Penza, 13 September 2011. PenzaNews. Subjects of small and mid-size business of the Penza region, already operating or only beginning to work in the sphere of innovations, can get financial support. The vice-chairman — the head of the department of innovative policy of the government of the Penza region Yury Krivov informed about it during the press conference on Tuesday, September, 13th.

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He said: "In order to stimulate the development of innovative activity since September, 23rd the government of the Penza region will start to accept applications for 500 thousand rubles grants on creation small and mid-size business enterprises in the sphere of innovations and 5 million rubles grants for operating small and mid-size enterprises".

According to Yury Krivov, 10 million rubles were allocated from the federal budget and 2.5 million rubles from the regional one for creation of small and mid-size business enterprises in the sphere of innovations.

He added that operating companies will get 20 million rubles: 16 million rubles — from the federal budget and 4 million rubles — from the regional one.

Yury Krivov said: "The region got federal funds on support of the innovative companies after competitive consideration of demands by the ministry of economic development of Russia. The demand from the Penza region on all directions of support of representatives of small and mid-size business was recognized the best among all Federal subjects of the Russian Federation and got the highest score".

He said that this year the government of the Penza region decided to reduce the funds of support of the innovative companies to create competitive environment and increase the quality of applications.

According to the deputy chief of the department of innovative policy of the government of the Penza region Pavel Udalov, companies which got grants last year can also count on subsidies.

He noticed that in comparison with last year there were some changes in the scheme of granting.

Pavel Udalov said: "This year the sum which addressees can spend on services of the other organizations is up to 25% of the size of the grant. It stimulates businessmen to allocate money for patenting and licensing of inventions".

New innovative companies registered after August, 1st, 2009 can take part in competition of grants and companies which work not less than one year can count on subsidies.

38 new companies got grants and 7 operating companies got subsidies for the development under the program of support of the innovative companies in the Penza region in 2010.