1. Welcome To the County Administrative Board of Västerbotten

2. The County Administrative Board Public authority Represents government and the Parliament The best interest for the County An authority with knowledge and responsibility for 13 policy areas

3. Robertsfors Umeå Skellefteå Vindeln Vännäs Nordmaling Lycksele Norsjö Malå Åsele Dorotea Vilhelmina Storuman Sorsele Bjurholm The County of Västerbotten is our working area 258 000 inhabitants 55.2 km 2 ( 1 / 8 of Sweden) 0.4 – 48.4 inhabitants per km 2 80% lives by the coast 15 municipalities 6 airports

4. Organisation

5. Governor Chris Heister Since march 2008. Nominated by the Government for a period of six years. The County Management Deputy Governor Birgitta Heijer

6. Communications secretariat Governor’s secretariat Deputy Governor Internal auditor International secretariat Admi- nistra- tive Finance Industry and commerce Legal Nature conserva- tion and manage- ment Environ- mental manage- ment Environ- mental protection Society develop- ment Social environ- ment Governor Advisory council Reindeer herding delegation The County Administrative Board N i n e u n i t s

7. Industry and Commerce - Regional Business Grants

8. Regional Business Grants Aim: increased growth & balanced regional development Encourage companies to invest for their expansion in our county and make financing possible (applies for both existing companies and start-ups) Applications for Business Grants are valuated according to: - decrees/by-laws in Sweden & EU-directives - advices and guidelines from Tillväxtverket (Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth) - priorities made by Länsstyrelsen

9. Regional Business Grants To encourage new investments: Regional Grant for Business Developing (SME:s) Regional Investment Grant Grants for Commercial Service (country shops and rural petrol stations) To encourage innovation: Innovation cheque Innovation Grant To encourage employment: Employment Grant (Tillväxtverket) Labour-intensive companies planning extensive recruitments (brochure in English available)  Final

10. Regional Grant for Business Developing (SFS 2000:283) Investment Grant for Small and medium-sized companies (SME:s) < 250 employees (Not for agricultural enterprises or enterprises in the fisheries sector) Max 1,2 million SEK in Grant

11. - Investment objectives: Buildings / facilities for permanent use Machinery / equipment (not vehicles) Product R&D Costs for marketing activities (new) Competence (related to above investments) Regional Grant for Business Developing

12. Example – Support area A (the 10 inland municipalities): Investments: Financing solution: Redevelopment of business property 600 000Grant, max 50 %700 000 Machinery/equipment 600 000 Equity/bank 700 000 Marketing activities200 000Norrlandsfonden* Product R&D0ALMI* Total costs1 400 000 Total 1 400 000 * For large investment projects loans from Norrlandsfonden or ALMI are possible.  Back Regional Grant for Business Developing

13. Regional Investment Grant (SFS 2007:61) No limitation in size of enterprise Lower share of Grant according to investment costs No limitation of the amount of grant, no upper limit Not possible to grant marketing activities Tillväxtverket is managing authority for costs > 25 millions SEK & for applications from support area B Differences to Regional Grant for Business Developing, mainly:  Back Please, take a brochure (in English)

14. Innovation support - State support for R&D and innovation in the form of: Innovation Cheque (max 50 000 SEK) Refers to innovative projects in the very early stages. Contributions up to 50 % of the cost. Expenses can not exceed 50 % own work (220 SEK/h = standard amount)

15. Example – Innovation cheque Planned investment: Finance: Market analysis (consultant) 35 000 Innovation cheque (50 %) 50 000 Patent, patterns, trademarks 15 000 Loan from bank 0 Material costs 0 Private co-financing 0 Consultancy costs 0 Salary costs* 50 000 Salary costs* 50 000 Total costs 100 000 Total 100 000 * Max 220 SEK/hour (standard amount)  Back

16. Innovation Grant The aim is to finance development of new products or services in early stages that are assessed to be able to get corporate financial viability for the applicant company The developed result from the project are intended to renew the business sector Grant: 25-45 % of funding needs (depending on company size and investment objective), max 1,2 million SEK per company and project

17. Example – Innovation Grant Planned investment: Finance: Design (consultant) 295 000Innovation grant (appr. 35 %) 455 000 Animation (consultant)300 000Loan from bank0 Material/test equipment50 000Venture capital500 000 Patent, trademarks 55 000 Equity/internal financing 345 000 (Total external costs700 000) Wages*/own programming600 000 Total project costs1 300 000 Total financing 1 300 000 * Salary costs recorded in the company during the project period  Back

18. Thanks for listening