Press Release: State aid: Commission endorses €48.3 million aid to Sharp for LCD plant in Poland

The European Commission authorised, under EC Treaty state aid rules, €48.3 million of aid which the Polish authorities intend to grant to Sharp Manufacturing Poland Sp. z o.o., belonging to the Japanese Sharp Corporation, for the setting up of a production plant for the assembly of liquid crystal display (LCD) TV modules and LCD TV sets. The investment of Sharp Poland is part of a cluster Crystal Park involving Sharp Poland and eight other companies, all of which will be located in the Pomorskie Special Economic Zone. The Commission's assessment found the measure to be compatible with the requirements of the Regional Aid Guidelines 2007-2013 because both the market share of the beneficiary and the production capacity created by the investment remain well below the critical thresholds. The investment project of €163.4 million in the high-tech sector will significantly contribute to the regional development of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region by creating at least 3000 direct jobs and attracting further investment to the region from component suppliers and subcontractors.