F.A.Q.’s
We hope that we have addressed most of the questions you might have about the INDEX Voucher Scheme on the website.
If you have a question that we have not covered here or elsewhere on our site, please go to our home section to find our full postal address, or telephone us on 0121 204 3883 or e-mail us at enquiries@indexvouchers.org
About the Index voucher scheme
Q: How does the INDEX Voucher scheme work?
A: The INDEX scheme will involve a two year pilot project in which SMEs in the West Midlands region will apply for a voucher to the value of £3000 which can be used to purchase academic support from one of the 13 HEIs in the region. The application form is on the web site and can be submitted on-line. If you are awarded an innovation voucher you can use it to purchase leading edge academic expertise to meet your innovation requirements. The aim is to improve your company’s innovation capability.
Q: How many vouchers will be awarded?
A: 220 vouchers will be awarded to 220 SMEs in the West Midlands region. They will be awarded on a random lottery basis. The initial 40 were awarded at the end of June 2007 and the next 100 were awarded at the of end of January 2008. A third batch of 80 vouchers were awarded in April 2008. If you are not successful in one round you can apply again in a subsequent round.
Q: What do we do if we win a voucher?
A: The INDEX Advice Centre will contact you to let you know if you have won a voucher. The Advice Centre team will support you through the process of selecting an academic of your choice.
Q: Are vouchers subject to VAT?
A: Yes, the £3000 vouchers are subject to VAT. Your company will follow the normal VAT procedures. VAT will be paid on the £3000 but it should be possible for it to be reclaimed through the standard procedures. The VAT payable on the £3000 voucher is £525.
Q: Why was the INDEX Voucher Scheme developed?
A: The main objective of the INDEX voucher scheme is to increase interaction between universities and SMEs in the West Midlands and boost firms’ innovation capability. The INDEX scheme has considerable potential to increase the transfer of knowledge between academics and business. It will achieve this by the demand led-nature of the scheme designed to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy.
Q: Who is funding the INDEX project?
A: The INDEX Voucher Scheme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), by the Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands, as well as the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Q: What is the purpose of the INDEX website?
A: The website provides all of the information that you need to apply for a voucher as well as instructions about how to submit an application form.
Q: What is the purpose of the INDEX Advice Centre?
A: The INDEX Advice Centre will provide advice and support to SME applicants and link the HEIs with the SMEs.
Q: Who are the 13 HEIs involved in the INDEX voucher scheme?
A: The 13 HEIs involved in the INDEX voucher scheme can be found on the Knowledge Providers page of this website. Although the scheme will be administered centrally, all of the universities in the region have agreed to participate.
Q: Who are the local regional business support agencies partnering with this initiative?
A: It is supported by the West Midlands CBI, the institute of Asian Businesses (IAB) and the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. See the Knowledge Providers page of this website for more details
Q: Why is the scheme called INDEX?
A: INDEX is an abbrevation of the full scheme title INnovation Delivers EXpansion. The INDEX scheme intends to promote innovation in business by expanding HEI and SME collaboration.
Q: Who is leading the INDEX Voucher scheme?
A: The INDEX Voucher Scheme is led by Aston University, from the INDEX Advice Centre.
Q: Who is eligible to apply?
A: SMEs operating in the West Midlands are eligible for participation in the scheme providing they meet the eligibility criteria. Please refer to conditions and PERMITTED USE page to check the eligibility criteria. If you are unsure contact the INDEX Advice Centre.
Q: When can I apply?
A: Applications for the last round of INDEX vouchers ended on 22nd April 2008. We hope to be able to offer the next round of INDEX vouchers early in 2009.
Q: How can I apply?
A: Applications can be made through the website, or by contacting the INDEX Advice Centre if you are visually impaired, we will fill in an application for you.
Q: When is the closing date?
A: Applications for INDEX vouchers are currently closed, however, we are hoping to be able to offer a further round of INDEX vouchers early in 2009.
Q: Can I apply again if I am unsuccessful the first time?
A: Yes. SMEs can apply each round until they have been awarded up to two INDEX vouchers. We are hoping that applications for the next round of INDEX vouchers will begin early in 2009.
Q: Can a subsidiary company based in the West Midlands with its head office based outside of the region apply for a voucher?
A: Yes, as long as the subsidiary company is self sufficient and meets the criteria set out on this website.
Q: How do I know if my business is eligible?
A: We have provided a list of eligibility criteria on the web site. However if you are unsure about your eligibility please contact the INDEX Advice Centre and we will try to help you.
Q: I would like more information on State Aid so that I understand what the term ‘De minimus aid’ means.
A: Advantage West Midlands, our joint funder, has information on State Aid.
Their current interpretion of State Aid reads;
‘State aid has been interpreted to include any transfer of state resources that favours one or more undertakings, resulting in a competitive advantage that could not be had under normal circumstances’.
Their current interpretion of De minimus aid’ reads;
‘De minimus aid is a volume ceiling, i.e. a total amount, rather than a percentage ceiling of project costs’.
Advantage West Midlands will be able to help us to advise you with regard to your eligibility regarding State Aid. Information is also available on the DTI ‘State Aid’ Guidance web site:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/bbf/state-aid/index.html
Q. Are there any other voucher schemes for SMEs other than the Netherlands voucher scheme?
A. Yes, Enterprise Ireland has very recently launched a voucher scheme and we have liaised with them developing the INDEX procedures and eligibility criteria. We are going to work closely with them to compare procedures and innovations. Please see their web site:
http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/InnovationVouchers/
State Aid Information
The best place to refer to for state aid information is the DTI website for definitions and information, exemptions etc.
http://www.dti.gov.uk/bbf/state-aid/rules/frameworks/page28712.html
You can also refer to the European Union online’s website:
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/state_aid/reform/reform.html
Q: What is State Aid?
A: A company which receives government support obtains an advantage over its competitors. Therefore, the EC Treaty generally prohibits State aid unless it is justified by reasons of general economic development. To ensure that this prohibition is respected and exemptions are applied equally across the European Union, the European Commission is in charge of watching over the compliance of State aid with EU rules.
As a first step, it has to determine whether a company has received State aid, which is the case if the support meets the following criteria:
- there has been an intervention by the State or through State resources which can take a variety of forms (e.g. grants, interest and tax reliefs, guarantees, government holdings of all or part of a company, or the provision of goods and services on preferential terms, etc.);
- the intervention confers an advantage to the recipient on a selective basis, for example to specific companies or sectors of the industry, or to companies located in specific regions;
- competition has been or may be distorted;
- the intervention is likely to affect trade between Member States.
By contrast, general measures are not regarded as State aid because they are not selective and apply to all companies regardless of their size, location or sector. Examples include general taxation measures or employment legislation.