The EU - Supporting Your Local Community - europa.eu
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The EU - Supporting Your
Local Community
Ireland has received approximately €72.5 billion funding since joining the EU
in 1973. In addition to these funds, Ireland has also benefited in recent years
from funding for research projects. In 2014, research receipts amounted to
€127 million and a further €110 million was paid in 2013.
The majority of Irish funding from the EU now comes through the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP). The next largest amount of funding comes from the
Structural and Cohesion Funds, which have contributed considerable investment
into our transportation, educational and water-related infrastructures as well In 2014, the European Union’s new research and
as educational training and other supports used to up-skill our workforce. innovation programme, Horizon 2020, came into
force. It is designed to make it easier for researchers
From 2014 to 2020, structural funding will focus mainly on areas such as and businesses, (including SMEs) to collaborate on
research, technology and innovation supporting small, medium enterprises projects. A key element of Horizon 2020 is a proposal
(SMEs), Information and Communication Technology (ICT), energy efficiency and to join forces with the private sector and member
education, training and labour activation measures. states of the EU, to achieve results that one country
or company is less likely to achieve alone.
Ireland is developing a clean, innovative and highly skilled economy, providing
world-class leadership and competitiveness in areas such as IT, Research Around €22 billion will be invested in this, to boost
and Technology. Irish farmers are producing high-quality products for world innovation in potentially high growth sectors that
markets. These investments are providing a further stimulus in every region of will generate high quality jobs. Much of the funding
Ireland and are supporting Carlow ‘s economic development and employment will go to public-private partnerships, called Joint
generation. Technology Initiatives (JTIs) that will carry out
research into: innovative medicines; fuel cells and
This information leaflet provides an insight into some of the ways that the EU hydrogen; aeronautics; bio-based industries; and
supports Irish citizens throughout every county in Ireland. electronics.
Irish participants in existing JTIs have already received over
€12.5 million from the EU research budget. Here are some
successful examples of this in Carlow:
Commercialisation Fund
The Commercialisation Fund fosters a dynamic and
commercially aware research community and creates
an environment that promotes entrepreneurship. This
establishes an accessible route to transfer knowledge
from the research base into industry. In 2014, this
programme provided two funding supports to researchers
and one project from Carlow IT was approved.
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Institute of Technology - Carlow
Carlow
...continued from front page
Technology Gateway Programme (previously ARE Applied
Research Enhancement)
The programme aims to harness the applied research and technology
expertise within the Institutes of Technology sector, for the benefit of
industry in Ireland. The new Technology Gateway programme has a
five year funding term, with funding amounts of up to €1.2 million.
The Institutes of Technology have a key role to play in developing
innovative technologies in collaboration with local industry to deliver
maximum industrial impact. Here are some examples from Carlow:
MicroGen Biotech was established in 2012 as an Irish High-
Potential Start-Up (HPSU) spin-out from the EnviroCORE research
group at IT Carlow. The company has successfully developed cost-
effective and sustainable biotechnologies and products to remediate
contaminated soil and water.
MicroGen Biotech is forming a joint venture in China with the
China Energy Conservation and Environment Protection Group
(CECEP), a multi-billion dollar Chinese state-owned enterprise with EU Funded Programmes
474 subsidiaries in 60 countries, to explore global opportunities IT Carlow has been the beneficiary of a number of EU funded projects
in contaminated land remediation. Separately, MicroGen Biotech and plays a major part in spearheading and supporting EU and Cross-
confirmed strategic inward investment into Ireland from the ecological Border Development Initiatives.
restoration company MINEGREEN China that could provide up to
€3 million for this Carlow based start-up. European Union Ambient Assisted Living Programme (AAL)
The core of the Programme is to provide innovative and financially
sustainable ICT based solutions for elderly people, through innovative
products, systems or services, addressing identified wishes and the
needs of the end-users. The programme aims to address social
isolation and reduce loneliness by bridging distances, facilitating
interaction and communication, thus enabling people to live
independently for as long as possible.
IT Carlow spin-out company, MicroGenbiotech Ltd., has announced details of
strategic alliances in the Chinese soil remediation market with MINEGREEN
and CECEP DADI. Pictured are IT Carlow doctoral graduate, Dr. Xuemei
Germaine, MicroGen Biotech (front left) and Mr Yang Xuequan, Chairman
MINEGREEN (front right) signing contracts witnessed by Minister for Jobs,
Enterprise & Innovation Richard Bruton TD and government officials during
the China Trade Mission
The Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) Joint Programme
ERIC – New Frontiers Programme in Carlow IT
New Frontiers Company ‘Greenside Up’ focuses on connecting EU-Canada Programme
people with their communities and offers services on encouraging IT Carlow was awarded funding from the EU-Canada Programme
communities to grow produce and think green. Founder Dee for the ‘Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment’ (EBBE) project.
Sewell achieves this through social media. Her website beat 3,000 The aim of the EU-Canada Programme is to promote mutual
nominations and was named best blog in 2013, while Dee’s latest understanding between the people of the EU and Canada including
venture involves setting up community-style gardens for workplaces. the language culture and institutions of each. This programme also
works on improving the quality of human resources by facilitating
So far she has worked with 11 community gardens, including current the acquisition of skills required to meet the challenges of the global
projects in Callan and Freshford through Kilkenny LEADER. She knowledge-based economy.
also delivers a FETAC level three course in outdoor vegetable crop
production at Ennisnag on Kingsriver and has worked with many
groups, including the Irish Wheelchair Association.
Carlow
Promoting
Rural
Development
Currently, Irish farmers receive EU funding of €1.2 billion every year
through CAP funding and since 2007, Irish farmers have received a total
of €10.5 billion. Further support of €2.3 billion was received through
rural development programmes, with a further €2.2 billion secured for
the 2014-2020 period. In recent years, these programmes accounted
for around 90% of our total EU public sector receipts. Bagenalstown Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool
• The communities of Ballinkillen and Lorum were able to
The LEADER Initiative was established to improve the quality of life
refurbish and extend a community hall with funding of €284k
in rural areas and encourage diversification of the rural economy by
and can now share the new facilities which include a kitchen,
providing support initiatives in the area of rural/agri-tourism, local
play area and meeting rooms.
enterprise development and community facilities. The LEADER initiative
will provide €250 million in financial resources of which Carlow has
• St Fiacc’s House, Graiguecullen built a state-of-the-art activity
been allocated a budget of €6.4 million.
centre which includes a reading room, computer centre, prayer
/ reflection space and a coffee shop, They received funding
Here are some of the more recent projects funded through this
of €230k from Carlow Leader for this project which was also
programme:
funded by Laois.
Community
Tourism
• Bagnelstown received €74k funding towards the refurbishment
• St Laserian’s Cathedral, Leighlin, is one of Ireland’s most
of the town’s swimming pool. This included re-roofing the
important, yet understated, ecclesiastical sites. It is also Carlow’s
building as well as upgrading the seating areas. The town also
oldest working building. Nestling in the village of Old Leighlin,
received €52k for the development of Muinebheag Town Park.
Saint Laserian’s is an undiscovered gem and was awarded
€130k to develop a Tourist Centre.
• The Carlow 800 Committee was awarded almost €28k to
promote Carlow’s heritage and celebrate the anniversary of the
building of Carlow castle 800 years ago.
Business Support
• Titan Technology was awarded over €28k to research the
suitability of locating a Data Centre in Carlow Town.
• DPF Engineering in Carlow manufactures high precision
tools for the medical device, aeronautical and pharmaceutical
industries. The company has a policy of continuous improvement
in the latest high quality machining technology and was
awarded €124k to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for its
St. Laserian’s Cathedral Old Leighlin manufacturing process.
Supporting Local
where companies with clear high growth potential can be seamlessly
fast-tracked to the next level of support.
Enterprise In 2014, capital funding of almost €91 million was made available to
LEOs throughout Ireland, to provide direct grant assistance for micro-
enterprises employing up to 10 staff and training and development
A key part of the Europe 2020 Strategy is to promote jobs and growth supports for micro and small businesses. Carlow received approx €349k
and to ensure that micro and small businesses can start up, grow and through the local LEO in 2014.
export. As part of this, new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) have been
established within Local Authorities, (replacing the existing County A number of Financial Instruments, aimed at financing the building of
Enterprise Boards) with the aim of delivering more integrated support more sustainable, innovative start-ups and supporting expansion of
services for micro and small business. The new LEOs are responsible at small companies are available for SMEs, including grants for start-ups,
local level for cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship and supporting business expansion and feasibility studies. Micro Finance can also be
business development. They are the “First Stop Shops” through which arranged. There is one LEO in Carlow.
all State supports for small and micro businesses can be accessed and
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Carlow
Cork
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Carlow LEO offers a number of courses for local business people
including Start Your Own Business, Book-keeping and Mentoring. The
LEO also runs a number of courses in conjunction with the Crafts Council
such as Costing and Pricing, Packaging Design and Product Photography.
Young Entrepreneur
Three of Carlow’s best young entrepreneurs won a total investment of
€50k through the LEO Carlow, as part of this €2 million competition.
The local winners and investments won were as follows:
• Best New Idea (€10k investment): Cory Stephen, College Craic
• Best Start-Up (€20k investment): Diarmuid Byrne, Equiratings
• Best Established Business (€20k investment): Rachel Doyle,
RaRa Photography
• Diarmuid Byrne from Equiratings, was also named as Carlow’s
Fostering
“Best Young Entrepreneur”.
Employment,
Education &
Training
The European Social Fund (ESF) stimulates the provision of employment
and training opportunities, emphasising sustainable and quality
employment (especially youth). Poverty, discrimination and social
exclusion are also tackled.
Since Ireland joined the EU, many agencies and State bodies have
received almost €6.5 billion in investment from the ESF, including
€24.1 million in 2014. In Carlow, the EU has co-funded projects and
programmes dealing with the youth sector, early school leavers,
Local Enterprise Office Carlow winners, Diarmuid Byrne and Sam Watson from
minority groups, adult literacy, upskilling and support for long-term
EquiRatings, representing the county in the Best Business Start-up (less than
24 months) category of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur.
unemployed.
Ireland-Wales Project Erasmus+ is the EU programme for education, training, youth and
Carlow LEO recently completed a project with Tipperary County Council sport for the years 2014 to 2020. It provides funding and support
called ACT, funded by the Ireland-Wales Cross-Border Programme. for organisations to operate projects, which encourage European
This project involved the development of a companies’ competitive exchange, co-operation and learning. Funding of almost €170 million
advantage by using social media. has been allocated to Ireland. Over 77% of this will be allocated to
education and training, with a further 10% focussing on youth.
Moving on Programme
‘Moving On’ was established in 1996 in response to the needs
of young mothers in Co. Carlow and is run in conjunction with St.
Catherine’s Community Services Centre. The programme targets young
mothers who are at risk of or are experiencing isolation, early school
leaving, poverty and difficulties in accessing mainstream education and
employment opportunities. The aim of the Moving On Programme is to
enhance the lifelong prospects of young mothers aged 16-25 years
in Carlow, by enabling them to achieve inclusion in education, training,
enterprise opportunities and in the local labour market.
Enterprise Ireland
Enterprise Ireland also offers a number of grants for SMEs to support
development, marketing, exporting, training and research and
development.
For further information please contact:
The European Commission Representation in Ireland
Tel: 01 6341111 Email eu-ie-info-request@ec.europa.eu
www.euireland.ie www.facebook.com/EUIreland www.twitter.com/eurireland
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