New Business and Innovation Agency will simplify drawing of European funds

On Wednesday, 24 June 2015, the Czech government approved a proposal by Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Mládek to amend the Act on Support for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. The amendment will lead to the establishment of a contributory organisation called the Enterprise and Innovation Agency. This measure is being taken in response to the European Commission’s requirement that all mediating entities handling operational programmes should be subordinate to the Act on the Service of Civil Servants or a similar legal regulation. The establishment of the new agency was a condition for problem-free drawing of aid from the Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness (OPEIC).

“Today’s approval of the amendment is of fundamental importance not only for the ministry, but also for the Czech Republic. The new agency will make it possible to continue in the very successful drawing of financial resources from operational funds. So far, we have not returned any EU funding from OPEI due to non-use,” says Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Mládek, commenting on the amendment’s approval.

“Gaining new investments and supporting investors and businesses have always been our primary tasks. Because administration of European subsidies is one of the multiple ways to support companies’ investments, we will remain in close contact with our colleagues who will form the new Enterprise and Innovation Agency so that we can cooperate on the development of the Czech Republic’s business environment,” adds Karel Kučera, CEO of CzechInvest.

More information is available in this press release from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic (in Czech).

Source: CzechInvest Newsletter - July 2015