Interreg Transnational Co-operation

1. Interreg Transnational Co-operation Programme Information seminar University of Limerick July 15th 2010

2. Presentation overview • Short overview of BMW Regional Assembly • Interreg Atlantic Area Programme • Northern Periphery Programme • Writing a successful proposal – key issues

3. Region Map In 1999 Ireland was split into 2 separate NUTS II regions for EU purposes • Border, Midland and Western Region -Objective 1 • Southern and Eastern Region – Transitional Objective 1 Status

4. Background Established in 1999 Executive Staff of 13 Regional Assembly has 29 indirectly elected members Objective 1 region 2000-06 Phasing-in (Objective 2) 2007-13

5. Role of the BMW Regional Assembly • Managing Authority for the 2000-06 and 2007-13 BMW Regional Operational Programmes • Monitoring the general impact of all EU and national investment programmes in the region • Highlighting issues of concern for the region and ensuring that national policies take the regional dimension into account

6. Role of the BMW Regional Assembly in Interreg • National Contact Point in Ireland for AA Programme Promotion & Dissemination of Programme Project Development assistance Partner Searches throughout EU • Contact point for Northern Periphery and Interreg IVC Programmes • Member of the Programme Monitoring Committee • First Level Control Body in Ireland

7. Atlantic Area Programme 2007-2013

8. Atlantic Area 2007-2013: Eligible territory

9. Strategic orientation of AA Programme Influenced by: - • Large variance in RDI of the AA space & growth centres • Accessibility deficits throughout territory • R & D penetration low (compared to EU average) • Challenges posed by Maritime sector • Natural Hazards posed – Flooding, forest fires, pollution - Work of MSUO - Communication from EU Commission to Interreg Programmes 05 • Climate Change & Coastal erosion • Urban Sprawl & its effects on the area • ICT penetration (Broadband/e-commerce etc)

10. Atlantic Area – Some Facts

11. Programme Priorities • Promote Transnational Entrepreneurial and Innovation Networks. • Protect, secure and enhance the marine and coastal Environment sustainably. • Improve accessibility and internal links. • Promote transnational synergies in sustainable urban and regional development

13. Examples of possible projects • Knowledge transfer pilots between Research centres & SMEs to develop new & innovative products, e.g. aquaculture, Food networks etc. • Benchmarking of innovation/SME networks in rural areas & identification of systems to enhance supports to small firms. • Triple Helix co-operation projects on small scale infrastructures on renewable energies. • Regional Clustering in niche areas • Development of inter-modal transport linkages & improving information dissemination on airports, roads, Rail etc • Integrated Coastal Zone Management • Co-Operation on Water Quality Improvement in AA • Short Sea Shipping & further exploration of opportunities to improve freight movement in Atlantic area.

14. Targeted Groups • National, Regional & Local Authorities • Regional & Local Development Agencies • Chambers of Commerce • Universities/Research Centres/HEI • NGOs/Voluntary Bodies • Public Equivalent Bodies • Private sector

15. Global Position following two public calls Remaining EU Grant support of some €22m for next call(s)

16. Project approvals breakdown by priority following two calls

17. Member State Lead Partners

18. Benefit to Ireland from Atlantic Area 2007-2013

19. Irish Organisations involved in approved initiatives - Examples

20. Examples of Projects approved MAREN To optimise energy extraction potential & minimise hydro environmental impact of a diverse range of marine renewable energy devices. Partners: Cardiff University (UK) – LEAD NUI Galway (IE) IFREMER (fr) Universidad de Cantabria (Sp) Instituto Superior Tecnico (Pt) Total Budget: €1,655,807, ERDF: €1,075,943

21. DURATINET To promote durability, safety & sustainability of transport infrastructure throughout the Atlantic Area. Lead Partner: National Laboratory of Civil Engineering (Pt) Five French Partners Four Portuguese Partners Total Cost: €2.57m One Spanish Partner ERDF: €1.61m TCD & National Roads Authority (IE) Queens University Belfast, NI

22. NEA II Development of water sports sector within the Atlantic Area from an economic, environmental & social perspective • Lead Partner: Regional Council of Brittany (fr) • 23 partners in total across 5 member states including • Mid West Regional Authority (IE) • Irish Canoe Union (IE) • Ards Borough Council (NI) Total Cost :€4.72m ERDF: €3.068m

23. Arcopol To improve prevention, response and mitigation capabilities against oil, HNS (Hazardous & Noxious substances carriage by sea) and inert spills. Project also establishes network of experts on the subject. Partners include: CETMAR (Sp) Lead Instituto Tecnoloxico Marino de Galicia (Sp) Marine Institute (IE) Institute Superior Tecnico (Pt) Regional Council of Bretagne (Fr) Regional Council of Aquitaine (Fr) Pembrokeshire Co Council (UK) Total cost: €3,072,233 ERDF: €1,996,931

24. Programme Update • Third call – Late 2010 (November/December) • €22m remaining approx • Call will focus on underperforming priorities: • Innovation & Competitiveness in maritime niches • Improving maritime safety • Renewables energy potential of marine & coastal environment • Access & Transportation (Intermodality & ports co-operation)

25. Management Structures • Managing Authority & JTS CCDR NORTE Oporto (Region of Porto) • In Ireland – BMW Regional Assembly is National contact point for the programme. • In UK the contact point for the programme is the Welsh Assembly Executive in Cardiff • In France – Region Pays de la Loire, Nantes • Spain & Portugal – Ministries of Finance in Madrid & Lisbon • Website: www.coop-atlantico.com

26. Northern Periphery Programme 2007-2013

27. Programme Area 9 programme partner regions EU Member States: Finland Ireland Northern Ireland Scotland Sweden Non Member States: Faroe Islands Greenland Iceland Norway

28. NORTHERN PERIPHERY PROGRAMME 2007-2013 Ireland & Northern Ireland – eligible counties

29. 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 • Economic & 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. TRIPLE HELIX FRAMEWORK ENCOURAGED

30. Programme Priorities Promoting innovation and competitiveness in remote and peripheral areas • Innovation networks & Competitiveness • Accessibility including transport & ICT Sustainable development of natural and community resources • Environment, Climate change, Renewable energies • Culture & Heritage

31. Programme Budget

32. Update & Timetable for open calls • Current commitment level, approximately 69 % following five calls for proposals. • 31 projects approved in total - €24.3m ERDF • 20 Irish partners involved in 14 projects (€3.2m) • Sixth call will be launched on September 3rd 2010 • Bigger & more strategic projects, call published July 2010 • Applicants can also submit preparatory projects on an ongoing basis

33. Examples of Irish Projects supported to date WATER (Warning of Algal Toxin Events to support Aquaculture in NPP) Led by Martin Ryan Institute at NUIG involving Scottish & Faroese partners from the Marine Research sector the project will aim to provide the Aquaculture industry with rapid & safe techniques for the analysis of shellfish for algal toxins through training courses, field studies & close monitoring practises. DARRA (Digital Age in Rural & remote areas) Involving Udaras Na Gaeltachta & other NPP partners – aims to decrease digital divide in remote areas through boosting use of ICT in SMEs & public sector. Connected Mobile Communities: Led by ERNACT & involves nordic partners. Project looks at how mobile communications can be best employed in rural communities.

34. Triple Helix partnerships Business, Higher Education & the State partnership framework is encouraged in implementing projects in the NPP area. From experiences gained on the 2000 to 2006 NPP programme, this partnership arrangement yielded significant results/outputs in transnational projects

35. Targeted Groups • National, Regional & Local Authorities • Regional & Local Development Agencies • Chambers of Commerce • Universities/Research Centres/HEI • NGOs/Voluntary Bodies • Public Equivalent Bodies • Private sector * * Private sector contribute at own expense

36. Application Process & Calls for projects Preparatory Projects • Useful mechanism to generate main project applications • Min of 2 contributing partners from 2 countries within the eligible area • Max TC per project of €30,000 with a grant available of up to 60% of costs • Calls open throughout programme Main Project Application • Min of three partner countries, one must be EU MS • Average project size of €1.3m (upper limit of €1.5)

37. WHO TO CONTACT Northern Periphery Programme Secretariat Strandgade 91, 4. sal DK-1401 Copenhagen, Denmark www.northernperiphery.eu Programme Manager Head of Secretariat Mr Christopher Parker Mr Niclas Forsling tel. +45 3283 3782 tel. +45 3283 3786 mob. +45 2511 2391 mob. +45 2511 2344 fax. +45 3283 3775 fax. +45 3283 3775 christopher.parker@npp2.netniclas.forsling@npp2.net

38. Writing a successful proposal Important issues

39. Practical issues • Finding the right partners • Lead Partner identification – Crucial to success of project • Common understanding of the project objectives & goals among all the partners from the outset • Demonstrated need for collaboration on a transnational basis • Match funding considerations (Cash & in kind contributions )

40. Key Criteria – Atlantic Area • Admissibility • Selection ADMISSIBILITY • Submitted on time in accordance with established format • Project not completed before date of submission • Lead Partner an organisation from eligible area • Project transnational – min of 2 member states of eligible area, preferably 1 from each member state. • All declarations have been signed & dated

41. SELECTION CRITERIA Criteria Weighting Intensity of Co-Operation & added value 24 Contribution to AA strategy & coherency to EU, National & Regional Policies 18 Quality of working & communication plans & Degree of tangibility, transferability & sustainability of results. 24 Quality of the Partnership organisation & of management & Control system 16 Budget soundness & consistency 18

42. Northern Periphery Programme Admissible Criteria • Application complete & submitted on time. • All sections have been completed • Partner forms have been completed – Budget/ core activities/ commitments of match funding • Request for funding is in line with limits set for the call • Project duration no longer than 3 years & complete by end 2014 • Project involves min of 3 partners from 3 programme partner countries, one of which is from an EU member state. • Partnership is transnational with an appropriate mix of West Atlantic/Nordic partners • Project works towards developing a new transnational product or service.

43. Selection criteria • Promotion of rural competitiveness & developing capacity for innovation & networking in peripheral areas • Promotion of advanced ICT and Transport in NPP regions • Strengthening Urban/Rural linkages & regional heritage • Contributing to the Lisbon agenda • Contributing to the Gothenburg agenda • Making a positive impact on equal opportunities • Where appropriate adopt a triple helix partnership • Contribute to potential for future mainstreaming of actions in convergence & competitiveness programmes or programmes for economic change. • Quality of the proposal is sound (Finances/Management/activities balanced etc. )

44. Programme Specific expenditure categories

46. Partner search facilities • Network of Contact Points • Project Ideas repository • Networking Events organised by Programmes • Interact

47. Contact Details Gerry Finn/Michael O’ Brien, BMW Regional Assembly, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. Ph: 094-9862970 E-mail: gfinn@bmwassembly.ie mobrien@bmwassembly.ie