Brussels, 21/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has cleared an Irish aid scheme the goal of which is to encourage research and development activities throughout the country; it will be valid until 31 December 2006, with a total budget of 241 million euro. It is essentially aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises active in the manufacturing and international services sectors. Companies may request aid individually, but the scheme is above all intended to encourage collaboration between companies or with establishments of higher education or research institutes. The instrument is a subsidy aimed at research and development projects at the stage of industrial research, pre-competitive activities and technical feasibility studies. The aid intensity proposed complies with Community guidelines for State aid to research and development.