Objectives, Priorities and Concepts

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME

• Operational Programme outlines the framework, strategy and management of the programme for the European Commission

• Projects should concentrate on chapters on:

Joint Transnational Strategy Priorities Policy and programme framework also provides context

• Programme Manual currently under development to assist project applicants

JOINT TRANSNATIONAL STRATEGY

• Programme response to the area’s strengths and weaknesses

• Sets out an overall vision for the programme

• Vision to be realised by implementing the strategic objectives of the programme

• Strategic objectives are described in the priorities

• Joint Transnational Strategy takes into account the policy framework, especially

Lisbon and Gothenburg agendas

Priority 1:Promoting innovation and

competitiveness in remote and peripherial areas

Priority 2:Sustainable development of natural

and community resources

Horizontal objectives:Equal opportunities and Sustainable development

Objectives of priority 1:

· Promote competitiveness by increasing and developing the

capacity for innovation and networking in rural and peripheral

areas

· facilitate development by the use of advanced information and

communication technologies and transport in the programme area

Objectives of priority 2:

· strengthen synergies between environmental protection and growth

in remote and peripheral regions

· improve sustainable development in peripheral regions by

strengthening urban-rural relations and enhancing regional heritage

Vision: Regions working innovatively together to help communities to develop the

potential of Europe’s Northern Periphery, and to achieve a sustainable and high quality future, and so make a distinctive contribution to a more dynamic EU.

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.

• exchange of best practise and establishment of cooperation networks between R&D institutions and SMEs to increase the capacity for innovation, facilitate the design of innovation systems and strengthen competitiveness

• transnational cooperation networks and knowledge transfer to develop existing and new innovative products

• cooperation and exchange of best practice between SMEs on how to address and reach markets with existing and new products

PRIORITY 1: Promoting innovation and competitiveness in remote and peripheral areas

ii. Accessibility

Objective: To facilitate development by the use of advanced information and communication technologies and transport in the programme area.

• increased use of ICT to overcome distance• implementation of ICT to modernise and to innovate industries and businesses in

the Northern Periphery • developing innovative product and service solutions for developing and

maintaining transport infrastructure with regard to roads, railways, airports and ports under harsh climatic conditions

• development of transport schemes that benefit rural communities, such as new maritime routes

• maritime safety in relation to remote areas with arctic, harsh conditions• building the capacity to respond to and prepare for emergencies and natural

disasters to which the Northern Periphery is exposed.

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.

• Developing new approaches to efficient and sustainable management and utilisation of resources

• Impact and possible implications of climate change and means to reduce it at a community level

• Development of small scale renewable energy solutions

PRIORITY 2: Sustainable development of natural and community resources

  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.

This will be achieved by supporting actions based on transnational cooperation within these broad themes:

 • urban-rural partnerships for new service solutions• innovative provision of existing and new services in the periphery• private, public and voluntary sectors cooperation and networks to develop

new and innovative service solutions for remote and peripheral regions• promotion of natural and cultural heritage that supports the development of

sustainable industries

CONCEPTS OF TRANSNATIONAL COOPERATION

 • Operational Programme outlines a number of core concepts that all

projects must fulfil:

Added value Transnationality

• Triple helix partnerships are considered a key concept

• Strategic concepts have also been identified that make a special contribution to achieving the objectives of the programme

TRANSNATIONAL CONCEPTS

All projects If applicable

Core concepts Key concept Strategic concepts

Transnationality

Added value

Triple helix partnership

results & outputs are innovative and of

benefit & relevance to whole programme area

with focus on peripheral regions

when appropriate, involves cooperation at transnational, national, regional & local level to

inform policy development

To become strategic Result

demonstrates beneficial impacts on

programme area, either in terms of physical

products & outputs or building social capital

and expertise

Projects that make a strategic

contribution towards acheiving the objectives &

vision of the programme

CORE CONCEPTS: Transnationality

A project needs to address at least 3 of the four transnationality criteria:

• Joint development • Joint implementation • Joint staffing • Joint financing

In addition, the NPP will stress the importance of a joint strategy for implementation and dissemination of project results

CORE CONCEPTS: ADDED VALUE

All projects must develop concrete, tangible results through the development of a transboundary product:

• by working together to produce a new product that has a transnational or transregional character.

• by working together to produce a new service that has a transnational or transregional character.

This means that all project applications must demonstrate how they will develop a product or service through their project.

ADDED VALUE METHODS

The development of transboundary products will be achieved by:

• Knowledge transfer: facilitating the transfer of economic development solutions, and

their practical application, from one country/region to another

• Innovation: working together to develop new or innovative economic development

solutions that can be applied in practice in more than one country/region

• Organisational learning: exchange of ideas, experience and good practice that

improve the stock of organisational knowledge. Topics addressed should be of

strategic interest for the daily work of all project partners. For the utilisation of the

project results, the project needs to be fully integrated into the overall objectives of

the organisation

KEY CONCEPT: TRIPLE HELIX PARNERSHIPS

Encouraged when appropriate

The three different spheres of business, higher education and public institutions working

together on new tasks and in new fields. These three spheres together, and not only by

themselves, make it possible to obtain an enhanced outcome from the cooperation and

invested capital, in the form of innovative new products and solutions.

Emphasis also on ensuring that end beneficiaries are located within the communities of

the Northern Periphery – community aspect

STRATEGIC PROJECTS

results & outputs are innovative and of benefit

& relevance to whole programme area with focus on peripheral

regions

when appropriate, involves cooperation at transnational,

national, regional & local level to inform policy development

demonstrates beneficial impacts on programme area,

either in terms of physical products & outputs or

building social capital and expertise

Projects that make a strategic contribution towards acheiving the objectives & vision of the programme

Core Concepts & Key Concepts

2 HORIZONTAL PRINCIPLES

To be integrated into every project:

Equal Opportunities

the prevention and elimination of discrimination between people on grounds of gender, marital status, cultural and social background, disabilities, age, sexual orientation, language or other personal attributes, such as religious beliefs or political opinions

Sustainable Development

development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

POLICY FRAMEWORK: LISBON

Programme guided by Community Strategic Guidelines (CSGs) > CSGs aim to help deliver the Lisbon and Gothenburg Agendas

Lisbon Agenda

Relaunched in Feb 2005 with aim of “delivering stronger, lasting growth and creating more and better jobs”

3 areas of action:

1. making Europe a more attractive place to invest and work

2. knowledge and innovation for growth

3. creating more and better jobs

POLICY FRAMEWORK: GOTHENBURG

Gothenburg Agenda

Agenda recognises “that in the long term, economic growth, social cohesion and environmental protection must go hand in hand”

Six issues were identified that pose the biggest challenges to sustainable development in Europe:

1. combating poverty and social exclusion2. dealing with the economic and social implications of an ageing society3. limiting climate change and increasing the use of clean energy4. addressing threats to public health5. managing natural resources more responsibly6. improving the transport system and land-use management.

NEXT STEPS

• Assess whether your project idea is in line with the priorities of the

programme

• Ensure your project is developing a transboundary product or service

• Make sure your project clearly demonstrates transnationality

• Consider whether your project could involve a triple helix partnership or

have strategic potential

• Become familiar with the priorities of the Lisbon and Gothenburg agendas

www.northernperiphery.eu