type of investment is carried out?  setting up of innovation clusters;  expansion of innovation clusters;  animation of innovation clusters. B. For which facilities is the aid granted?  facilities for training and research centre;  open-access research infrastructures, laboratory, testing facility;  broadband network infrastructures. C. Specify the eligible costs and indicate their amount:  costs relating to investment in land: …  buildings: …  machinery: …  equipment: … D. What is the basic aid intensity (%) (132): … E. Is any bonus granted to the beneficiary?  yes  no If yes, specify below: — Do you apply an SME bonus?  yes  no Specify the level of the bonus (133): … 5.8.3. Specific conditions concerning operating aid for cluster animation A. For how long is such aid granted: … years If the aid is granted for a longer period than 5 years, please provide convincing evidence in order to justify such longer period (134). … B. Is the aid degressive?  yes  no C. Specify the eligible costs and indicate their amount:  marketing of the cluster to recruit new companies to take part in the cluster: …  management of the cluster's open-access facilities: …  organisation of training programmes, workshops and conferences to support knowledge sharing and networking between the members of the cluster: … D. Aid intensity: — degressive aid (please specify degressive rates for each year) (135): … — non-degressive aid (%) (136): … 6. Incentive effect and necessity of aid (137) 6.1. General condition A. Has the R & D & I activity already commenced prior to the aid application by the beneficiary to the national authorities (138)?  yes  no If yes, the EFTA Surveillance Authority considers that the aid does not present an incentive for the beneficiary. B. If no, specify the relevant dates: — the R & D & I activity commenced on: … — the aid application by the beneficiary was submitted to the national authorities on: … Please provide the relevant supporting documents. 6.2. Evaluation of the incentive effect If the aid is granted for: — process and organisational innovation in services; — innovation clusters; — R & D project for large undertakings; — feasibility studies for large undertakings; — R & D project for SMEs for aid exceeding EUR 7,5 million; — feasibility studies for SMEs for aid exceeding EUR 7,5 million, the EFTA Surveillance Authority will require that the incentive effect is demonstrated by means of an evaluation. Go to the next questions. Otherwise, the EFTA Surveillance Authority considers that the incentive effect is automatically met for the measure at hand. 6.2.1. General conditions If it is necessary to demonstrate an incentive effect for several beneficiaries participating in the notified project, please provide the information below for each of them. In order to verify that the planned aid will induce the aid recipient to change its behaviour so that it increases its level of R & D & I , the EFTA Surveillance Authority requires an evaluation for the research categories in which it considers that the incentive effect is not automatically met (listed in Section 4.2 of this notification form). Please fill in the evaluation of the increased R & D & I activity (below), on the basis of an analysis comparing a situation without aid and a situation with aid being granted. 6.2.2. Criteria A. Will the project size be increased?  yes  no If yes, specify the type of increase:  increase in the total project costs (without decreased spending by the beneficiary by a comparison with a situation without aid);  increase in the number of people assigned to R & D & I activities;  other type of increase: … Provide evidence of the relevant increases: … … B. Will the scope be increased?  yes  no If yes, specify the type of increase:  increase in the number of the expected deliverables from the project;  more ambitious project illustrated by a higher possibility of a scientific or technological breakthrough or a higher risk of failure;  other kind of increase: … Provide evidence of the relevant increases: … … C. Will the project speed be increased?  yes  no If yes, provide evidence that the project will be completed in a shorter time with the aid than without the aid: … … D. Will the total amount spent on R & D & I be increased?  yes  no If yes, specify the type of increase:  increase in total R & D & I spending by the aid beneficiary;  changes in the committed budget for the project (without corresponding decrease in the budget of other projects);  increase in R & D & I spending by the aid beneficiary as a proportion of total turnover;  other type of increase: … Provide evidence for the relevant increases: … … E. The EFTA State can also demonstrate the presence of incentive effect through other relevant quantitative and/or qualitative criteria. Please provide details and evidence: … … … … 7. Criteria triggering a detailed assessment (139) If the aid concerns an R & D & I project or a feasibility study, please fill in Section 7.1 below. If the aid is granted for process or organisational innovation in service activities or for innovation clusters, please go to Section 7.2 of this supplementary information sheet. Otherwise, no detailed assessment is required. 7.1. Projects and feasibility studies A. Eligible costs corresponding to fundamental research represent … % of the total eligible costs (ratio I). If ratio I is superior to 50 %, does one undertaking receive an aid amount exceeding EUR 20 million (140) per project/feasibility study?  yes  no B. Eligible costs corresponding to industrial research and feasibility studies preparatory to industrial research represent … % of the total eligible costs (ratio II). If ratio I + II is superior to 50 %, does one undertaking receive an aid amount exceeding EUR 10 million per project/feasibility study?  yes  no C. If ratio I + II is inferior to 50 %, does one undertaking receive an aid amount exceeding EUR 7,5 million per project/feasibility study?  yes  no If the answer to one of these three questions is yes, then the notified aid is subject to a detailed assessment and additional information should be provided in order to enable the EFTA Surveillance Authority to carry out a detailed assessment (Section 8 of this supplementary information sheet). 7.2. Process or organisational innovation in service activities and innovation clusters If the aid is granted for process or organisational innovation in service activities, does one undertaking receive an aid amount exceeding EUR 5 million per project?  yes  no If the aid is granted for innovation clusters, does the cluster (legal entity operating the innovation cluster) receive an aid amount exceeding EUR 5 million?  yes  no If yes, then the notified aid is subject to a detailed assessment and additional information should be provided in order to enable the EFTA Surveillance Authority to carry out a detailed assessment (Section 8 of this supplementary information sheet). Please note that the EFTA Surveillance Authority will carry out a detailed assessment also in all cases notified to the EFTA Surveillance Authority following an obligation to notify individually as prescribed in the block exemption regulation. 8. Additional information for detailed assessment (141) If there are several beneficiaries participating in the notified project subject to a detailed assessment, please provide the information below for each of them. This is without prejudice to the full description of the notified project, including all participants, in the previous sections of this supplementary information sheet. 8.1. General observations The purpose of this detailed assessment is to ensure that high amounts of aid for R & D & I do not distort competition to an extent contrary to the common interest, but actually contribute to the common interest. This happens when the benefits of State aid in terms of additional R & D & I outweigh the harm for competition and trade. Provisions below represent a guidance as to the type of information the EFTA Surveillance Authority may require in order to carry out a detailed assessment. The guidance is intended to make the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s decisions and their reasoning transparent and foreseeable in order to create predictability and legal certainty. A. The EFTA States are in particular invited to rely on the information sources listed below. Please indicate if these supporting documents are attached to the notification.  evaluations of past State aid schemes or measures;  impact assessments made by the granting authority;  risk assessments;  financial reports;  internal business plans;  expert opinions;  other studies related to R & D & I. B. Similarly, please indicate the relevant positive effects of the notified measure and provide the supporting documents:  net increase of R & D & I conducted by the undertaking;  contribution of the measure to the global improvement of the sector concerned as regards the level of R & D & I;  contribution of the measure to the improvement of the EEA situation regarding R & D & I in the international context;  other: … For each of the sections below please provide the documents which are relevant for the notified measure. EFTA States are invited to provide any other elements that they consider useful for the assessment of the notified measure. 8.2. Existence of a market failure (142) A. Please identify the market failure(s) hampering R & D & I in the present case and justifying the need for State aid and provide the supporting documents:  knowledge spillovers (positive externalities/public goods);  imperfect and asymmetric information;  coordination failures. B. If State aid targets R & D & I projects or activities located in assisted areas, please provide information on:  disadvantages caused by the peripherality and other regional specificities;  specific local economic data, social and/or historic reasons for a low level of R & D & I activity in comparison with the relevant average data and/or situation at national and/or EEA level as appropriate;  other relevant indicator showing an increased degree of market failure. 8.3. Appropriate instrument (143) Please indicate on what basis the EFTA State decided to use a selective instrument such as State aid in order to increase R & D & I activities and provide supporting documents:  impact assessment of the proposed measure;  comparison with other policy options considered by the EFTA State;  others: … 8.4. Incentive effect and analysis of the aid (144) A. Please specify the intended change in the behaviour of the beneficiary induced by the aid (e.g. new project triggered, size, scope or speed of a project enhanced) and provide supporting documents: … … Furthermore, please provide a description by means of counterfactual analysis of the behaviour of the beneficiary with respect to the project if it had not received the aid. … … Please describe why the aid is necessary in order to make the project under scrutiny more attractive than the project described by means of counterfactual analysis, i.e. the project to be carried out without the aid. … … B. The following elements may be used for the purposes of demonstration of an incentive effect. Please specify those relevant for the notified measure and provide supporting documents:  level of profitability;  amount of investment and the time path of cash flows;  level of risk involved in the research project (145);  continuous evaluation. 8.5. Proportionality of the aid (146) A. If there were multiple (potential) candidates for undertaking the R & D & I project in the EFTA State, was the beneficiary selected in an open selection process?  yes  no Please provide details and supporting documents: … … B. Please explain how it is ensured that the aid is limited to the minimum necessary and provide supporting documents: … … 8.6. Analysis of the distortion of competition and trade (147) 8.6.1. Relevant markets and effects on trade A. When relevant, please describe the likely impact of the aid on competition in the innovation process (148): … … … B. Please indicate whether the aid is likely to have impact on any product market.  yes  no Please specify the product markets on which the aid is likely to have impact: … … … … C. For each of these markets please provide some indicative market share of the beneficiary: … … For each of these markets please provide some indicative market shares of the other companies present in the market. If possible, please provide the associated Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI): … … D. Please describe the structure and dynamics of the relevant markets and provide supporting documents: … … E. If relevant, please provide information on the effects on trade (shift of trade flows and location of economic activity): … … 8.6.2. Distorting dynamics incentives The following elements will be considered by the EFTA Surveillance Authority in its analysis of effects of the aid on competitors' dynamic incentives to invest. Please, indicate those in relation to which supporting documents are provided:  aid amount;  closeness to the market/category of aid;  open selection process;  exit barriers;  incentives to compete for a future market;  product differentiation and intensity of competition. 8.6.3. Creating market power The following elements will be considered by the EFTA Surveillance Authority in its analysis of effects of the aid on beneficiary's market power. Please, indicate those in relation to which details and supporting documents are provided:  market power of aid beneficiary and market structure;  level of entry barriers;  buyer power;  selection process. 8.6.4. Maintaining inefficient market structures Please specify if the aid is granted:  in markets featuring overcapacity;  in declining industries;  in sensitive sectors. Please provide details and supporting documents: … … 9. Cumulation (149) A. Is the aid granted under the notified measure combined with other aid (150)?  yes  no B. If yes, please describe the cumulation rules applicable to the notified aid measure: … … … … C. Please specify how the respect of cumulation rules will be verified under the notified aid measure: … … … … 10. Reporting and monitoring (151) 10.1. Annual reports Please note that this reporting obligation is without prejudice to the reporting obligation pursuant to EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 195/04/COL (152). Please undertake to submit annual reports on the implementation of the notified aid measure to the EFTA Surveillance Authority, containing all the elements listed below (153). — name of the beneficiary; — aid amount per beneficiary; — aid intensity; — sectors of activity where the aided project is undertaken.  yes 10.2. Information sheets, monitoring A. Please undertake to maintain detailed records regarding the granting of aid, with all information necessary to establish that the eligible costs and maximum allowable aid intensity have been observed.  yes B. Please undertake to ensure that detailed records referred to in Section A above are maintained for 10 years from the date on which the aid was granted.  yes C. Please undertake to submit the records referred to in Section A above on request of the EFTA Surveillance Authority.  yes 11. Other information Please give any other information you consider necessary to assess the measure(s) in question under the EFTA Surveillance Authority’s Guidelines for state aid for research, development and innovation. ‘PART III.10 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION SHEET ON STATE AID FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION This supplementary information sheet must be used for the notification of any aid covered by the EFTA Surveillance Authority Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection (thereinafter “the Environmental aid guidelines”) (154). It must also be used for individual aid for environmental protection which does not fall under the General Block Exemption or is subject to individual notification obligation as it exceeds the individual notification thresholds laid down therein. 1. Basic characteristics of the notified measure 2. Objective of the aid 3. Compatibility of aid under article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement 3.1. Aid for undertakings which go beyond Community standards or which increase the level of environmental protection in the absence of Community standards 3.2. Aid for early adaptation to future Community standards 3.3. Aid for environmental studies 3.4. Aid for energy saving 3.5. Aid for renewable energy sources 3.6. Aid for cogeneration 3.7. Aid for energy efficient district heating 3.8. Aid for waste management 3.9. Aid for the remediation of contaminated sites 3.10. Aid for relocation of undertakings 3.11. Aid involved in tradable permit schemes 4. Incentive effect and necessity of aid 4.1. General conditions 4.2. Evaluation of the incentive effect 5. Compatibility of aid under article 61(3)(b) of the EEA Agreement 5.1. General conditions (cumulative) 5.2. Description of the project 6. Aid in the form of reductions of or exemptions from environmental taxes 6.1. General conditions 6.2. Necessity of the aid 6.3. Proportionality of the aid 7. Criteria triggering a detailed assessment 8. Additional information for detailed assessment 8.1. General observations 8.2. Existence of a market failure 8.3. Appropriate instrument 8.4. Incentive effect and necessity of the aid 8.5. Proportionality of the aid 8.6. Analysis of the distortion of competition and trade 9. Cumulation 10. Reporting and monitoring 10.1. Annual reports 10.2. Monitoring and evaluation 11. Other information 1. Basic characteristics of the notified measure Please fill in the relevant parts of the notification form corresponding to the character of the notified measure. Please find below a basic guidance. A. Please specify the type of aid and fill in the appropriate subsections of Section 3 (“Compatibility of aid under Article 61(3) of the EEA Agreement”) of this supplementary information sheet:  Aid for undertakings which go beyond Community standards or which increase the level of environmental protection in the absence of Community standards, fill in Section 3.1;  Aid for the acquisition of new transport vehicles which go beyond Community standards or which increase the level of environmental protection in the absence of Community standards, fill in Section 3.1;  Aid for SMEs for early adaptation to future Community standards, fill in Section 3.2;  Aid for environmental studies, fill in Section 3.3;  Aid for energy saving, fill in Section 3.4;  Aid for renewable energy sources, fill in Section 3.5;  Aid for the cogeneration, fill in Section 3.6;  Aid for energy-efficient district heating, fill in Section 3.7;  Aid for waste management, fill in Section 3.8;  Aid for the remediation of contaminated sites, fill in Section 3.9;  Aid for the relocation of undertakings, fill in Section 3.10;  Aid involved in tradable permit schemes, fill in Section 3.11;  Aid in the form of reductions of or exemptions from environmental taxes, fill in Section 6. Furthermore, please fill in: Section 4 (“Incentive effect and necessity of aid”), Section 7 (“Criteria triggering a detailed assessment”), Section 8 (“Additional information for detailed assessment”) (155) , and Section 10 (“Reporting and monitoring”). B. Please explain the main characteristics (objective, likely effects of the aid, aid instrument, aid intensity, beneficiaries, budget etc) of the notified measure. C. Can the aid be combined with other aid?  yes  no If yes, fill in Section 9 (“Cumulation”) of this supplementary information sheet. D. Is the aid granted in order to promote the execution of an important project of common European interest?  yes  no If yes, please fill in Section 5 (“Compatibility of aid under Article 61(3)(b) of the EEA Agreement”) of this supplementary information sheet. E. In case the notified individual aid is based on an approved scheme, please provide details concerning that scheme (case number, title of the scheme, date of EFTA Surveillance Authority’s approval): … … F. Please confirm that if the aid/bonus for small enterprises is granted, the beneficiaries comply with the definition for small enterprises as defined by the EEA legislation:  yes G. Please confirm that if the aid/bonus for medium enterprises is granted, the beneficiaries comply with the definition for medium enterprises as defined by the EEA legislation:  yes H. If applicable, please indicate the exchange rate which has been used for the purposes of the notification: … … I. Please number all documents provided by the EFTA States as annexes to the notification form and indicate the document numbers in the relevant parts of this supplementary information sheet. 2. Objective of the aid A. In the light of the objectives of common interest addressed by the Environmental aid guidelines (Section 1.2) please indicate the environmental objectives pursued by the notified measure. Please give a detailed description of each distinct type of aid to be granted under the notified measure: … … B. If the notified measure has already been applied in the past please indicate its results in terms of environmental protection (please indicate the relevant case number and date of EFTA Surveillance Authority’s approval and, if possible, attach national evaluation reports on the measure): … … C. If the measure is new, please indicate the expected results and the period over which they will be achieved: … … 3. Compatibility of aid under article 61(3)(c) of the EEA Agreement If there are several beneficiaries involved in the project notified as individual aid, please provide the information below for each of them. 3.1. Aid for undertakings which go beyond Community standards or which increase the level of environmental protection in the absence of Community standards (156) 3.1.1. Nature of the supported investments, applicable standards A. Please specify if the aid is granted for:  investments enabling the beneficiary to increase the level of environmental protection resulting from its activities by improving on the applicable Community standards (157), irrespective of the presence of mandatory national standards that are more stringent than the Community standard; OR  investments enabling the beneficiary to increase the level of environmental protection resulting from its activities in the absence of Community standards. B. Please provide details, including, where applicable, information on the relevant Community standards: … … C. If the aid is granted for reaching the national standard exceeding the Community standards, please indicate the applicable national standards and attach a copy: … … 3.1.2. Aid intensities and bonuses In the case of aid schemes, the aid intensity must be calculated for each beneficiary of aid. A. What is the maximum aid intensity applicable to the notified measure (158)? … B. Is the aid granted in a genuinely competitive bidding process (159)?  yes  no If yes, please provide details of the competitive process and attach a copy of the tender notice or its draft: … … C. Bonuses: Do the supported projects benefit from a bonus?  yes  no If yes, please specify below. — Is an SME bonus applied under the notified measure?  yes  no If yes, please specify the level of bonus applicable (160): … — Is the bonus for eco-innovation (161) applied under the notified measure?  yes  no If yes, please describe how the following conditions are fulfilled:  the eco-innovation asset or project is new or substantially improved compared to the state of the art in its industry in the Community;  the expected environmental benefit is significantly higher than the improvement resulting form the general evolution of the state of the art in comparable activities;  the innovative character of these assets or projects involves a clear degree of risk, in technological, market or financial terms, which is higher that the risk generally associated with comparable non- innovative assets or projects. Please provide details demonstrating the compliance with the above mentioned conditions: … … Specify the level of bonus applicable (162): … D. In case of an aid scheme, specify the total aid intensity of the projects supported under the notified scheme (taking into account the bonuses) (%): … 3.1.3. Eligible costs (163) A. Please confirm that the eligible costs are limited to the extra investment costs necessary to achieve a higher level of environmental protection than required by the Community standards:  yes B. Please further confirm that:  the precise environmental protection related cost constitutes the eligible costs, if the cost of investing in environmental protection can be easily identified; OR  the extra investment costs are established by comparing the investment with the counterfactual situation in the absence of aid, i.e. the reference investment (164); AND  the eligible costs are calculated net of any operating benefits and operating costs related to the extra investment for environmental protection and arising during the first five years of the life of the investment concerned. C. What form do the eligible costs take?  investments in tangible assets;  investments in intangible assets. D. In case of investments in tangible assets please indicate the form(s) of investments concerned:  investments in land which are strictly necessary in order to meet environmental objectives;  investments in buildings intended to reduce or eliminate pollution and nuisances;  investments in plant and equipment intended to reduce or eliminate pollution and nuisances;  investments to adapt production methods with a view to protecting the environment. E. In case of investments in intangible assets (technology transfer through the acquisition of operating licenses or of patented and non-patented know how) please confirm that any such intangible asset satisfies the following conditions:  it is regarded as a depreciable asset;  it is purchased on market terms, from an undertaking from which the acquirer has no power of direct or indirect control,  it is included in the assets of the undertaking, and remains in the establishment of the recipient of the aid and is used there for at least five years (165). Furthermore, please confirm that if the intangible asset is sold during those five years:  the yield from the sale will be deducted from the eligible costs; AND  all or part of the amount of aid will, where appropriate, be reimbursed. F. In case of investments aiming at obtaining a level of environmental protection higher than Community standards, please confirm the relevant statements:  if the undertaking is adapting to national standards adopted in the absence of Community standards, the eligible costs consist of the additional investment costs necessary to achieve the level of environmental protection required by the national standards;  if the undertaking is adapting to or goes beyond national standards which are more stringent than the relevant Community standards or goes beyond Community standards, the eligible costs consist of the additional investment costs necessary to achieve a level of environmental protection higher than the level required by the Community standards (166);  if no standards exist, the eligible costs consist of the investment costs necessary to achieve a higher level of environmental protection than that which the undertaking or undertakings in question would achieve in the absence of