Benjamin Kuscher RAPIDE Project manager 20th May 2010 RAPIDE Successes and Challenges EUROPEAN UNION European Regional Development Fund

RAPIDE’s learning curve... Past ›Learning Summit in Cornwall summer 2007 ›18 member states ›25 regions ›high enthusiasm ›INTERREG IVC application 2008 ›12 regions ›3 themes; partnership, finance, risk ›much work ›1 st phase of the project ›3 working summits ›2 conferences ›building partnership

RAPIDE’s learning curve...Present ›4 Peer Groups 2010 ›Innovation Voucher - Effective Funding – Innovation Partnership - Innovative Procurement ›going into detail ›17 Regional Action Plans 2010 ›All APs are finalised ›Now starts the implementation ›starting the action

RAPIDE’s learning curve...Future ›RAPIDE follow up 2010 and beyond ›Implementation of the concrete actions ›Innovation Voucher+ ›Pre-Commercial Procurement ›Business Angel Networks ›Start-up Assessment ›Innovation Partnerships ›RAPIDE digital story telling for a better pitch ›Will be presented at the final RAPIDE conference

RAPIDE’s experience as Fast Track ›RAPIDE’s fast track nature of MUTUAL benefit good ›combined forces with the European Commission ›dialogue between the EU and the RAPIDE partners ›capitalise on new ideas and developments on the European level ›European Commission directly benefits from the testing, implementing and developing of new ideas within the RAPIDE regions bad ›Not all DGs and units take the fast track projects serious ›Different expectations of the INTERREG JTS and the EC

RAPIDE’s recommendations for Fast Track ›The project theme should be clearly defined ›Each involved DG should nominate an EXPERT on the theme ›DG REGIO geographical units need to support and regularly briefed on the project ›Implementation of actions should start within the project life cycle

Lorelei Hunt Director of Innovation South West RDA 20th May 2010 Why South West England is the Lead Partner of RAPIDE? EUROPEAN UNION European Regional Development Fund

Advantages of being a Fast Track Lead Partner ›Designing new innovative solutions for Europe's regions ›To lead the search for new ideas ›Direct contact to the EC ›New partnerships in Europe ›Direct comparison to other regions ›To have a say in Europe

Partner-Regions ›South West of England – UK ›Galicia – Spain ›Kujawsko-Pomorskie – Poland ›Örebro – Sweden ›Region of Western Greece ›Saxony-Anhalt – Germany ›Tartu – Estonia ›Wales – UK ›Presov – Slovakia ›South Bohemia – CZ ›Lapland – Finland ›Észak-Alföld – Hungary

For more information RAPIDEwww.rapidenetwork.eu Interreg IVCwww.interreg4c.net DG Regioec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm EUROPEAN UNION European Regional Development Fund Lorelei Hunt Director of Innovation South West of England Regional Development Agency Benjamin Kuscher RAPIDE Project Manager South West of England Regional Development Agency