SARF Background

The Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture was published by the Scottish Executive in March 2003.

The paper outlined a vision of an aquaculture industry guided by the principles of sustainable development, balancing economic progress with social justice and environmental responsibility. The formation of the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum was one of 33 priorities for action contained within the framework and was created to promote, encourage and support research and development in aquaculture.

Use this site to find further information about the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum, member groups and resources.

SARF was formed in April 2004 as an independent company limited by guarantee with charitable status. The aims of SARF are :

• To promote, encourage and support scientific research and development in aquaculture and related areas. This includes research in the fields of environmental impacts, technical and biological cultivation and health and welfare science.
• To enhance public understanding of aquaculture through the dissemination of research results in the public domain. This will include research exhibitions and on-line publications of investigations and results.
• SARF has a range of members including representatives from the aquaculture industry, government organisations, wild fish groups and environmental NGO's. The research undertaken will be across a broad range of areas and will be required to meet the collective needs of its members.

STATE AID PROVISION

SCOTTISH AQUACULTURE RESEACH FORUM (SARF) SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULATION EC No 800/2006

LEGAL CONTEXT
The Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum (SARF) is a not-for-profit company (No.SC267177) and registered charity (No: SC035745) charged with undertaking and funding research on behalf of its Member organisations. SARF was established as one of the key recommendations of The Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture published by the Scottish Executive in March 2003.

The Framework outlined a vision of an aquaculture industry guided by the principles of sustainable development, balancing economic progress with social justice and environmental responsibility. The formation of SARF was one of 33 priorities for action contained within the framework and was created to promote, encourage and support research and development in aquaculture.

Support for research and development in the agriculture sector will be in accordance with articles 31 to 34 of the regulation.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME

• To promote, encourage and support scientific research and development in aquaculture and related areas. This includes research in the fields of environmental impacts, technical and biological cultivation and health and welfare science.
  
• To enhance public understanding of aquaculture through the dissemination of research results in the public domain. This will include research exhibitions and on-line publications of investigations and results.
  
• SARF has a range of members including representatives from the aquaculture industry, government organisations, wild fish groups and environmental NGO's. The research undertaken will be across a broad range of areas and will be required to meet the collective needs of its members.

ELIGIBLE SECTORS
The aid shall be of interest to all operators in the aquaculture and related sectors.

ELIGIBLE COSTS
Support will be awarded in compliance with the terms of article 31 of the regulation towards certain eligible costs of the project relating to fundamental and industrial research and experimental development to the extent, and period, that these are used for the research project. Eligible costs are those relating to

• personnel costs (researchers, technicians and other supporting staff to the extent employed on the research project);
  
• costs of instruments and equipment to the extent and for the period used for the research project;
  
• costs for building and land, to the extent and for the duration used for the research project;
  
• costs of contractual research, technical knowledge and patents bought or licensed from outside sources at market prices, where the transaction has been carried out at arm's length and there is no element of collusion involved, as well as costs of consultancy and equivalent services used exclusively for the research activity;
  
• additional overheads incurred directly as a result of the research project;
  
• other operating expenses, including costs of materials, supplies and similar products incurred directly as a result of the research activity.

In respect of aid for technical feasibility studies preparatory to industrial research or experimental development activities in terms of article 32 of the regulation, the eligible costs shall be the costs of the study.

For activities undertaken by SME's in connection with the costs of obtaining industrial property rights and validating patents in terms of article 33 of the regulation eligible costs will be:

• All costs preceding the grant of right, including costs relating to the preparation, filing and prosecution of the application as well as costs incurred in the renewing the application before the right has been granted.
  
• Translation and other costs incurred in order to obtain the granting or validation of the right in other legal jurisdiction
  
• Costs incurred in defending the validity of the right during the official prosecution of the application and possible opposition proceedings, even if such costs occur after the right is granted.

AID INTENSITY
In compliance with article 34 of the regulation the aid intensity will not exceed 100% of the eligible costs.

DEFINITIONS
The expressions "fundamental research", "industrial research" and "experimental development" shall be defined in conformity with article 30.

The project will be carried out by a research organisation such as a university or research institution as defined in conformity with article 30.

DURATION
The scheme will operate from 1 October 2009 to 31 December 2013.

BUDGET
The estimated contribution from SARF will be £400,000 per year and will not exceed £1,500,000 for the expected 3 year duration of the project.