Study shows impact of SME research aid is small but important

On average, a euro of EU support to small businesses in economically weak European regions creates €0.30 of additional private investment, a European Commission report says.

“In the majority of schemes, the increased investment is greater than the grant. It can therefore be said that the public investment has levered in private money, multiplying the total impact of public investment,” the report’s authors found. “The effect is seldom dramatic (a median of 30 euro cents in addition to each euro of support), but it is useful.”