The INTERREG programme in the UK

Interreg IVB NWE UK Contact Point

• Because they are part of the same policy architecture

• They have the same policy drivers (Lisbon, Gothenburg, Cohesion)

• Overlap in target audiences

Why ESPON and INTERREG?

Policy framework

•Third structural funds objective (Convergence, Competitiveness, Cooperation)

•Common policy background of all cooperation programmes:

• Lisbon Agenda (economic competitiveness)

• Gothenburg Agenda (environmental sustainability)

• EU Cohesion Policy (reducing regional disparities)

EU Territorial Co-operation Objective

Interreg A

Cross-border

programmes

Interreg B

Trans-national co-operation

programmes (13 in total)

Interreg C

Exchange of experience programme

(1 For all EU)

Networks

ESPON

URBACT

INTERACT

The Cooperation 'family'

Cross-border, transnational, inter-regional

Cross Border (Strand A) programmes support co-operation and harmonisation between regions sharing a common border

Transnational (Strand B) programmes address issues and challenges that go beyond national or regional borders, and for which a satisfactory solution at a local, regional or national level can only be found through co-operation.

Inter-regional (Strand C) programme supports exchange of experience and good practice to improve policy.

Interreg IVA programme areas

Interreg IVB programme areas; the 13 'zones'

INTERREG IVB (transnational) Programme Priorities

1. Innovation

2. Environment

3. Accessibility

4. Sustainable Communities

Focus and nuance according to geographic zones

NW Europe programme area

www.nweurope.eu

The Interreg IVB North Sea Programme 2007-13

Programme Area

www.northsearegion.eu

Atlantic Area Cooperation

Territory

www.coop-atlantic.com

Northern Periphery Programmewww.northernperiphery.eu

Interreg IV C (Inter-regional strand)

• Regional Development policy rather than spatial planning

• For developing policy, not infrastructure

• Finances networks and exchange of experience & good practice

• 2 themes:•Lisbon (research, technology, innnovation, entrepreneurship)

•Gothenburg (environment, risk prevention, biodiversity, energy efficiency)

What do Interreg projects do?

• Support cooperative action between partnerships across more than 1 member state

• Bring together public, academic, NGO and private organisations

• Test new approaches in reality, sometimes funding pilot or demonstration projects

• Positioned therefore between research and mainstream structural funds

• Involve their partners together in design, implementation and dissemination

Some transnational projects

FASILIS : Improve biotech, pharmaceutical and medical technology SME access research facilities to, broadening the competence networks of both SMEs and research infrastructures

SIGNATURE: Security sector collaboration

BLISS: Street lighting from renewables

FloodResilientCity: integration of increasing urban development and flood risks in major cities

SINTROPHER: improve accessibility of semi-rural peripheral regions by regional tram-train linking to national/international rail or air hubs

C-CHANGE: adapting open space planning to climate change

Cites in Balance: Age friendly planning and service delivery

Other Projects with Research Institutes

•IMCORE Innovative Management for Europe's Changing Coastal Resource•ForestClim- forests and climate changePILLS - pharmaceutical inputs from local sources (prevent water pollution)•INTrade – sustainable movement of freight within ports

Some inter-regional project examples

•Greening Regional Development Programmes

•Sub Regional Networks: effective delivery of Structural Funds and other regional programmes

•HealthClusterNET: Health sector as a driver for regional development

•Urban lighting

•Geoparks

•Brown field

Key Information

• Programmes run 2007-13

• NWE 2 calls per year; some programmes one

• 50% grant rate

• Programme budgets vary: NEW €335m ERDF

• 46 projects approved; 51% of budget left (€163.8m)

• Average project 3 years, 9 partners, €6-8million ERDF

• Each programme has a different website

Special NWE Initiatives

Strategic Initiatives:

Energy from algae, Biomass, renewable energy agencies’ network.

Innovation clusters, Knowledge transfer network

Freight and telematics – alternative corridors

Strategic clusters: climate change, sustainable energy in construction, public passenger transport

ESPON project: TRANSMEC

Workshops: develop better innovation and sustainable communities projects

ESPON and INTERREGShared objectives

Programme level support – separate discussion. At project level:

• ESPON partnerships may wish to extend their research into practice, by developing an INTERREG project

• INTERREG projects produce empirical results which are complementary to the research results of ESPON

• INTERREG projects can use ESPON material as evidence base, and signpost to relevant research

• ESPON can help INTERREG projects find ‘good’ partners

• Support strategic initiatives and thematic gaps

• Make the spatial dimensions of Lisbon and Gothenburg more accessible?

• Contribute to INTRREG project planning e.g. impact measurement, evaluation methodologies?

Contact details

Paula MacLachlan

PO Box 2840BristolBS6 9GB

Tel: 0117 9441082Mob: 07810 056071E-mail: paula@interreg.org.uk

Ian Hill

Tel: 01900 821322

Mob: 07976 224948

E-mail:

ian.nweurope@btinternet.com