1. Practical Information and Guidance to Applicants Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Official Launch, Sofia, 4 th December 2012 Practical Information and Guidance to Applicants Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Official Launch, Sofia, 4 th December 2012 Ms. Anne Lise Rognlidalen, Country Director Bulgaria and Romania, Innovation Norway

2. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Agenda outline Programme web-site Bilateral relations and partnership projects Roles and responsibilities Essential reading and important issues Project assessment and methodology Application Portal and Application Form The Project Contract

3. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria www.norwaygrants-greeninnovation.no Main information channel One general «landing» page: Information about the programme area green industry innovation, bilateral relations and other common issues Select the specific page for Green Industry Innovation Bulgaria All relevant information and programme documents

4. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Bilateral relations/partnership projects Donor partnership projects mandatory Bulgarian applicant – Norwegian partner Development of green projects in Bulgaria Joint projects – Plan and implement the project together - Shared results Long-term cooperation, beyond project lifetime

5. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Roles and responsibilities Project Promoter (applicant) fully responsible towards Innovation Norway Project Partners responsible to fullfil their tasks towards Project Promoter (Partnership Agreement) The National Focal Point – no formal responsibility (consultation/advice/coordination) Innovation Norway – fund manager – overall responsible towards the donor (financier)

6. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Essential reading and important issues Individual Project (main) Rules and Procedures Standard Terms and Conditions State Aid Regulations Assessment criteria and methodology

7. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Eligibility criteria-promoters and partners Applicant – legal entity in Bulgaria Partner – legal entity in Norway Independent entities (no legal bindings) In operation for at least one fiscal year Clean criminal and tax records Documentation of project co-financing Signed Partnership Agreement Applicant/Partners main activities closely related to the area for which the application is made

8. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Eligibility criteria - for project Relevant for the programme area No overlapping or double funding Contribute to: - overall objectives of Norway Grants - objectives of Green Industry Innovation Progr. - expected programme outcome for Bulgaria Compliance with EU and Bulgarian legislation

9. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Eligibility criteria – expenses In line with the state aid provisions Costs that can be capitalised in the balance sheet of the company are eligible for state aid Depend on type of project and activities Case by case basis From approval of project until 30 April 2016 Normally only purchase of new equipment eligible Max 25% of project costs can be buildings/land

10. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Project co-financing and Disbursement Advance payment: 10-20% of approved grant Reimbursement of accrued expenses Interim Reporting/payment claims Pro-rata co-financing during project implementation Currency: Euro

11. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria State Aid Regulations EU Competition - State Aid overview http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/overview/index_en.html Ministry of Finance, State Aid Department http://stateaid.minfin.bg/ Main principle in EU/EEA: state subsidies shall not distort competition, but …. General Block Exemption Regulations http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/legislation/block.html The risk of receiving state aid in contradiction with the legal framework lies on the beneficiary http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/overview/index_en.html http://stateaid.minfin.bg/ http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/legislation/block.html

12. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Public Procurement Regulations EU and Bulgarian legislation on public procurement shall be complied with at any level in the project implementation All relevant information on: http://www.aop.bg If 50 per cent or more as public project funding Promoter conduct procurement as contracting authority Smaller procurement according to good economic practises http://www.aop.bg

13. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Assessment of project applications Organised by Innovation Norway Internal and external experts Consult with National Focal Point and Bulgarian line ministries Private sector partnership projects will be prioritised

14. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria A special vocabulary Expected OUTCOME of the project: the likely intermediate effect on target group or systems OUTPUT: project deliverables (products, goods, services) INDICATORS: How do we verify success? A tool to verify whether or not the project is achieving its expected outcome and outputs Environmental performance (quantitative/qualitative)

15. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria 15 general assessment criteria HR, technical-/financial capacity Maturity of projects Proof of project co-financing Risk analysis and mitigation plans Quality of bilateral partnership Contribute to programme objective and outcome CSR and cross-cutting issues Releasing effect, socio-economic impact Duration of project/value for money Publicity plan

16. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Additional assessement criteria for private sector projects Project profitability Financial reports (certified accounts) Business model, project scope Innovation level Intellectual Property Rights status Market potential Competitiveness

17. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Assessment methodology For general criteria: Scoring 1-6 points Additional criteria for private sector: Scoring profile - each criteria may be a critical success factor that could jeopardise the whole project Cooperation Expert Committee – advisory Reasoned opinions from National Focal Point Final decision by Innovation Norway

18. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Electronic Application Form Available at the website www.norwaygrants-greeninnovation.no All mandatory attachments and supporting documents to be submitted in electronic versions only www.norwaygrants-greeninnovation.no

19. Application Portal

22. Foto Erik Jørgensen Application Portal

23. Foto Erik Jørgensen Application Portal

24. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria The Project Contract Grant Offer Letter Standard Terms and Conditions Detailed activity budget Project Implementation Plan Disbursement Plan

25. Green Industry Innovation Programme Bulgaria Thank you for your patience Blagodarya Good luck with project preparations and applications Questions to: bulgaria@norwaygrants-greeninnovation.nobulgaria@norwaygrants-greeninnovation.no