Implementationof the current Operational programmeenterpriseand Innovation Lessonslearned for the new programming period Ing. Petr Očko, PhD. 7 November 2013, Budapest
Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation (OPEI) Global goal: Increase competitiveness and innovation performance of the industry and services sectors Financial Allocation for period of 2007-2013: 3 671 400 782 EUR OPPI projects co-financing: European Regional Development Fund 85% National Budget 15% Withthesumof 3.671bn,OPEIisakeyinstrumentforthesupportof industrial R&D&I in the 2007-2013 period in the Czech Republic
OPEI Programmes of Support Programme Allocation EUR Type of beneficiaries SMEs Large Prioty Axis 1 Financial instruments for startups 47 506 813 x Prioty Axis 2 General support for SMEs 956 114 003 x x Prioty Axis 3 Prioty Axis 4 Prioty Axis 5 Eco-energies 492 928 426 x x Research, development and innovations Cooperation of education system and industry, science and technology parks, training centres, real estates 1 002 760 156 x x 973 930 627 x x Prioty Axis 6 Consultancy, marketing 90 675 240 x
Results of OPEI interventions: Current socio-economic context for OPEI still under the influence of economic recession:gdpdroppedby0.9%sincethebeginningof2012 Central bank prognosis: GDP to grow no sooner than 2014 OPEIinitsfinalstage: Pace of increase of the number of finalised projects > pace of increase of the number of new Decisions This has a direct influence on the growing rate of achievement of objective goals of theop OPEI goals attainment: indicators commitments(decided projects) make 92.3% of final values indicators achievements(finalised projects) make 58.1% acceleration in achieving the indicators expected together with higher rate of finalisation of projects currently in implementation
Results of OPEI interventions: Objective progress Current status of achieving the target indicator values by OPEI priority axis with decide projects(values to be achieved when all currently decided projects are finalised) 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 00% Current status of achieving the target indicator values by OPEI priority axis with finalised projects(achieved values) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 00% OPEI PA 2 PA 3 PA 4 PA 5 PA 6 OPEI PA 1 PA 2 PA 3 PA 4 PA 5 PA 6 PA 7
Results of OPEI interventions in R&D&I Objective: Creating new cutting-edge findings and knowledge and their transfer to the commercial sphere Uptonowmorethan 1800projectsinR&D&Iapproved morethan1700projectsforeur333.4minictapproved 148 projects of R&D&I infrastructure and cooperation of private and public sector such as clusters, science and technology parks and business incubators in implementation Number of projects in effective energies (renewable sources of energy, energy savings) supported: 662 for EUR 237.2m (Commitment: 908 projects with Decisions amounting to EUR 344.7m) Savings in energy consumption with supported businesses: 1010,73 TJ (8273.15 TJ commitment) Profit share gained from innovated products in comparison with the entire profit reached by supported companies 17.24% TotalnewjobscreatedbyOPEI21323 outofwhich2025newjobsinr&d
Financial indicators for OPEI 2007 2013 Grant schemes: Number of full applications: 15 800 Total amount in full applications: Number of Decisions issued: 9 187 Total amount in Decisions issued: Total grants provided to beneficiaries: IntotalEUR1.98bnpaidoutsince2007 EUR 6.15bn EUR 3.07bn EUR 1.62bn Certified by the EC EUR 1.18 since 2007(last certification in September 2012) Priority: accelerated drawing at whole OPEI implementation structure and strict observance of themeasurestakensoastosuccessfullymanageyear2013, whenn+3andn+2rulescombine.
Risks to OPEI drawing: Project level Time lag in projects finalisation(re-scheduling upon the request of beneficiary) 746 withdrawn projects for EUR 235.61 mil. Reasons: impact of economic situation of the businesses and their investment potential, mainly the necessity to pre-finance the projects by the applicants themselves (in out case predominantly by SMEs) Reductionsofeligiblecostsandgrantswith9%oftotalnumberofapplications poses riskto using full OPEI allocation Manageable by a certain level of over-commitment Risk of over-drawing of OPEI allocation related to fluctuation of EUR/CZK exchange rates Implementing tenders in accordance with the Public Procurement Act, esp. after the amendment of 1 April 2012, and generally stricter rules and stricter audits in the area of tenders are major obstacles for the recipients Unfortunatelly: COCOF guideline and current audit practice leads to punishing the beneficiaries for just very formal shortcomings
Risks to OPEI drawing: Project level Approach of the audit/control authorities on the EC and national level does not always follow the purpose of grant but rather formalist criteria leading to sanctions that are excessive and incommensurate with shortcomings found. Examples: Beneficiary forgot to mention assessed value of the tender in the advertisement in the Trade bulletin. But it was mentioned in the publicly available tender documentation. Sanction according to current practice is 5 % of its value, indeed, punishment for company is 2,5 mil. CZK(almost100000EUR)foratenderof50mil.CZK(EUR1.9m)(nationalauthorities) Conflict of interest: Although not appropriately specified, sanctions proposed of as much as 100 %ofgrantevenincaseswhereclearlythemosteconomicofferwonthetender(ec) Appeal to change approach of national authorities and EC to these issues because it: Undermines trust of beneficiaries to this type of funding Undermines trust in EU policies as such Threatens current drawing from OP Poses difficulties in successful achievement of target values for objective progress(indicators) Might have negative effect on absorption capacity in the future programming period
We should more focus on achievementof real results of the project and not to punish companies for formal shortcomings! Example: ContiproBiotech Establishmentof production of technically new medical device for wound dressing and fully biodegradable fibres& textiles The aim of the project is the introduction of two technically new products and new process: device for dressing of area, chronic, infected wounds in the first stage of healing with the strong anti-microbial effects given by a synthetic antiseptic fibrous materials from a fully biocompatible and completely biodegradable polymers that are appropriate for the internal surgical applications, where they shall primarily serve for mechanical support in the beginning stages of the healing of the post-op wounds new process is the process of preparation of the biodegradable fibres that has been established under own private R&D Total eligible expenditure: EUR 3 842 308 Total grant requested from OPEI: EUR 1 921 154
Risks to OPEI drawing: Programme level Interruption of certification process by the EC issue of guarantee scheme (begining of 2011; lifted in 10/2011 payments for financial instruments continue not to be processed) second half of 2013: correction for guarantee scheme app. EUR 71.235m; new guarantee scheme prepared + call to be launched. OPEI has to increase the drawing in grant schemes by the amount of the correction in order to comply with the n+3/n+2 rules, which coincide this year. Inspection mechanism (TA) issue (identified in 2011) MA has intensly collaborated with EC submitting all required documents remains unresolved TA will hopefully be certified at the end 2013 (it will be 1st certification of TA from 2007) Interruption of certification process by the EC 2013: Management and control systems, error rate calculation being solved in collaboration of AA,PCAandMA talkswithecinprogress
Measures to increase OPEI drawing With respect to these obstacles to the drawing of OPEI, the Managing Authority developed and applied measures to prevent the threat of loss of funds for 2013: Preventing errors on the applicants side: tenders checking team of MIT reinforced, monitoring visits at recipients site in order to prevent errors, collaboration with CI regional offices intensified MIT and CI seminars for applicants with practical presentation of good vs. bad practices individual approach to applicants Clear unambiguous methodology: reinforced methodologic management of the programme, accessibility of the rules, publication of new methodologies sufficiently ahead od time Grants simplificaton, intensification of collaboration with applicants: continuous reduction of administrative burden put on applicants, providing specialised consultancy, reduction of deadlines for processing the documents, all OPEI administration fully electronized, possible to connect on-line to the system anytime, anywhere Accelerated issue of Decisions on grants Accelerated process of opening new calls for applications (Development, Innovation and ICT and strategic services) in order to achieve maximum drawing possible for this programming period.
Measures to increase OPEI drawing Shorter deadlines for submitting of payment applications and their correction at the applicants side Collaboration with entrepreneurial organisations: In August 2012, a request addressed to the Confederation of industry of the Czech Republic, Association of small and medium/sized enterprises and crafts of the Czech Republic and Chamber of Commerce of the Czech Republic to appeal to the applicants to submit their OPEI payment applications in an orderly and timely manner Intensive and forthcoming communication and collaboration with the EC in the areas with suspensive resolution from the EC side: OPEI technical assistance MA control mechanism set-up guarantees for loans for SMEs provided by CMGDB
Preparing for new programming period OPEI pilot projects Goal of the pilot projects is to assess and test the conditions of support for future launch of the full programme fit for knowledge based economy Knowledge Transfer Partnership CzechAccelerator 2011 2014 CzechEcoSystem Czech Development Closed-end Investment Fund(CDCIF) OPEI Design for Competitiveness 2013-2014
New MIT operational programme for period 2014 2020: OP EIC OPIE 2004-2006 Emphasis on developmentsupport + beginnings of innovation support OPEI 2007-2013 Emphasison innovationsupport + R&D support in companies (Potential), co-operation of tertiary education and industry OP Entrepreneurship and innovation for competitiveness 2014-2020 Emphasis on knowledge economy, technology transfer and co-operation of R&D and innovative companies
R&D Basic Indicators Source: Czech Statistical Office, 2012
Basic Economic Indicators Source: Ministry of Finance, Macroeconomic Forecast, April 2013 *estimate **forecast
OP Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness Goal and objectives Vision: Competitive and sustainable Czech economy based on knowledge and innovations Global goal: Increasing the competitiveness of the Czech economy by supporting the business environment, promoting innovations in the production and services sectors, energy treatment and development of ICT. Mono-fund operational programme, co-financed with the ERDF Strategic objectives: Increasing efficiency of business investments into research and innovations Improving business innovations and strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs Shift towards an energy-efficient, low-carbon Czech economy Facilitating the development of business and services and access to the public services through expansion of high-speed internet networks and wider range of communications services
Proposed OP EIC priority axes Less thematic, more concentrated priorities PO-1 Development of research and development for innovations PO-2 Development of entrepreneurship and competitiveness of SMEs PO-3 Effective energies, development of energy infrastructure and RSE, new technologies in energy industry and SSE PO-4 Development of high-speed internet access and information and communication technology
Shifts in the OP EIC based on experience 2007 2013 Extension of priority areas of the current OPEI 2007-2013, further reinforcement of current subject-matter interventions: Technology transfer and cooperation of R&D sectors and innovative firms Shift from building the innovative infrastructure to its development and its effective use Emphasis on implementing higher-level innovations and non-technical innovations Improving synergies between OP EIC and OP RDE (OP VVV) Supporting technological foresight Strengthening the role of financial instruments Widening the available range of sophisticated advisory business services Supporting the internationalisation of Czech firms (SMEs) Further increasing energy efficiency and development of energy services New specialized ICT solutions with high value added and Data Centres
Shifts in the OP EIC based on experience 2007 2013 What is new in the OP EIC? Greater emphasis on the use of the results of applied industrial R&D, their commercialization, and on strengthening the strategic orientation of R&D in accordance with the principles of smart specialization strategy (in close co-operation and synergies with the Ministry of Education) More emphasis on the role of financial instruments (not only loans and guarantees but also reinforced role of venture) Energy innovation (eco-innovation) a secondary raw materials Energy transmission networks and higher energy safety High-speed access to the internet and modern communications services
Current progress of preparations On 29.3.2013 the first OP EIC draft was delivered to the Ministry for Regional Development as a National Co-ordination Authority, in accordance with the schedule defined by government resolution no. 867/2012, now the 4th version is under preparation MRD-NCA was also delivered the updated version of the theory of change At the same time border areas, i.e. potential overlaps and setup of synergy links,havebeendiscussedwiththemaofotherops. Debates on the regional dimension in the OP have commenced, which is something the EC shall emphasise in the next programme period MRD-NCA in cooperation with MAs of individual programmes currently prepares information on the progress of preparation of programmes cofinanced from the European Structural and Investment Funds for the programme period 2014-2020 Challenges during the preparation of OP EIC: no final version of a regulation for 2014+ cohesion unknown allocation sums for individual OPs
Thankyouforyourattention Ing. Petr Očko, Ph.D. petr.ocko@mpo.cz Section of EU Funds Director Ministry of Industry and Trade Czech Republic