Programme "Technology training"

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Name of the instrument - Local language
Atbalsts nodarbināto apmācībām
Name of the instrument - English translation
Programme "Technology training"
Scheme ID
341
Country
Latvia
Reporting year
2020
Type of instrument
Grant for companies
Sub-type of instrument
Support for direct costs
Type of entry
Single instrument
Short description

The scheme promotes training opportunities for the employees of companies so that they can more easily adopt innovation in their companies. The technology training programme focuses on companies in the manufacturing, ICT and tourism sector, global business service centres sector. An applicant, meeting pre-determined criteria, can apply for a grant. A grant is allocated as a lump-sum payment to the sectoral business association. The maximum public funding provided to one project is EUR 900 000. The funding can be transferred as an advance payment and as cost reimbursement. Eligible costs include training costs, salary costs of the training provider, travel costs and accommodation costs only for training provider and project management costs. There is no preferential treatment.

Not applicable
Level of operation
National
Name of a part of the country
Not applicable
Name of the region (for regional instruments)
Not applicable
Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
Not applicable
Relevance
Key instrument
Cabinet of Ministers Regulation Nr. 617. Technology training implementation rules. Available here (in Latvian) https://likumi.lv/ta/id/277601-darbibas-programmas-izaugsme-un-nodarbin…
Objective(s) and target(s)
The regulation of the instrument states that: "The aim of the instrument is to ensure that companies have well-trained personnel which in turn contributes to the productivity and introduction of new or improved products or services".
Year of implementation
2016
Year of latest amendment
2020
Year of termination
2020
Operation/management
The programme was designed by the Ministry of Economy and financed by ERDF. The programme is implemented by the Central Finance and Contracting Agency of Latvia. It is supervised by the Managing Authority of ERDF in Latvia - Ministry of Finance. Employer association and Chamber of Commerce are part of the ERDF Operational Programme monitoring committee which decided about the introductions of the programme. Representatives of the largest sectorial business associations were involved in the design of the programmes as well as are direct beneficiaries who are responsible for the identification of training needs in their specific sectors as well as organizing the training for companies.
Eligible group(s)
The programme requirements define eligibility criteria not for the companies (final beneficiaries), but for the sectoral associations who are the direct beneficiaries and have to submit projects. The requirements for the associations are: - Have to be registered in the commercial register for at least 5 years. - Work in the sector covered by RIS3. - Members of the association represent RIS3 sectors and the annual turnover of the members exceeds 142 m EUR. Eligible groups are enterprises (l ted by sectoral associations) developing innovative products in priority areas of the Smart Specialization Strategy of Latvia. The training has to be aimed at bringing about innovation of a sort; for example, training is expected to lead to a new product, process, marketing approach, organisational structuring, etc. (within the company).
Group(s) with preferential treatment
No preferential treatment
Education and training eligible
Training provided by the enterprise itself or external training course provider, including: -General courses (e.g. language courses); - Occupational courses connected to the present economic activity of the participant; - Occupational courses of all kinds; - Any kind of non-formal education/courses (e.g. for private issues only).
Source of financing and collection mechanism
ERDF and national budget
Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
An applicant, meeting pre-determined criteria, can apply for a grant. A grant is allocated as a lump-sum payment to the sectoral business association. The maximum public funding provided to one project is EUR 900 000. The funding can be transferred as an advance payment and as costs reimbursement. There are no additional criteria for costs of educational activities remaining eligible for co-funding.
Eligible costs
Training costs, salary costs of the training provider, travel costs and accommodation costs only for training provider, project management costs.
Volumes of funding
Overall volumes of funding available:2016: EUR 9 000 000 2017: EUR 9 000 000Overall volumes of funding actually disbursed:2017: EUR 6 400 000
Beneficiaries/take up
The only publicly available statistical data available for the programme is the number of sectoral associations that have received support from the programme to organize the training for their member companies. That is 10 sectoral associations.
Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
Central Finance and Contracting Agency of Latvia (for technology training)
Monitoring/evaluation reports available
Not available
Most relevant webpage - in English
Not available
Most relevant webpage - local language
https://cfla.gov.lv/lv/es-fondi-2014-2020/projektu-istenosana/1-2-2-1-a…
Recent changes

10-03-2020. The change was rather technical specifying the payback of received support in case the fundig was used in conflict to the ERDF funding rules. It was a technical amendment specifying the procedure in case the ERDF funding rules are not followed. It was a technical amendment specifying the procedure in case the ERDF funding rules are not followed.

Recent changes in response to COVID-19

No changes

Sources
https://cfla.gov.lv/lv/es-fondi-2014-2020/projektu-istenosana/1-2-2-1-a…
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