WELSH EUROPEAN FUNDING OFFICE

SMEs Innovation Development in Wales

Strategy & Experience

13 October 2005

Dr. Emyr Roberts

Chief Executive

Wales Mainstream European Structural Fund Areas

2000-06

Objective 1 - Programme Structure

• Single Programming Document

• Programme Complement

• 6 priorities, including

- Expanding and developing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

- Developing innovation and the knowledge-based economy

Objective 1 - Current Position

• €4,040 million total programme

• €1,933 million European money

• 1,561 projects approved to date

• 90% funds committed

• 48% paid to end of September

• €4,118 million total project investment

• 122,900 gross new jobs created and safeguarded

SMEs Innovation - Strategic Context

• A Winning Wales (2001): National Economic Development Strategy for Wales

• Wales for Innovation (March 2003): Action plan for Innovation

• 5 Action Areas

Wales for Innovation: Action Areas

1. Communicating what can be achieved through more innovation

2. Delivering more high growth potential business

3. Better equipping people to manage

4. More effective innovation support and funding

5. Maximising the economic development impact of our Universities &

colleges

Superman (Phase 1 & 2)• Supporting Innovation Product Engineering and Responsive Manufacture

• €11.4million of Objective 1 to generate a culture of technological innovation for companies

• 15 collaborative projects between companies & research institutions

• To date over €55 million increase in turnover of supported companies

• Cardiff University - Higher / Further Education Institution

Opportunity Wales (Phase 1 & 2)• €22m of Objective 1 to target, motivate & support SMEs in achieving greater economic prosperity through advancement along the eCommerce ladder

• To date has assisted over 7,800 SMEs benefit from e-commerce & increased turnover by €289m

• Small grants scheme/advice & support by local delivery partners to give sustainable improvements to business management

• Better Business Wales Ltd - Not for profit company

Knowledge Exploitation Fund• Knowledge and expertise held within universities is a valuable economic resource to create greater income for Wales

• Objective 1 funding of €20.4 million to support KEF to unlock the potential

• Transfer technology expertise to industry to create new culture of entrepreneurship

• Grants scheme/ advice and support

• ELWa and WDA: Assembly Sponsored Public Bodies

Optics Technium• Opto-electronics Technology and Incubation Centre is one in the technium network of business incubation centres

• Objective 1 of €11.5 million has helped provide an optimum environment for dynamic young companies and spin outs to achieve high growth

• Designed to create 318 high quality jobs in North Wales and safeguard 1,155 throughout Wales

• WDA: Assembly Sponsored Public Body

CETICS -

• Centres of Expertise for Technology & Industrial Collaboration

• Innovation & technology support infrastructure for businesses

• Improved linkages between academia and industry

• Objective 1 of €2.5m

• WDA

IP Wales -

• Intellectual property for Wales

• Advise SMEs on generating and protecting their intellectual property

• Objective 1 of €1.5m

• University of Swansea

SMART R&D -

• Grant scheme for SMEs to carry out innovative research and technological development with commercial potential

• Objective 1 €3m

SMEs Innovative Development - Main Lessons

• Very successful part of Objective 1 Programme

• Important part of next Structural Funds Programme

• Long term process

• Interaction between Universities and industry essential