Icelandic Partner Seminar Current Programme Status 21 st and 22 nd of September, 2009 Höfn Iceland Niclas Forsling European Union European Regional Development Fund

Background Builds on successes Interreg IIIB Northern Periphery Programme: Total allocated funding to projects €30.2 million 62 preparatory and 47 main projects 400 project partners 68% of all projects involved SMEs Case study binder available Shift to the new programme period: Additions to the programme area More funding available for projects: €45 million Official name: Northern Periphery Programme Operational Programme approved in September 2007

Available Funding Types of funding: European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) for Member States ERDF equivalent for Non Member States Public/Public-like match funding Amounts available: € million ERDF € million ERDF equivalent € million match funding Total programme budget (incl. match funding): €79 million

Programme Area Regions in 9 programme partner countries EU Member States: Finland Ireland Northern Ireland Scotland Sweden Non Member States: Faroe Islands Greenland Iceland Norway

Geographical Flexibility Projects should always involve partners from within programme area BUT: Up to 10% of programme funds may be used to finance expenditure incurred by partners located in adjacent regions in Russia and Canada. Up to 20% of ERDF may be used to finance expenditure incurred by partners located outside the programme area but inside the European Union, and up to 20% of Norwegian funds may be used to finance expenditure incurred by Norwegian partners located outside the eligible programme area in Norway. Use of geographical flexibility must be justified in the application The criteria shall be applied as an exception Only when it delivers a significant contribution to the benefit of the programme area that is not otherwise available.

Common Characteristics Geography Sparsely populated area / low population density Rurality, insularity, peripherality Low accessibility Environment Harsh climate and difficult terrain High quality but vulnerable environment Abundance of natural resources Threat of climate change

Common Characteristics Economical and social A flexible and skilled labour force Dependence on single economic activities and public employment Aging population and youth out-migration Rich cultural heritage Projects should especially focus on the characteristics of the programme area: rurality, peripherality, insularity

Joint Transnational Strategy

Priority 1 Promoting innovation and competitiveness in remote and peripheral areas i. Innovation, networks and competitiveness Objective: To promote competitiveness by increasing and developing the capacity for innovation and networking in rural and peripheral areas Examples: Exchange of best practice and cooperation networks between R&D and SMEs Transnational cooperation networks and knowledge transfer to develop existing and innovative products Cooperation and exchange of best practice between SMEs on how to reach markets with new and existing products ii. Accessibility Objective: To facilitate development by the use of advanced information and communication technologies and transport Examples: ICT to overcome distance ICT to modernise and innovate industries and businesses innovative solutions for transport infrastructure subject to harsh climatic conditions transport schemes that benefit rural communities, e.g. new maritime routes maritime safety in remote areas with arctic, harsh conditions the capacity to respond to and prepare for emergencies and natural disasters

Priority 2 Sustainable development of natural and community resources i. Environment as an asset in the periphery Objective: To strengthen the synergies between environmental protection and growth in remote and peripheral regions. Examples: Efficient and sustainable management and utilisation of resources Impact of climate change and means to reduce it at a community level Small scale renewable energy solutions ii. Urban-rural development and promotion of heritage Objective: To improve sustainable development in peripheral regions by strengthening urban-rural relations and enhancing regional heritage. Examples: Urban-rural partnerships for new service solutions Innovative provision of existing and new services in the periphery private, public and voluntary sectors cooperation to develop new and innovative service solutions for peripheral regions promotion of natural and cultural heritage that supports the development of sustainable industries

Project Setup 2 types of projects: Preparatory projects: to generate high quality main project applications Requirements:  >2 partner countries  Address programme priorities  Public match funding Main projects: to implement a project idea addressing the objectives of the programme Requirements:  >3 partner countries; at least one Member State  Eligible public match funding Budget Preparatory projects: max. €30,000 with a grant rate of 60% (up to €18,000) Main projects: between €250,000 and €1.5 million. Maximum €3 million Grant rate: 60% for Member States, 50% for Non Member States Iceland, Faroe Islands and Greenland, and 30% for Norway

Current programme status – “ A Snap shot” Overview Where are we today? Programme commitment level Thinking about the Future....”Starting to promote the “concrete results” – Project products and services and current NPP for future NPP ” Ongoing activities Observations after first and second main project activitiy reports

Programme Status – Programme commitment level To date: 25 main projects and 21 preparatory project approved In total 49% of programme budget committed Programme partner countryAllocated to date Total available in € Member State ERDF62%€ Priority 151%€ Priority 278%€ Faroe Islands74%€ Greenland59%€ Iceland54%€ Norway51%€

Ongoing activities Open call for preparatory projects Partner seminars in programme partners countries hosted by NPP RCP Current period is an evaluation period for the NPP European Policy Research Centre is conducting the evaluation. Mid term report is expected in November and outcomes will design the future calls and final programme implementation activities. Assessment of 1 st and 2 nd Main project activity reports Assessment of Preparatory project final reports (few submitted) N+2 target to be met, letter to Lead Partner Action plan after Mini Workshop on project websites Small scale Partenariat on urban/rural partnerships – planned for August 2009 is postponed until concrete and tangible ideas can be found. NPP Annual conference in 10 th and 11 th of November 2009 in Iceland – Reykjavik. Main project development workshop to be held 23 rd and 24 th of November, 2009 to be thematically focused on PMC identified project gaps 5th call for application - Pre- announcement early December 2009 Opening of the 5 th call is expected in 1 st week of February 2010.

Ongoing activities How to apply seminars are planned for mid February, and one new services is that all applicants are encouraged to describe the general project description and added value of products and services which will be made in the project. All this relates mainly to section 3.3, and 4.1 in a main application. Descriptions submitted will be pre assessed from the Secretariat, from a technical perspective. A technical assessment implies that the Secretariat will see if the general project description is made understandable, if products and services are described and if description of their functionality is provided.

Preparatory project The NPP 2007 – 2013 Programme Monitoring Committee delegated authority to the Programme secretariat to approve preparatory projects and make funding decisions. The Programme Secretariat has assessed 52 and approved 21 preparatory projects and currently 3 are being assessed in three themes: ICT, small scale renewable energy and promotion of cultural heritage. Committed funds preparatory projects: € (Remaining € ) A focused call for preparatory projects from 1 st of July 2009 addressing project themes identified in gaps in the programme (and 6 themes currently partly covered). exchange of best practise and establishment of cooperation networks between R&D institution and SMEs to increase the capacity for innovation, facilitate the design of innovation systems and strengthen competitiveness maritime safety in relation to remote areas with arctic, harsh conditions urban-rural partnerships for new service solutions

Project Gap Analysis In Priority 1, the Objective ”To promote competitiveness by increasing and developing the capacity for innovation and networking in peripheral areas” i. exchange of best practise and establishment of cooperation networks between R&D institution and SMEs to increase the capacity for innovation, facilitate the design of innovation systems and strengthen competitiveness In Priority 1, the Objective ”To facilitate the development of advanced information and communication and transport in the programme area” i. maritime safety in relation to remote areas with arctic, harsh conditions. (One main application touching on the theme, Safe Ice) In Priority 2, in the Objective ” To improve sustainable development in peripheral regions by strengthening urban-rural relations and enhancing regional heritage” and the theme: i) urban-rural partnerships for new service solutions

Project Gap Analysis In addition to the gaps, the Programme Secretariat has identified 6 of themes that could be more strongly addressed. According to the Programme Secretariat, these themes are of high relevance to the programme area and have a low number of initiatives in them: i. cooperation and exchange of best practice between SMEs on how to address and reach markets with existing and new products ii. increased use of ICT to overcome distance iii. developing innovative product and service solutions for developing and maintaining transport infrastructure with regard to roads, railways, airports and ports under harsh climatic conditions iv. development of transport schemes that benefit rural communities, such as new maritime routes v. private, public and voluntary sectors cooperation and networks to develop new and innovative service solutions for remote and peripheral regions vi. promotion of natural and cultural heritage that supports the development of sustainable industries

Project Gap Analysis Conclusion: Total of 14 themes 3 are remaining to be addressed The Programme expects all projects to deliver product(s) and service(s) within their specific theme. A maritime safety partenariat (project development workshop) is being designed to be held in February 2010, this will be done in co-operation with NORA. Special efforts have been made to find proposals for theme ”urban-rural partnerships for new service solutions”, however these efforts have been made with limited success.

Observations after first and second main project activitiy reports All projects, except for the last 6 approved, are operational with some minor delays. Expenditure levels below expectations in most projects. Looking a round the room are the Icelandic producers of the tangible project results. You are the faces and voices of the Northern Periphery Programme! Website recommendations for updates: All project websites need to demonstrate their project’s products and services to stakeholders and to the wider general public. Currently, websites mostly just demonstrating the project cooperation, which can form a minor part of the website. The promotion of Products and Services being developed should be in focus, at this stage many projects should be able to make at least a vision so products and services can be animated or visualised. Projects need to describe added value in terms of tangible project results, functional applications, features and benefits in the same way that commercial organisations would attribute to their products or services. (SonyEricsson)

Observations after first and second main project activitiy reports Future Activity Reporting: Projects need to demonstrate and describe to stakeholders the future viability of their project’s initiative, and how future customers and users will get hold of the outcomes. Still very few tangible examples of outcomes, try to describe and sell your product and service when reporting. Many projects are halfway through and results are expected to be demonstrated at this stage. UPDATE and submit your project case study. The programme are using this format to communicate project success in a streamlined way to make projects comparable. Start reviewing your spending and project activity plans, no further delays are expected and project have to catch up with their implementing activities. Have your project budget changed due to currency exchange rate fluctuations. Do you need all your allocated funding? (Remember limitations due to match funding) Demonstrate and describe the return on investment of project initiatives and how to communicate this to stakeholders. Think how the European Commission and Programme Partner Countries view the future viability of the Northern Periphery Programme beyond the current programming period.

Thinking about the Future....”Starting to promote the “concrete results” – Project products and services and current NPP for future NPP 2014 – 2021”.... The next European Commission long term budget will be re-negotiated in 2010 During previous long term budget negotiations, the NPP was not on the map as a separate programme area Highlight the NPP area. Time to demonstrate products and services in NPP projects By promoting tangible products and services as an outcome of the NPP cooperation, the NPP can promote itself as a “best practice area”, suitable for transnational cooperation. By that a future cooperation can become viable possibly extended.

What is N+2: N+2 is an automatic decommitment of non used EU (ERDF) funding, which means that budgeted money for NPP in 2007 has to be spent by the end of Money not being spent will automatically be taken back by the European Commission. Projects NOT meeting the expected budget targets due to low activity levell face the risk that their project ERDF budget is being de-committed (reduced). Projects meeting the conditions will not be affected by the automatic de-commitment under Articles 93 & 97 of EC regulation 1083/2006. However, as long as all the NPP ERDF funding have not been committed it is more likely that remaining funding will be reduced. N+2 status for NPP

Held on the 22 nd of April 2009 in Copenhagen Interactive workshop to inform project Lead Partners what is expected out of a website, and LP information on how to better communicate programme expectations to ongoing projects. The NPP’s expectations for project websites Why project communication is the key to a successful project implementation What role projects play in the NPP communication strategy Some practical tips on user friendly website design Targeting: project managers and/or communication officers Why: to improve the quality of project websites It is essential the projects can communicate their expected outcomes (products/services) to the relevant target audiences (end users/financiers). Mini workshop – project websites

Outcomes: Make use of European Commission DG Regio for promotion of your project and the programme Provide best practice examples of products and services and allow projects to network about a common understanding of products and services List of products and services on the NPP website grouped by theme to allow cooperation between projects working on similar solutions. Distribution of project newsletters and other information Possible promotional materials NPP for project events Thematic pamphlets Programme pamphlet Roll-up displays E-newsletter NPP. Mini workshop – project websites

Other suggestions: Business development consultants to assist projects with a business perspective Promoting the programme via the CORDIS website/newsletter Web videos to introduce/promote the programme Visual guidelines (house style) for project websites to make the connection with the programme more visible Budgeting for attending NPP events Functionality NPP document library Mini workshop – project websites

LAVA 09 – NPP ANNUAL CONFERENCE This year’s annual conference will be on Iceland November 10 th -11 th of November and is aimed at “ Creative Industries” Why: The Northern Periphery Programme has a tradition of recognising the importance of cultural heritage and the business potential that cultural heritage can bring to the programme area, The importance of the industry for young people and the potential for them to stay and act as a young cultural entrepreneur in the programme area. A collaboration between traditional and creative sectors can offer a more sustainable development for the programme area. Short term aim, to demonstrate how creative industries can add value to traditional industries. The programme will, after the conference,further enhance the possibilities of liaison of traditional industries and creative industries by developing solutions to the conclusions of the conference. The mid-term aim is to include culture actors and cultural entrepreneurs in the next programming process and to ensure that creative industries will have a central position in the implementation of the NPP

LAVA 09 – NPP ANNUAL CONFERENCE Long-term aim: the Northern Periphery Programme area should by 2021 be a leading area for cultural entrepreneurship and the use of cultural entrepreneurs as an integrated part of the area’s innovation process and lifelong learning process. All project with Icelandic participation are expected to exhibit their projects at the conference, the exhibition will be held at Reykjavik City Hall. At the conference one NPP main project, NoCry, will bring cultural entrepreneurs who have been given the task to select a number of the NPP main project being exhibited to demonstrate how they can add value to your projects implementation. This is a free service for all projects and most likely only a few of the projects being exhibited will be selected. The cultural entrepreneurs will work 24 hours on adding value to your projects and the solutions will be presented at the end of the conference. For this reason, all project exhibiting will meet at 10 th of November 12:00 for lunch, on the invitation of the NPP secretariat. After lunch all project will be given 5 minutes each to introduce themselves and their work and the cultural entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to introduce themselves to you as project representatives. The project exhibition will open at 15:00 on the 10 th of November and will at the 10 th be open for the general public

LAVA 09 – NPP ANNUAL CONFERENCE Most important, this is an excellent opportunity to fulfil your national dissemination obligations as a NPP project partner. Your project exhibition is expected to attract the attention of both media and the general public. By the assistance of Þórarinn Sólmundarson and staff from his organisation Byggðastofnun we hope to have staff in place to describe the Icelandic participation in the Northern Periphery Programme You will represent all the individual project activities who are expected to deliver outcomes in the form of products and services. More information about the LAVA 09 is available on the NPP website.

General information 1 (3) Two types of budgets in an application 1. Project specific cost budget 2. Common cost budget When claiming and distributing common cost throughout the project partnership: Certification of Common cost has to be done by the holder of the common cost First Level Controller (FLC). A specific template for Common Cost certification has to be filled in by the FLC The holder of the common cost will include the total common cost in the SoE for the reporting period when the cost was originally occurred. Distribution of common cost is made by an invoice between the different partners, the invoice should be supported by documentation that common cost have been certified by the holders First Level Controller.

General information 2 (3) When claiming and distributing common cost throughout the project partnership: The partners will include their share of the common costs in the SoE for the reporting period when the common cost were paid and put into their accounts. The holder will report the common cost payments from other partners in the SoE, most likely in a specific budget line, for the reporting period when the payments were received and registered in the accounts. The payment will reduce the common cost to a net cost for common activities in the Lead Partner SoE, and not be reported as a revenue. In accordance with our letter to Lead Partners, the LP have the responsibility to ensure that the costs are connected to the project plan. How a Lead Partner do this is within the scope of control by the Lead Partner First Level Controller.

General information 3 (3)

Contact Details – Programme Secretariat Northern Periphery Programme Secretariat Strandgade 91, 4. sal DK-1401 Copenhagen K, DENMARK Fax: Niclas Forsling – Head of Secretariat Tel , mobile , Christopher Parker – Programme Manger for Project Development Support Tel , mobile , Kirsti Mijnhijmer – Programme Manager for Information & Communication Tel , Maxi Nachtigall – Project Officer Tel ,

Contact Details – Regional Contact Points Norway Ms Greta Johansen Landsdelsutvalget Sjøgata 3 N Bodø Tel.: Fax: Website: Sweden Mr Bernt Vedin Region Västerbotten Norrlandsgatan 13, Box 443 S Umeå Tel.: Fax: Website:

Contact Details – Regional Contact Points Republic of Ireland Mr Michael O'Brien BMW Regional Assembly The Square Ballaghaderreen County Roscommon Tel.: Fax: Website: Northern Ireland Ms Teresa Lennon SEUPB, EU House 6 Cromac Place Belfast BT7 2JB Tel.: Website:

Contact Details – Regional Contact Points Finland Ms Paula Mikkola Regional Council of Lapland P.O. Box 8056 FIN Rovaniemi Finland Tel.: Mobile: Fax: Website: Iceland Mr Þórarinn V. Sólmundarson Institute of Regional Development in Iceland Ártorg 1 IS Sauðárkrókur Iceland Tel.: Fax Website:

Contact Details – Regional Contact Points Faroe Islands Mr Jakup Sørensen NORA (Nordisk Atlantsamarbejde) Bryggjubakki 12 Box 259 FO-110 Tórshavn Tel: Mob: Fax Website: Scotland Ms Denise Pirie Highlands & Islands Enterprise Cowan House, Inverness Retail & Business Park IV2 7GF Inverness Tel: Website:

Contact Details – Regional Contact Points Greenland Mr Jan Mørch Pedersen Greenland Tourism and Business Council Hans Egedesvej 29 PO Box Nuuk Tel: Fax: Website:

For further information, please visit: Thank you for listening!