The EU - Supporting Your Local CommunityIreland has received approximately euro725 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 euro127 million and a further euro110 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 as educational training and other supports used to up-skill our workforce From 2014 to 2020 structural funding will focus mainly on areas such as research technology and innovation supporting small medium enterprises (SMEs) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) energy efficiency and education training and labour activation measures

Ireland is developing a clean innovative and highly skilled economy providing world-class leadership and competitiveness in areas such as IT Research and Technology Irish farmers are producing high-quality products for world markets These investments are providing a further stimulus in every region of Ireland and are supporting Carlow lsquos economic development and employment generation

This information leaflet provides an insight into some of the ways that the EU supports Irish citizens throughout every county in Ireland

In 2014 the European Unionrsquos new research and innovation programme Horizon 2020 came into force It is designed to make it easier for researchers and businesses (including SMEs) to collaborate on projects A key element of Horizon 2020 is a proposal to join forces with the private sector and member states of the EU to achieve results that one country or company is less likely to achieve alone

Around euro22 billion will be invested in this to boost innovation in potentially high growth sectors that will generate high quality jobs Much of the funding will go to public-private partnerships called Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) that will carry out research into innovative medicines fuel cells and hydrogen aeronautics bio-based industries and electronics

Irish participants in existing JTIs have already received over euro125 million from the EU research budget Here are some successful examples of this in Carlow

Commercialisation FundThe 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

Continued on next page

Institute of Technology - 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 euro12 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 474 subsidiaries in 60 countries to explore global opportunities in contaminated land remediation Separately MicroGen Biotech confirmed strategic inward investment into Ireland from the ecological restoration company MINEGREEN China that could provide up to euro3 million for this Carlow based start-up

ERIC ndash New Frontiers Programme in Carlow ITNew Frontiers Company lsquoGreenside Uprsquo focuses on connecting people with their communities and offers services on encouraging communities to grow produce and think green Founder Dee Sewell achieves this through social media Her website beat 3000 nominations and was named best blog in 2013 while Deersquos latest venture involves setting up community-style gardens for workplaces

So far she has worked with 11 community gardens including current projects in Callan and Freshford through Kilkenny LEADER She 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

EU Funded ProgrammesIT Carlow has been the beneficiary of a number of EU funded projects and plays a major part in spearheading and supporting EU and Cross-Border Development Initiatives

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

EU-Canada Programme IT Carlow was awarded funding from the EU-Canada Programme for the lsquoEnergy Efficiency in the Built Environmentrsquo (EBBE) project The aim of the EU-Canada Programme is to promote mutual understanding between the people of the EU and Canada including the language culture and institutions of each This programme also works on improving the quality of human resources by facilitating the acquisition of skills required to meet the challenges of the global knowledge-based economy

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 amp Innovation Richard Bruton TD and government officials during the China Trade Mission

The Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) Joint Programme

Carlow

Currently Irish farmers receive EU funding of euro12 billion every year through CAP funding and since 2007 Irish farmers have received a total of euro105 billion Further support of euro23 billion was received through rural development programmes with a further euro22 billion secured for the 2014-2020 period In recent years these programmes accounted for around 90 of our total EU public sector receipts

The LEADER Initiative was established to improve the quality of life in rural areas and encourage diversification of the rural economy by providing support initiatives in the area of ruralagri-tourism local enterprise development and community facilities The LEADER initiative will provide euro250 million in financial resources of which Carlow has been allocated a budget of euro64 million

Here are some of the more recent projects funded through this programme

Communitybull Bagnelstown received euro74k funding towards the refurbishment

of the townrsquos swimming pool This included re-roofing the building as well as upgrading the seating areas The town also received euro52k for the development of Muinebheag Town Park

bull The communities of Ballinkillen and Lorum were able to refurbish and extend a community hall with funding of euro284k and can now share the new facilities which include a kitchen play area and meeting rooms

bull St Fiaccrsquos House Graiguecullen built a state-of-the-art activity centre which includes a reading room computer centre prayer reflection space and a coffee shop They received funding of euro230k from Carlow Leader for this project which was also funded by Laois

Tourismbull St Laserianrsquos Cathedral Leighlin is one of Irelandrsquos most

important yet understated ecclesiastical sites It is also Carlowrsquos oldest working building Nestling in the village of Old Leighlin Saint Laserianrsquos is an undiscovered gem and was awarded euro130k to develop a Tourist Centre

bull The Carlow 800 Committee was awarded almost euro28k to promote Carlowrsquos heritage and celebrate the anniversary of the building of Carlow castle 800 years ago

Business Supportbull Titan Technology was awarded over euro28k to research the

suitability of locating a Data Centre in Carlow Town

bull 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 euro124k to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for its manufacturing process

Promoting RuralDevelopment

Bagenalstown Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool

St Laserianrsquos Cathedral Old Leighlin

Supporting Local Enterprise A key part of the Europe 2020 Strategy is to promote jobs and growth and to ensure that micro and small businesses can start up grow and export As part of this new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) have been established within Local Authorities (replacing the existing County Enterprise Boards) with the aim of delivering more integrated support services for micro and small business The new LEOs are responsible at local level for cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship and supporting business development They are the ldquoFirst Stop Shopsrdquo through which all State supports for small and micro businesses can be accessed and

where companies with clear high growth potential can be seamlessly fast-tracked to the next level of support

In 2014 capital funding of almost euro91 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 supports for micro and small businesses Carlow received approx euro349k through the local LEO in 2014

A number of Financial Instruments aimed at financing the building of more sustainable innovative start-ups and supporting expansion of small companies are available for SMEs including grants for start-ups business expansion and feasibility studies Micro Finance can also be arranged There is one LEO in Carlow

Continued on next page

CorkCarlow

For further information please contact

The European Commission Representation in IrelandTel 01 6341111 Email eu-ie-info-requesteceuropaeu

wwweuirelandie wwwfacebookcomEUIreland wwwtwittercomeurireland

Fostering Employment Education amp TrainingThe 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 euro65 billion in investment from the ESF including euro241 million in 2014 In Carlow the EU has co-funded projects and programmes dealing with the youth sector early school leavers minority groups adult literacy upskilling and support for long-term unemployed

Erasmus+ is the EU programme for education training youth and sport for the years 2014 to 2020 It provides funding and support for organisations to operate projects which encourage European exchange co-operation and learning Funding of almost euro170 million has been allocated to Ireland Over 77 of this will be allocated to education and training with a further 10 focussing on youth

continued from previous page

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 EntrepreneurThree of Carlowrsquos best young entrepreneurs won a total investment of euro50k through the LEO Carlow as part of this euro2 million competition

The local winners and investments won were as follows bull Best New Idea (euro10k investment) Cory Stephen College Craicbull Best Start-Up (euro20k investment) Diarmuid Byrne Equiratingsbull Best Established Business (euro20k investment) Rachel Doyle

RaRa Photography bull Diarmuid Byrne from Equiratings was also named as Carlowrsquos

ldquoBest Young Entrepreneurrdquo

Ireland-Wales Project Carlow LEO recently completed a project with Tipperary County Council called ACT funded by the Ireland-Wales Cross-Border Programme This project involved the development of a companiesrsquo competitive advantage by using social media

Moving on ProgrammelsquoMoving Onrsquo was established in 1996 in response to the needs of young mothers in Co Carlow and is run in conjunction with St Catherinersquos 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 IrelandEnterprise Ireland also offers a number of grants for SMEs to support development marketing exporting training and research and development

Local Enterprise Office Carlow winners Diarmuid Byrne and Sam Watson from EquiRatings representing the county in the Best Business Start-up (less than 24 months) category of Irelandrsquos Best Young Entrepreneur

Carlow

Currently Irish farmers receive EU funding of euro12 billion every year through CAP funding and since 2007 Irish farmers have received a total of euro105 billion Further support of euro23 billion was received through rural development programmes with a further euro22 billion secured for the 2014-2020 period In recent years these programmes accounted for around 90 of our total EU public sector receipts

The LEADER Initiative was established to improve the quality of life in rural areas and encourage diversification of the rural economy by providing support initiatives in the area of ruralagri-tourism local enterprise development and community facilities The LEADER initiative will provide euro250 million in financial resources of which Carlow has been allocated a budget of euro64 million

Here are some of the more recent projects funded through this programme

Communitybull Bagnelstown received euro74k funding towards the refurbishment

of the townrsquos swimming pool This included re-roofing the building as well as upgrading the seating areas The town also received euro52k for the development of Muinebheag Town Park

bull The communities of Ballinkillen and Lorum were able to refurbish and extend a community hall with funding of euro284k and can now share the new facilities which include a kitchen play area and meeting rooms

bull St Fiaccrsquos House Graiguecullen built a state-of-the-art activity centre which includes a reading room computer centre prayer reflection space and a coffee shop They received funding of euro230k from Carlow Leader for this project which was also funded by Laois

Tourismbull St Laserianrsquos Cathedral Leighlin is one of Irelandrsquos most

important yet understated ecclesiastical sites It is also Carlowrsquos oldest working building Nestling in the village of Old Leighlin Saint Laserianrsquos is an undiscovered gem and was awarded euro130k to develop a Tourist Centre

bull The Carlow 800 Committee was awarded almost euro28k to promote Carlowrsquos heritage and celebrate the anniversary of the building of Carlow castle 800 years ago

Business Supportbull Titan Technology was awarded over euro28k to research the

suitability of locating a Data Centre in Carlow Town

bull 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 euro124k to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for its manufacturing process

Promoting RuralDevelopment

Bagenalstown Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool

St Laserianrsquos Cathedral Old Leighlin

Supporting Local Enterprise A key part of the Europe 2020 Strategy is to promote jobs and growth and to ensure that micro and small businesses can start up grow and export As part of this new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) have been established within Local Authorities (replacing the existing County Enterprise Boards) with the aim of delivering more integrated support services for micro and small business The new LEOs are responsible at local level for cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship and supporting business development They are the ldquoFirst Stop Shopsrdquo through which all State supports for small and micro businesses can be accessed and

where companies with clear high growth potential can be seamlessly fast-tracked to the next level of support

In 2014 capital funding of almost euro91 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 supports for micro and small businesses Carlow received approx euro349k through the local LEO in 2014

A number of Financial Instruments aimed at financing the building of more sustainable innovative start-ups and supporting expansion of small companies are available for SMEs including grants for start-ups business expansion and feasibility studies Micro Finance can also be arranged There is one LEO in Carlow

Continued on next page

CorkCarlow

For further information please contact

The European Commission Representation in IrelandTel 01 6341111 Email eu-ie-info-requesteceuropaeu

wwweuirelandie wwwfacebookcomEUIreland wwwtwittercomeurireland

Fostering Employment Education amp TrainingThe 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 euro65 billion in investment from the ESF including euro241 million in 2014 In Carlow the EU has co-funded projects and programmes dealing with the youth sector early school leavers minority groups adult literacy upskilling and support for long-term unemployed

Erasmus+ is the EU programme for education training youth and sport for the years 2014 to 2020 It provides funding and support for organisations to operate projects which encourage European exchange co-operation and learning Funding of almost euro170 million has been allocated to Ireland Over 77 of this will be allocated to education and training with a further 10 focussing on youth

continued from previous page

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 EntrepreneurThree of Carlowrsquos best young entrepreneurs won a total investment of euro50k through the LEO Carlow as part of this euro2 million competition

The local winners and investments won were as follows bull Best New Idea (euro10k investment) Cory Stephen College Craicbull Best Start-Up (euro20k investment) Diarmuid Byrne Equiratingsbull Best Established Business (euro20k investment) Rachel Doyle

RaRa Photography bull Diarmuid Byrne from Equiratings was also named as Carlowrsquos

ldquoBest Young Entrepreneurrdquo

Ireland-Wales Project Carlow LEO recently completed a project with Tipperary County Council called ACT funded by the Ireland-Wales Cross-Border Programme This project involved the development of a companiesrsquo competitive advantage by using social media

Moving on ProgrammelsquoMoving Onrsquo was established in 1996 in response to the needs of young mothers in Co Carlow and is run in conjunction with St Catherinersquos 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 IrelandEnterprise Ireland also offers a number of grants for SMEs to support development marketing exporting training and research and development

Local Enterprise Office Carlow winners Diarmuid Byrne and Sam Watson from EquiRatings representing the county in the Best Business Start-up (less than 24 months) category of Irelandrsquos Best Young Entrepreneur

CorkCarlow

For further information please contact

The European Commission Representation in IrelandTel 01 6341111 Email eu-ie-info-requesteceuropaeu

wwweuirelandie wwwfacebookcomEUIreland wwwtwittercomeurireland

Fostering Employment Education amp TrainingThe 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 euro65 billion in investment from the ESF including euro241 million in 2014 In Carlow the EU has co-funded projects and programmes dealing with the youth sector early school leavers minority groups adult literacy upskilling and support for long-term unemployed

Erasmus+ is the EU programme for education training youth and sport for the years 2014 to 2020 It provides funding and support for organisations to operate projects which encourage European exchange co-operation and learning Funding of almost euro170 million has been allocated to Ireland Over 77 of this will be allocated to education and training with a further 10 focussing on youth

continued from previous page

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 EntrepreneurThree of Carlowrsquos best young entrepreneurs won a total investment of euro50k through the LEO Carlow as part of this euro2 million competition

The local winners and investments won were as follows bull Best New Idea (euro10k investment) Cory Stephen College Craicbull Best Start-Up (euro20k investment) Diarmuid Byrne Equiratingsbull Best Established Business (euro20k investment) Rachel Doyle

RaRa Photography bull Diarmuid Byrne from Equiratings was also named as Carlowrsquos

ldquoBest Young Entrepreneurrdquo

Ireland-Wales Project Carlow LEO recently completed a project with Tipperary County Council called ACT funded by the Ireland-Wales Cross-Border Programme This project involved the development of a companiesrsquo competitive advantage by using social media

Moving on ProgrammelsquoMoving Onrsquo was established in 1996 in response to the needs of young mothers in Co Carlow and is run in conjunction with St Catherinersquos 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 IrelandEnterprise Ireland also offers a number of grants for SMEs to support development marketing exporting training and research and development

Local Enterprise Office Carlow winners Diarmuid Byrne and Sam Watson from EquiRatings representing the county in the Best Business Start-up (less than 24 months) category of Irelandrsquos Best Young Entrepreneur