The Innovative

Educational Forum for SME
My question relates to big companies planning
investments supported within measure 4.4. I understand
that big companies will not be able to
purchase used fixed assets. Does it also relate
to properties, so buildings that are not new?
This rule applies to fixed assets other than buildings.
Could you specify how within measure 4.4 a
new product is defined since this definition of
investment has changed – now there is a requirement
that within implementation a new or
significantly changed product should be created.
For whom the product is to be new – for
the market or the enterprise?
With regard to the target market for the product being
the result of an investment.
I already have a ready project. Since when the
expenses planned in it will be qualified? Can
I start to realize the project and count on the
support just after applying?
Unfortunately you can do it only after receiving the
confirmation about project qualification. The solution
to the problem may be a different way of announcing
a contest. If you are informed that e.g. the application
round is to be announced in four months, you
will have enough time to conduct analyses and gain
the confirmation of project qualification.
My question relates to the implementation system.
It has been mentioned that project promoters
would be introduced into the system. What does
this situation look like today and who will have
the role of a promoter and on what grounds?
This conception is still being compiled. PARP has
passed its suggestions and we are waiting for the
decision of the Managing Authority and the Intermediate
Bodies. Such promoters are projected in
measure 4.2 and 4.4. There would be several dozen
promoters all around the country and the system
of assessment of their qualifications in specific
realms would function. They should be people who
would be able to assess on the basis of a project
card and conversations with an entrepreneur
whether a given technology is new and whether
projects fit in a measure. After receiving a positive
project assessment on the basis of the project card
the entrepreneur would be able to bear qualified
costs and realize the project. The promoter would
give green light. He or she would also possibly state
that a project does not fit in a given Programme as
a whole or it does not meet the criteria; or it would
be pointed out that after some corrections or updates
the project might qualify.
When will we get to know the dates of applying?
Will we have enough time to search innovative
technologies and confirm project qualification?
We do not know that yet. Probably some measures
for enterprises will be launched in the first quarter of
2008. We are already well prepared institutionally.
Proper legal acts taking into account all changes of
the Detailed priority description still have to appear.
We understand your impatience but we would not
like to give dates on spec.
The minimum project value: 8 million zlotys
– what does it mean? Does it apply to the stage
of projecting, applying or final settlement? If I
know that the assessing people are aware of
the fact that I can be wrong, then I can be seriously
wrong. I can write a project for 8.2 million
but in reality it would be 3.5 million because I
was wrong. Can I be wrong like that?
An entrepreneur estimates costs at the stage of
preparing the application and they should be based
on a solid market analysis. If at the stage of settlement
it turns out that the real costs were lower than
8 million zlotys, each such a project will be individually
analyzed. If it turns out that changes of prices,
rates of exchange or other factors were independent
of the entrepreneur and could not be projected,
we will recommend that such problems should be
solved in favour of the beneficiary. If it however
turns out that an entrepreneur already at the stage
of projecting overestimates costs on purpose, and
then spends less in reality and it could have been
projected, the support may not be granted in such
situations.
Will you oblige the experts assessing innovative
applications to justify negative decisions in writing
– with at least one page long opinion?
Of course. We would not like to be in such a situation
when an expert will tell us that this project is
no good because it is not. We will have a problem
as we would not be able to justify it to you. We will
expect from experts a justification of every opinion.
They cannot be arbitral decisions.
Noted by: KR and JG
When will we get to know the
dates of applying? We do not
know that yet. Probably some
measures for enterprises will be
launched in the first quarter of
2008.
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