Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2004-02-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: State aid, Wales, exchange of information, information technology, provision of services, small and medium-sized enterprises

7.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 34/9

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

(2004/C 34/07)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Aid No: XS 1/03

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Wales

Title of aid scheme or name of the company receiving an
individual aid: SCT (United Kingdom) Limited

Legal basis: Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 and
Structural Funds Regulations

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of individual aid granted to the company: Total
expenditure of GBP 646 255 comprising ERDF and Welsh
Development Agency funding until October 2006

Maximum aid intensity:

Capital

investment: maximum of 50 % of total eligible costs

New jobs created as a result of initial investment: maximum of
17,56 % of eligible costs

In combination, the total aid linked to initial investments does
not exceed maximum of 50 % of the higher level of eligible
costs (i.e. new jobs — eligible costs)

Consultancy costs: maximum of 50 % of eligible costs

Date of implementation: 16 December 2002

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 16 December
2002 to 31 October 2006

Objective of aid: The aid will allow the recipient, an SME
to provide the
based in an Article 87(3)(a) are of Wales,
following services targeted exclusively at SMEs within Article
87(3)(a) assisted areas in Wales where a market failure exists in
relation to affordable ICT solutions:

— consultancy service to establish the ICT needs of SMEs,

— specialist assistance with the implementation of systems for

the provisions of hardware and software,

— ongoing hosting of maintenance of services, with 24/7 help

desk facility and upgrades as appropriate.

The recipient will provide such services to end users in
accordance with the State aid rules.

The assistance to SCT is to be provided in order to cover the
initial investment costs which will be incurred by the recipient
in respect of the project, together with assistance in relation to
the costs associated with employment created as a result of the
initial
investment, and consultancy costs incurred by the
recipient relating to the project.

It is anticipated that the project will allow for the provision of
ICT-related services to at least 29 SMEs. The recipient will be
required to demonstrate jobs created and safeguarded as a
result of
turnover
increases in respect of SMEs supported by the project

together with significant

the project,

Economic sector(s) concerned: Information Communication,
Technology

Name and address of the granting authority:

Patrick Sullivan
Welsh Development Agency
Plas Glyndwr
Kingsway
Cardiff
United Kingdom

Helen Usher
Welsh European Funding Office
Cwm Cynon Business Park
Mountain Ash
CF45 4ER
United Kingdom