European Union European Regional Development Fund

1. European Union European Regional Development Fund Northern Periphery Programme 2007-2013 General Introduction and Programme StatusChristopher Parker and Kirsti Mijnhijmer23 February 2010 – Copenhagen, Denmark

2. 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 2007-2013 • Operational Programme approved in September 2007

3. 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: • € 35.115 million ERDF • € 10.155 million ERDF equivalent • € 33.565 million match funding • Total programme budget (incl. match funding): €90 million

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. Joint Transnational Strategy

9. Priority 1Promoting innovation and competitiveness in remote and peripheral areas i. Innovation, networks and competitiveness 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 • 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

10. Priority 2Sustainable development of natural and community resources i. Environment as an asset in the periphery 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 • 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

11. 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 Norway. For Greenland 60%.

12. Current programme status – “ A Snap shot” Overview • Where are we today? • Programme commitment level • On going activities • Preparatory projects (seed money projects)

13. Programme Status – Programme commitment level • To date: • 27 main projects and 23 preparatory project approved • In total 64% of programme budget committed

14. Ongoing activities • Open call for preparatory projects • Partner seminars in programme partners countries hosted by NPP RCP • European Policy Research Centre has conducted a programme evaluation. Final report was presented to the Programme Monitoring commitment and outcomes will be used to design future calls and final programme implementation activities. • Assessment of Main project activity reports • Assessment of Preparatory project final reports • Opening of the 5th call on 3rd of February 2010 • Maritime Safety partenariat in Copenhagen, 3-4th March 2010 • Phoenix 2010 partenariat engaging creative industries and traditional industries in the NPP area held in Northern Ireland, April 21-22, 2010

15. Preparatory projects • 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 23 preparatory projects • Committed funds preparatory projects: € 401 255 (Remaining €98 745) • A call for preparatory projects from 3rd of February 2010 addressing project themes identified in gaps in the programme (and 6 themes currently partly covered). • In preparation for the Sixth Call, the definition of products and services has widened and alternative wording has been provided for a number of themes to facilitate a better understanding. See announcement on the website.

16. Contact Details – Programme Secretariat • Northern Periphery Programme Secretariat Strandgade 91, 4. sal DK-1401 Copenhagen K, DENMARKFax: +45 3283 3775 • Niclas Forsling – Head of Secretariat • Tel. +45 3283 3786, mobile +45 2511 2344, niclas.forsling@northernperiphery.eu • Christopher Parker – Programme Manger for Project Development Support • Tel. +45 3283 3782, mobile +45 2511 2391, christopher.parker@northernperiphery.eu • Kirsti Mijnhijmer – Programme Manager for Information & Communication • Tel. +45 3283 3784, kirsti.mijnhijmer@northernperiphery.eu

17. Contact Details – Regional Contact Points Norway Sweden Mr Bernt Vedin Region Västerbotten Norrlandsgatan 13, Box 443 S-901 09 Umeå Tel.: +46 90 16 37 17 Fax: + 46 90 16 37 19 E-mail: bernt.vedin@regionvasterbotten.se Website: www.regionvasterbotten.se Mr Tommy Nilsen Landsdelsutvalget Sjøgata 3 N- 8002 Bodø Tel.:+47 75 50 34 20 Fax: +47 75 52 67 25 E-mail: nilsen@lu.no Website: www.lu.no

18. Contact Details – Regional Contact Points Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland Ms Teresa Lennon SEUPB, EU House 6 Cromac Place Belfast BT7 2JB Tel.: + 44 28 90 266 723 E-mail: teresa.lennon@seupb.eu Website: www.seupb.eu Mr Michael O'Brien BMW Regional Assembly The Square Ballaghaderreen County Roscommon Tel.:+353 949862970 Fax: +353 949862973 E-mail: mobrien@bmwassembly.ie Website: www.bmwassembly.ie

19. Contact Details – Regional Contact Points Finland Iceland MrÞórarinn V. Sólmundarson Institute of Regional Development in Iceland Ártorg 1 IS - 550 Sauðárkrókur Iceland Tel.: +354 4555400 Fax. +354 4554477 E-mail: thorarinn@byggdastofnun.is Website: www.byggdastofnun.is Ms Paula Mikkola Regional Council of Lapland P.O. Box 8056 FIN-96101 Rovaniemi Finland Tel.:+358 16 2114 324 Mobile: +358 40 7118 380 Fax: +358 16 318 705 E-mail: paula.mikkola@lapinliitto.fi Website: www.lapinliitto.fi

20. Contact Details – Regional Contact Points Faroe Islands Scotland Ms Denise Pirie Highlands & Islands Enterprise Cowan House, Inverness Retail & Business Park IV2 7GF Inverness Tel: +44 01463 244252 E-mail: denise.pirie@hient.co.uk Website: www.hient.co.uk MrJakupSørensen NORA (Nordisk Atlantsamarbejde) Bryggjubakki 12 Box 259 FO-110 Tórshavn Tel: +298 30 69 94 Mob: +298 21 29 59 Fax. +298 35 31 01 E-mail: jakup@nora.fo Website: www.nora.fo

21. Contact Details – Regional Contact Points Greenland Mr Jan Mørch Pedersen Greenland Tourism and Business Council Hans Egedesvej 29 PO Box 1615 3900 Nuuk Tel: +299 34 28 27 Fax: +299 32 28 77 E-mail: jan@greenland.com Website: www.greenland.com

22. For further information, please visit: www.northernperiphery.eu Thank you for listening!