1. Application Form Sections 4-9 Christopher Parker & Kirsti Mijnhijmer 28 January 2009 – Copenhagen, Denmark
European Union
European Regional Development Fund

2. Part 1 – Section 4: Contribution to the NPP Concepts (1 of 3)
Products/services ≠ outcomes
Clearly list the products/ services. Do not bury them
Mention the functionality, innovativeness, demand, providers, future viability
Mention how: innovation, knowledge transfer, organisational learning
Make a logical connection to sections 3 and 9 and Part 2.

3. Part 1 – Section 4: Contribution to the NPP Concepts (2 of 3)
Transnational impact:
Describe how widely the developed product sor services can be implemented.
Try to evaluate the impact of the products and services for the benefiting regions.
Describe transnational aspects of the project and partnership:
Use the NPP definitions and criteria!
Which criteria does it meet and how? At least 3 criteria mandatory.

4. Part 1 – Section 4: Contribution to the NPP Concepts (3 of 3)
If applicable, demonstrate how the project has established a triple helix partnership or context:
Outline which model has been chosen: partnership or context
Describe how each of the 3 spheres is represented
If not applicable, elaborate why the project partnership does not consider a triple helix partnership or context to be applicable.
Remember the indicators!

5. Part 1 – Section 4: Pitfalls
No logical connections between this section and the rest of the application
Products and services not clearly listed;
Other outcomes that are not products/services are listed here (networks, studies, reports).
The products/services have to be extracted from a long description
The project will not develop any products/services.
Viability of products/services not clear:
The demand for the products/services has not been described
It is unclear who will provide the products or services
It is unclear how the products/services will be brought to the end users
No reference to methods of “added value”
The project does not use the NPP definition of transnationality
The project does not outline how the criteria of transnationality are met
The project does not explain how the triple helix is represented.

6. Part 1 – Section 5: Integration Horizontal Principles (1 of 2)
Refer to NPP definitions!
Equal opportunities is not only about gender!
Describe how equal opportunities have been integrated into the project:
Mention any objectives set and how they will be implemented
Mention if and how it has been integrated into the project partnership and management structure
Mention specific actions
Justify why you believe your project is neutral or positive

7. Part 1 – Section 5: Integration Horizontal Principles (2 of 2)
Sustainability is not only about the environment!
Describe how sustainable development has been integrated into the project:
Mention concrete actions
Mention any objectives set and how they will be implemented
Justify why you believe your project is neutral or positive

8. Part 1 – Section 5: Pitfalls
Projects do not use the NPP definitions of equal opportunities and sustainable development but apply a more narrow understanding of the horizontal principles.
Project refer to equal opportunity employment policies. This does not qualify them for higher ranking.
Projects mention objectives rather than concrete actions to implement them.
Projects do not justify why they consider themselves to be neutral or positive. Too often they believe that they are positive.

9. Part 1 – Section 6: Alignment European and domestic strategies
All projects should be in alignment with and contribute to relevant European and domestic strategies.
Demonstrate how your project contributes to the Lisbon and Gothenburg Agendas.
List any contributions to other plans such as regional development plans, growth agreements, etc.

10. Part 1 – Section 6: Pitfalls
Projects fail to mention concrete contributions made to the Lisbon and Gothenburg Agendas.
Project do not mention any concrete domestic strategies they may contribute to.

11. Part 1 – Section 7: Communication Strategy (1 of 3)
Provide details on the internal communication strategy:
How will the partners communicate with each other transnationally? E.g. information flow chart.
How is the partnership organised? How are associated partners connected to the project?
Describe the decision making procedure, e.g:
joint decision making structures
steering committees
stakeholder input

12. Part 1 – Section 7: Communication Strategy (2 of 3)
Describe the external communication strategy:
Objectives, message
Target groups  wide dissemination
Communication measures and timeframe
Demonstrate a clear link between objectives  target groups  measures
The strategy should cover the entire project lifetime+
Include the mandatory list of tools!
Mention specific measures aimed at the media

13. Part 1 – Section 7: Communication Strategy (3 of 3)
All projects have to comply with EU publicity requirements (EC Regulation 1828/2006 Art. 8-9)
Please outline how the project plans to comply with these rules.
Demonstrate that you have understood the obligation.

14. Part 1 – Section 7: Pitfalls
Projects do not have a communication strategy
General: It is often not clear how the project interacts with the end users of their product/services and the associated partners
There is no logical connection between the project aim, communication objectives, target groups and communication measures. Projects do not justify their choice of communication measures.
Projects fail to mention the mandatory communication tools
Projects forget to include a timeframe.
Projects do not plan for the whole project lifetime: start to end and beyond
Projects forget to link the planned communication measures to the indicators, work package descriptions and budget.
Projects are not aware of the European publicity requirements

15. Part 1 – Section 8: Total Budget and Financial Plan
This table gives the total budget overview: costs and financing plan
We recommend you to copy it from Part 3 of the application. You can also fill it in here
Pitfalls
Projects forget to include this table

16. Part 1 – Section 9: Indicators (1 of 4)
The Northern Periphery Programme aims to achieve a number of programme objectives.
Project indicators consist of General Indicators that can be used by all
General Indicators are collected at a programme level and are reported to the European Commission

17. Part 1 – Section 9: Indicators (2 of 4)
Priority Specific
Indicators that should be chosen depending on the Priority applied to.
Some Activity Indicators have also been provided and projects can choose to use these or develop a limited number of their own activity
Indicators based on the project’s objectives and activities.

18. Part 1 – Section 9: Indicators (3 of 4)
Priority Specific
Indicators that should be chosen depending on the Priority applied to.
Some Activity Indicators have also been provided and projects can choose to use these or develop a limited number of their own activity
Indicators based on the project’s objectives and activities.

19. Part 1 – Section 9: Indicators (4 of 4)
Additional indicators are agreed within the project partnership can be listed in project specific indicators

20. Part 1 – Section 9: Pitfalls
Missing Indicators
Missing logical connections between this section and:
section 3, project content
section 4, products and services
Part 2, detailed description of the work packages.
Unrealistic targets  we will use this part of the application for monitoring and reporting to the European Commission

21. Part 1 – Sections 4-9: Best Practises
Make sure that you clearly list products/services
Use the NPP definitions of added value, transnationality, equal opportunities and sustainable development
Justify your choices clearly with concrete actions; no woolly explanations.
Demonstrate logical connections between the different sections in the application form
Take time to develop a communication strategy with your partnership:
Internal and external communication
Timeframe
Communication measures in connection to target groups and objectives
Budget
Familiarise yourself with the European and NPP publicity requirements: avoid surprises.
Readers should be able to cross-reference the indicators with other parts of the applications.

22. Thank you for listening!