Companies - European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
1. What do COMPANIES need to do differently?
The client is required (for ERDF co-funded projects only) to:
- Sign the Client Declaration on the Application Form confirming that they have read the ERDF Information Sheet.
- Display an A3 sized ERDF poster (which will be supplied by Enterprise Ireland) in their premises for the project duration (i.e. until the last payment from EI has been received by the client).
- Retain records relating to the co-funded project until December 31st 2027 and make them available for EU and other audits until that date.
- Agree to their company name, project name and summary, start/end dates and total eligible expenditure being included in the list of beneficiaries published bi-annually on the Regional Assembly’s website.
- Display the Irish Structural funds (ESIF) logo and ERDF emblem and include an acknowledgement that funding was received by the European Regional Development Fund when referring to the ERDF project in publicity/communications, project related materials and at project related events.
- For construction/infrastructure projects (where the grant is greater than €500,000), display a temporary billboard (during the project) AND a permanent plaque upon completion (within 3 months of the last payment payment being received by the client from EI).
- For grants (greater than €500,000) used for the purchase of physical objects (e.g. machinery and other equipment), display a permanent plaque on completion of the project.
- Display on their corporate website:
- Irish Structural funds (ESIF) logo and ERDF emblem.
- An acknowledgement that funding was received by the European Regional Development Fund.
- Short project description, aims and results. Examples of suggested texts which meet these requirements are:
For Key Manager: Project Description. A Key Manager has been co-funded in this company by the European Regional Development Fund and Enterprise Ireland under the Border, Midland and Western Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020. Aims: To recruit a Key Manager who will bring skills into the company that are critical to future growth. Results: The Key Manager commenced employment and is contributing to improvements in company productivity and to changes in output to meet defined market requirements.
For R&D: Project Description: R&D initiatives in this company are co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Enterprise Ireland under the Border, Midland and Western Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020. Aims: To develop (for example) three new products/processes aimed at establishing/ increasing R&D activity which will drive company development. Results: Three (for example) new products/processes were successfully developed. As a result, one new product was launched into a new/existing market.
For Capital: Project Description: Capital initiatives in this company are co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Enterprise Ireland under the Border, Midland and Western Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020. Aims: To carry out building/infrastructural work and/ to purchase or physical assets. Results: Increased productivity and competiveness was achieved as a result of this investment.
For GradStart: Project Description. A graduate has been co-funded in this company by the European Regional Development Fund and Enterprise Ireland under the Border, Midland and Western Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020. Aims: To recruit a graduate who will bring skills into the company that are critical to future growth. Results: The graduate commenced employment and is contributing to improvements in company productivity and to changes in output to meet defined market requirements.
2. What grants are affected?
- Capital Investment Initiative (CII). SMEs only.
- Capital. SMEs only.
- Key Manager. SMEs only.
- R&D Revenue. SMEs AND Large Companies.
- GradStart. SMEs only.
ERDF requirements apply to the above grants if they are carried out in the following counties: Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath. No other regions are eligible for ERDF funding.
3. What ERDF clauses will clients see in their Letter of Offer?
i. The Company accepts that its name shall be included in the list of beneficiaries published in accordance with point 2.1 (d) of Annex XII of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 (“the Common Provisions Regulation”).
ii. The Grant is provided with the support of the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. The Company shall give due acknowledgement (by way of reference in its promotional literature, website or wall plate/ poster at the location in which the Project is being carried out) of the existence of support from the European Regional Development Fund, shall display such poster acknowledging this fact as Enterprise Ireland may supply at a location readily visible by the public (e.g. at reception) and shall comply with such other reasonable directions of Enterprise Ireland regarding acknowledgment of European Union support (on the Company’s website, in its reports or otherwise) to ensure compliance with the Common Provisions Regulation.
iii. Where the Grant exceeds €500,000, and supports infrastructure or construction works, the Company shall at a location visible to the public erect a temporary billboard (of such dimensions as Enterprise Ireland shall reasonably require) acknowledging European Union support through the ERDF.
iv. Where the grant exceeds €500,000, and supports the purchase of a fixed asset or supports infrastructure or construction works, the Company shall erect a permanent plaque acknowledging European Union support through the ERDF, stating the name and objectives of the supported project, the technical characteristics of such plaque being those adopted by the European Commission in accordance with Article 115 (4) of the Common Provisions Regulation.
v. The Company shall retain all records relating to the Grant until 31st December 2027 or until such earlier date as may be notified to it in writing by Enterprise Ireland.
vi. Termination or expiry of this Agreement for whatever reason shall not extinguish or otherwise affect any of the Company’s obligations under this clause which obligations shall continue until 31st December 2027 (or until such earlier date as may be notified to the Company in writing by Enterprise Ireland) and Clause 4 of Schedule B shall be read subject to this clause. A breach of any of the provisions of this clause at any time prior to the 31st December 2027 (or such earlier date as may be notified to the Company in writing by Enterprise Ireland) shall entitle Enterprise Ireland to seek repayment of the Grant and the Company covenants and undertakes to make such repayment promptly on receipt of a written demand from Enterprise Ireland.
4. Who can I contact if I have a question in relation to ERDF?
The first point of contact is your Development Adviser (DA). If you do not know who your DA is, search PEOPLE FINDER.
5. More information
