On the 10th April, the European Commission (EC) published in the Official Journal of the European union notices from member states including information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to national regional investment aid. One of the concers from the United Kingdom was the Selective Financial Assistance (SFA) for Northern Ireland aid scheme which has been aloted a budget of 100 million pounds.

The EC has released more information about aimed at all sectors eligible for regional investment aid. From the start date on the 1st Janurary 2007, the the scheme is due to complete a durartion of just under seven years. The terminates on the 31st December 2013. The organisers of the aid scheme will dispose of a budget of 1million Pounds.

Industrial Development Order (NI) 1982 amended by the Industrial Development Act (NI) 2002 and is managed by Invest Northern Ireland in Belfast (United Kingdom).

Selective Financial Assistance (SFA) for Northern Ireland

The objective of SFA is to help companies become more competitive and profitable leading to growth in the economy. Projects will involve a range of actions which companies and Invest Nl agree will improve competitiveness and profitability and which companies will undertake within agreed timeframes. Accordingly the assistance should be focused on encouraging the companies to undertake these actions. Examples could include:

• Costs of establishing a design team.
• Cost of consultancy study to improve production planning.
• Cost of establishing a quality control team.
• Costs of introducing a new sales control system.
• Costs of introducing new products which do not qualify for Research & Development Grant.

The official text was published C 89/12 on the 10/04/2008 in the OJ.