François Josserand

European Policies Research Centre (EPRC)

University of Strathclyde

Interregional cooperationLessons from Nordic-Scottish projects

How to learn what

1

Nordic-Scottish projects

2

Projects with Nordic and Scottish partnersin INTERREG IIC NSR and NPP (Article. 10)

43

36

9

35

0

10

20

30

40

50

Interreg IIc-NSR NPP

Programme

Nu

mb

er

of

pro

jec

ts

Total Projects with Nordic-Scottish partners

Country NSR NPP Total

Denmark 42 0 42Finland 0 54 54

Norway 45 46 91Scotland 12 51 63

Sweden 27 43 70England 44 0 44

Netherlands 51 0 51Germany 46 0 46

Iceland 0 1 1

What

Project aims &policy objectives

3

What

Regional policy

Rural peripheral areas

New economy

Business growth

Skills and learning

Global connections

Community development

Natural resources

Cultural heritage

An

alys

ing

sp

atia

l ch

arac

teri

stic

s

Met

ho

ds

/ te

chn

iqu

es f

or

pri

vate

bu

sin

ess

dev

elo

pm

ent

Met

ho

ds

/ te

chn

iqu

es f

or

pu

bli

c se

rvic

es d

eliv

ery

Nat

ura

l, c

ult

ura

l &

so

cial

re

sou

rces

4

How

Project outcomes

5

WhatChanges

generation of new ideas to solve common problems

exchange of information

communication channels strengthened

transfer of know-how

increased confidence

common identity

building of trust

sustainable co-operation

Lessons learnt Co-operation process

risk of independent sub-projects favouring joint or common working packages working across different national systems

Co-operating focus learning across disciplines building upon commonalities learning from each other and learning together

Learning: from individuals to organisations indirect organisational benefits confidence and capacity building personal levels of co-operation

Integration of the project into everyday work sustainable co-operation channels additionality of trans-national projects

6

Recommendations Project partners

choosing relevant, strategic projects allocating appropriate time and resources building project ownership within the organisation disseminating and integrating project outcomes

Project leaders building on existing co-operation channels defining clear and shared project objectives establishing a ‘common language’ choosing concrete tasks to ‘learn by doing’ planning all stages of the project cycle

7

Two case studies 79 projects reviewed 44 with both Nordic & Scottish partners 16 case studies selected

2 examples here:

1. The Re-use of Peat Production Areas Article 10 Northern Periphery Programme

2. Regional Development Strategies and their Spatial Implications

Interreg IIC Programme

8

Typology

Re-use of Peat

Production Areas

Regional policy

Rural peripheral areas

New economy

Business growth

Skills and learning

Global connections

Community development

Natural resources

Cultural heritage

Ana

lysi

ng s

patia

l ch

arac

teris

tics

Met

hods

and

te

chn

ique

s in

th

e fie

ld o

f pr

ivat

e bu

sine

ss

deve

lopm

ent

Met

hods

and

te

chn

ique

s im

prov

ing

pub

lic s

ervi

ce

Nat

ura

l, cu

ltura

l an

d so

cial

re

sour

ces

Regional

Development

Strategies

9

Re-Use of Peat Production Areas Team

Heterogeneity: - professional backgrounds

- types of organisation

Pros: scientific and practical perspective

Cons: objectives not always overlapping

Co-operation mechanics 1 partner, 1 specific sub-project Results shared in trans-national seminars

10

Re-Use of Peat Production Areas Learning

Trans-national: complementary partners Organisational: senior individuals involved Individual: project management skills

Outcomes Knowledge:exchanged and ’generated’ Dissemination: -stakeholders brought

together-long-term relationships

trans-national added value

11

Regional Development Strategies Team

Mixed: different professional backgrounds but similar organisations &

interests Continuity: limit on one-off participants Exchanges facilitated & enriched

Co-operation mechanics Planning: long-term preparation Leadership: ‘democratic’ project management Evaluation: on-going and ‘formative’ process

12

Regional Development Strategies Learning

Trans-national: benchmarking policies Organisational: training opportunity for staff Individual: peer review process

Outcomes Networking: ‘learning community’ established Dissemination: - reporting to other staff

- involving policy-makers

intangible but beneficial outputs

13