The European Commission revised the State Aid Rules - relaxing exemptions on who and what Member State Governments can support through fiscal measures, grants, state aid etc.  The new rules recognise the YIC status and entered into force January 2007.

The EU YIC criteria:  A company must

-Spend 15% or more of their revenues on R & D

-Be no more that 6 years old

In return all such companies can receive:

-Up to €1 million directly from governments in addition to benefiting from tax exemptions, government aid for the taking of patents

For documentation and links, click here - New EU State Aid Rules recognize YIC