ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 1 The role of Innovative actions in sustainable regional development Jean-Pierre Berg European Commission Regional Policy Directorate General Head of Unit Innovative actions

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 2 The Context No competitive regional economy without innovation

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 3 Regional disparities in Europe in regional GDP per capita (PPS) Source: Second progress report on economic and social cohesion (30 January 2003)

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 4 Reduction in infrastructure gap Widening of technological gap High tech employment:High tech employment: –25 most advanced regions: 15% of total employment –least advanced regions: 4% of total employment RTD public spending:RTD public spending: –28 most advanced regions: 50% of RTD expenditure in EU –15% of the regions spend more than all the others together –Patents: Germany has 20 times more than the least advanced regions

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 5 Source: 2002 European Innovation Scoreboard: Technical Paper No 3 EU Regions, November 28, 2002 All data at NUTS 2 level, except for B, D and UK at NUTS 1. All data are for No regional data for DK and L. For IRL no data are displayed, as there are only 2 regions. Regional disparities in Europe in employment in medium-high and high-tech manufacturing (% of total workforce) Source: Second progress report on economic and social cohesion (30 January 2003) Employment in high-tech – 2001

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 6 Regional differences in educational level in Europe Source: Second progress report on economic and social cohesion (30 January 2003)

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 7 Source: Second progress report on economic and social cohesion (30 January 2003) R&D expenditures in European regions (1999) EU mean : 1.93% Barcelona object : 3%

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 8 EPO patent applications and high-tech patents applications

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 9 Internet in the EuropeanUnion Internet in the European Union

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 10 The Challenge No sustainable development without economic and social cohesionNo sustainable development without economic and social cohesion Economic and social cohesion requires public intervention and a strong involvement by regional authoritiesEconomic and social cohesion requires public intervention and a strong involvement by regional authorities

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 11 ERDF Innovative Actions 3 priorities technological innovationtechnological innovation information societyinformation society sustainable developmentsustainable development Regional programmesRegional programmes NetworksNetworks Regional innovation awardRegional innovation award Budget : 400 Meuros

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 12 Objectives Contribute through soft measures to: Increase competitiveness at regional levelIncrease competitiveness at regional level (Lisbon strategy) (Lisbon strategy) Allow SMEs to use latest technological advances for sustainable developmentAllow SMEs to use latest technological advances for sustainable development

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 13 Results 126 regional programmes adopted126 regional programmes adopted 3 networks adopted3 networks adopted Success due to :Success due to : – programme rather than « project » approach – programme rather than « project » approach – simplified submission and selection procedures –decentralised management

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 14 Choice of themes by the regions 25 % sustainable development25 % sustainable development 75 % technological innovation and/or information society75 % technological innovation and/or information society

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 15 Technological Innovation Split per sub-theme

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 16 Information Society Split per sub-theme

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 17 Sustainable Development Split per sub-theme

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 18 Networks 3 thematic networks3 thematic networks –IANIS, Information society - Sachsen (DE) –sustainable development - Wales (UK) –ERIK, technological Innovation - Emilia-Romagna (IT)

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 19 Regional innovation awards Best innovative projects to be selected by the regions and sent to the European Commission by 31st October 2003Best innovative projects to be selected by the regions and sent to the European Commission by 31st October 2003 Project selection by Jury under presidency of Mr Antonio Guterres, former Prime Minister of PortugalProject selection by Jury under presidency of Mr Antonio Guterres, former Prime Minister of Portugal Three awards, one for each theme: technological innovation, sustainable development and information societyThree awards, one for each theme: technological innovation, sustainable development and information society Awards ceremony at the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions in Brussels in April 2004Awards ceremony at the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions in Brussels in April 2004

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 20 Regional innovation awards Application Form

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 21 Summary of Information 1/2 Project title or acronym: Name of Region: Name of the regional programme of innovative actions to which the project belongs: Identify which of the three strategic themes applies to the project (tick as appropriate): ( ) regional economies based on knowledge and technological innovation ( ) e-EuropeRegio: the information society at the service of regional development ( ) regional identity and sustainable development Date of start of the project : Total cost of the project (including ERDF, public and private co-funding) : Project title or acronym: Name of Region: Name of the regional programme of innovative actions to which the project belongs: Identify which of the three strategic themes applies to the project (tick as appropriate): ( ) regional economies based on knowledge and technological innovation ( ) e-EuropeRegio: the information society at the service of regional development ( ) regional identity and sustainable development Date of start of the project : Total cost of the project (including ERDF, public and private co-funding) :

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 22 Summary of Information 2/2 Competent authority or authorities in the region: Person or persons responsible for the Programme: Addresses and particulars: Tel.: Fax: Contact: Tel.: Fax: Competent authority or authorities in the region: Person or persons responsible for the Programme: Addresses and particulars: Tel.: Fax: Contact: Tel.: Fax: Person or persons responsible for the Project: Addresses and particulars: Tel.: Fax: Contact: Tel.: Fax: Person or persons responsible for the Project: Addresses and particulars: Tel.: Fax: Contact: Tel.: Fax:

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 23 Description of Projet Brief outline of the project: State th key objectives of the project: (Have the objectives been met?) Highlight the innovative character of the project (and of the project approach in its design and implementation): Geographical coverage of the project: Objective 1 areas: Objective 2 areas: Areas outside Obj. 1 and 2: Stages of implementation (planning phases, targets and outcomes at each stage: Were there any difficulties? Would you do anything differently if you were to start again?): Groups targeted and/or involved in project design and implementation: Indicative project selection criteria used in the identification of the project (as described in the relevant action in the regional programme of innovative actions): Outlook for the future, including the possibility to transfer results to mainstream programmes and to other regions: Impact indicators used to assess the project: Brief outline of the project: State th key objectives of the project: (Have the objectives been met?) Highlight the innovative character of the project (and of the project approach in its design and implementation): Geographical coverage of the project: Objective 1 areas: Objective 2 areas: Areas outside Obj. 1 and 2: Stages of implementation (planning phases, targets and outcomes at each stage: Were there any difficulties? Would you do anything differently if you were to start again?): Groups targeted and/or involved in project design and implementation: Indicative project selection criteria used in the identification of the project (as described in the relevant action in the regional programme of innovative actions): Outlook for the future, including the possibility to transfer results to mainstream programmes and to other regions: Impact indicators used to assess the project:

ERDF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 24 Summary of Projet Results / Evaluation Grid 1.Innovative character and quality of the proposal: (its originality and feasibility;what makes this project a success and why? What are the key innovative features of the project? 2.Potential impact on the regional economy, on regional skills and on the possibilities for widening the scope of the actions initiated under the regional programme of innovative actions 3.Expected sustainability of the project: Will it be able to continue when the EU support has ended? What are the alternative sources of funding? 4.Projects results in enhancing local, regional and interregional partnerships: Was it effective in mobilising of groups of actors in the region? Which regional and/or external actors were involved in the project and why? To what extent and in what way did theytake part? 5.Transferability: Could this approach be used again in the region or elsewhere and how? 1.Innovative character and quality of the proposal: (its originality and feasibility;what makes this project a success and why? What are the key innovative features of the project? 2.Potential impact on the regional economy, on regional skills and on the possibilities for widening the scope of the actions initiated under the regional programme of innovative actions 3.Expected sustainability of the project: Will it be able to continue when the EU support has ended? What are the alternative sources of funding? 4.Projects results in enhancing local, regional and interregional partnerships: Was it effective in mobilising of groups of actors in the region? Which regional and/or external actors were involved in the project and why? To what extent and in what way did theytake part? 5.Transferability: Could this approach be used again in the region or elsewhere and how?

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