FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FROM EUROPE Robert Morrall

1. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FROM EUROPE Robert Morrall

2. Purpose of the Workshop • to give an overview of European funding streams • to outline the benefits of participating in European • funded projects • to suggest sources of support for project applicants

3. global leadership in developing and realising innovation in science, technology and research growing competitiveness, productivity and entrepreneurship skills base that can support a world-class economy high quality places to work and live making the most from the development of international gateways and national and regional transport corridors social inclusion and broad participation in the regional economy an exemplar in environmental technologies and the efficient use of resources a leading information society The regional economic strategy

4. European Structural Funds The European Union supports poorer regions of Member States by providing funds to help them regenerate their economies and create new jobs. The four most important funds are known collectively as the ‘Structural Funds’

5. European Regional Development Fund Aims to improve economic prosperity and social inclusion by investing in projects to promote development and encourage the diversity of industry, in areas lagging behind the European average European Social Fund Funds training, human resources, and equal opportunities schemes to promote employment opportunities

6. European Agricultural Guidance And Guarantee Fund Encourages restructuring and diversification, promoting economic prosperity and social inclusion, whilst protecting the environment and rural heritage Financial Instrument and Fisheries Guidance Funds projects to modernise the structure of the fisheries sector and related industries, and encourages the diversification of the workforce and fisheries industry into other sectors. Aims to achieve a balance between fisheries resources and their exploitation

7. Funding streams available • there is no one definitive/comprehensive list available • currently a reform of European funding programmes for the • next programming period (2007 – 2013)

8. Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (€3.6bn) • to strengthen regional competitiveness and attractiveness by • anticipating economic and social change and supporting • innovation, the knowledge society, entrepreneurship, • protection of the environment and risk prevention • also help for workers and companies, on the basis of the • European Employment Strategy, to adapt to change and • encourage the development of job markets that award priority • to social inclusion

9. Competitiveness and Innovation • 3 Programmes • Enterprise and Innovation Programme – aims to help • enterprises innovate by providing access to finance • ICT Policy Support Programme – building on previous • programmes in line with i2010 • Intelligent Energy-Europe Programme – will encourage the • wider take up ofnew and renewable energies and improve • energy efficiency

10. European Territorial Co-operation Objective • will strengthen co-operation at three levels: • cross-border co-operation through joint programmes, (circa €306m for eligible parts of UK, but not Hertfordshire) • cooperation between transnational zones; • networks for co-operation and exchange experiences throughout the EU

11. LIFE+ programme • LIFE+ will contribute to: • combating climate change • halting the decline in nature and bio-diversity • improving environment, health and quality of life • promoting the sustainable use and management of natural • resources and wastes • developing strategic approaches to policy development, • implementation and information/awareness raising

12. Culture 2007 • Culture 2007 will have three main objectives: • the transnational mobility of people working in the cultural • sectors • the transnational circulation of works of art (including • immaterial works such as music) • intercultural dialogue • projects can be focused on: performing arts, visual arts, • cultural heritage or books and reading • must have something uniquely European about them (not • just a tour of a UK performance or exhibition)

13. Culture 2007 • must be developed and implemented • by at least 3 partner organisations • from 3 different eligible countries • (currently the 25 Member States, plus • Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria and Romania – • Croatia and Turkey may become eligible countries in 2006) • can last for either 1 year or, in exceptional cases, for 2-3 years • are likely to have a total budget of between €100-300,000 • (1 year projects) or €500,000 (2-3 year projects) • can receive a maximum of 50% EU funding (1 year projects) • or 60% (2-3 year projects)

14. Twinning Programme • exchange programme - includes meetings that combine • learning about the European Union and practical activities at • the local level. The lower and upper limits for funding are • €2,000 and €20,000 • conference programme – minimum and maximum amounts • are €10,000 and €60,000. Criteria will allow for a mixture of • training, promotion and information activities

15. 2006 Community Action Programme • 2006 was the European Year of Workers Mobility • will include non-discrimination and equal opportunities, and • looks forward to the 2007 European Year of Equal • Opportunities for all • an annual budget of up to €18.77 million is foreseen to fund • activities across the EU 25

16. Progress • the community programme for Employment and Social • Solidarity will financially support the implementation of the • objectives of the European Union in the employment and • social affairs area and thereby, in the context of the Lisbon • Strategy, contribute to achieving the objectives of the Social • Agenda • the programme will be dividedinto 5 sections: • - employment • - social protection and inclusion • - working conditions • - antidiscrimination and diversity • - gender equality

17. Progress • the programme will finance the following types of actions: • - analytical activities (data collection, development of common methodologies, benchmarking) • - mutual learning, awareness and dissemination activities • (exchange of best practice, innovative approaches and • experiences, by means of meetings/ workshops/ seminars) • - support to main actors (organisation of working groups, funding of training seminars, experts’ networks etc)

18. Progress • access to this programme is open to all public and/or private • bodies, actors and institutions, in particular: • - Member States • - employment services/employment agencies • - local and regional authorities • - specialised bodies • - social partners • - non-governmental organisations • - higher education and research institutes • - experts in evaluation • - national statistical offices • - media

19. Not only but also…… • potential funding for: • - education and training activities (e.g. • skilling/upskilling workers, management • training, training of trainers, mobility of • workers) • - lifelong learning • - ICT • - wider world (local authority EU-Latin • American links, EU Asia-Link programme • for higher education, EU Asia Invest • Programme)

20. Benefits of engagement with • European Funding • developing new ideas and approaches • learning from best practice and experience of others • benchmarking • realisation of a discrete piece of work through the completion of a transnational project (time limited)

21. Benefits of engagement with European Funding • providing a unique experience and • insight into the lifestyles and • environment of another community by: • - learning from the best practice of others • - improving service delivery and problem • solving • effective staff development and training: • - overseas partnerships and links can provide innovative training opportunities for all levels of staff, ranging from management development to practical skills

22. Benefits of engagement with European Funding • promoting stronger community • partnerships: • - use of partnerships to motivate key sections of the community, such as ethnic minorities, young people and disadvantaged groups, who may not be • involved in local activities or have contact abroad • promoting tolerance and understanding: • - understanding of the world, broadening horizons, promoting tolerance and respect, combating racism and xenophobia

23. Benefits of engagement with European Funding • looking at other communities can: • - encourage people to look more closely • at their own environment and social • structures • - boost civic pride, self-esteem and • confidence • - increase awareness of European and • international issues in a global • economy

24. Benefits of engagement with European Funding • economic and business development: • - partnerships allow small and large • organisations, in both the public and • private sectors, to explore potential • economic benefits of co-operation • - companies may find it easier to trade • with people they know and understand • - tourism is an important industry to the • economy in many areas and overseas • partnerships can help promote an area

25. Sources of Information/Support • Sources of information include: • - Funding Programme Websites • - E-mail Alerts • - Journals • - Funding Programme Information Days • - Local Authority European Officers • - Subscription based databases (e.g. • Grantfinder, Grants on Line, European • Information Service) • -East of England Brussels Office

26. Sources of support include: • - Councils for Voluntary Service • - Local Authority External Funding Officers • - Funding Programme Support Units or • National Managing Agents • - Local External Funding Partnerships • HERN

27. Role of a Brussels Office • guidance through the maze of EU institutions and legislation providing intelligence and advance warning of EU policy and funding developments • promoting regional businesses to the rest of the EU, and helping to forge business links throughout Europe • creating links through networking and partner searches with other European regions • promoting the East of England to key decision makers in the European institutions

28. Alan Corbett European and External Funding Manager EAST OF ENGLAND DEVELOPENT AGENCY Tel: 01223 484575 Mob: 07921 020977 E-mail: alancorbett@eeda.org.uk

33. Robert Morrall Tel: 0777 564 5619 Email:- robertmorrall@aol.com www.sapientree.net www.projectagora.net www.bcmeurope.com/agora