ASSESSING OF THE PROJECTS PROMOTING INNOVATIONS IN RURAL AREAS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Marie PechrováCzech University of Life Sciences Prague

September 18-19, 2012

1. Content

Introduction Methods Results

Understanding of term innovation by LEADER Local Action Groups

Relative importance of innovations in the projects based on the share of scoring points based on the share of finances

Conclusion References

2. Introduction

Innovation - key driver of economic growth at the heart of the knowledge economy

The social and cultural dimensions of innovation are often neglected

Innovations - not only in urban areas Special innovation factors in regions

cooperation between different actors mutual learning

Both principles in LEADER approach towards rural development

LEADER programme

Designed to develop innovative approaches to the rural development

Buttom-up approach, involvement of local actors, mobilization of local knowledge, strengthening the social capital

Multi-actor, multi-level, multi-dimensional

Projects chosen by LAG

The role of the Local Action Groups

LAGs submitted Strategic Plans LEADER (SPL) in accordance with Rural Development Programme (2007-2013)

Acredited LAGs cofinanced from EAFRD LAGs’ selection committee - projects

according to the preferential criteria: Some criteria obligatory – e.g. innovation,

some voluntary Weight of preferential criteria – left on the

LAG

3. Methods

LAGs – know the best how to develop the area => the selection process of the projects examined

1st objective: To assess the understanding of the term innovation by

LAGs Content analyses of LAGs’ SPLs

2nd objective: To assess the relative importance of innovations in the

projects Share of preferential score for innovations on the total

preferential score Share of finances for innovative projects

IV.1.2 Realization of local development strategy – 10th call for grants: 21 LAGs

4. Results (1)

Innovation in the way of cooperation 

Cooperation between sectors 9

Involvement of local community

6

Community planning 5

New management methods 5

New forms of cooperation 5

New ways of communication 5

Cooperation between regions 4

Establishing of LAG 2

New methods of cooperation 1

  42

Introduction of new products /services / technologies / activities Local products / services 10New action / activity 4Recontructions 3Introducing of a new technology 2Missing service 1Production of a new product 1  21

Innovations in the area of tourism / educationTourism 6Education 3

9

Understanding of term innovation by Local Action Groups

Source: Own calculations

4. Results (2)

*(score for innovation/total preferential score) x 100

Average score to innovative projects – 9.46 %

Standard deviation – 4.86 %

Rýmařovsko, p.s.c. – max. 25 %

LAG nad Orlicí – min. 0.79 %

Relative importance of innovations in projects - the share of scoring points   Name of the LAG Av. Score*

1 LAG nad Orlicí 3,22%2 LAG p.s.c. for Czech paradise 11,90%3 LAG Krkonoše 3,57%4 LAG Gate to the Czech paradise 7,78%5 LAG Opavsko 7,43%6 LAG Blanický forest - Netolicko 10,20%7 LAG Posázaví 3,47%8 „Strážnicko“ Local Action Group 4,24%9 Kyjovské Slovácko in move 13,72%

10Local Action Group Hříběcí mountains, c.a.

not available

11 LAG - Partnership Moštěnka, c.a. 14,83%12 Civic association Aktivios 8,69%13 Rýmařovsko, p.s.c. 19,57%14 Vyhlídky, c.a 3,91%15 Region Pošembeří, p.s.c. 6,69%16 Moravian path (Litovelsko-Pomoraví), c.a. 14,76%17 LAG BYSTŘIČKA, p.s.c. 18,38%

18Development partnership of Region Hranicko 8,14%

19 Region HANÁ, c.a. 6,12%20 LAG Pošumaví 9,85%21 LAG of Mikroregion Frýdlantsko 13,13%Source: Own calculations

4. Results (3)

Financial plans in SPL The amount of finances devoted to the

Fiche, where innovations have relatively high weight in the selection process

27 projects with high score for innovations- selected

12.23 % of the finances devoted to the Fiche with highly scored innovative projects

Relative importance of innovations in projects - the share of finances (1)

4. Results (4)

3 LAGs support innovative project with the highest share of finances from financial plans in SPLs

1. LAG - Partnership Moštěnka, c.a. --- on Fiche 2: Colourful life in our home in the rural area (innovations 50/640 points (15.63 %)) 40% finances

2. LAG Region HANÁ, c.a. --- Fiche 4: Development of the municipalities, infrastructure and services (innovations 30/520) 15 % finances

3. LAG, BYSTŘIČKA, p.s.c. --- Fiche 2: Village renewal and development (innovations 50/250) 20 % finances

Relative importance of innovations in projects - the share of finances (2)

5. Conclusion

SPL submitted by LAGs analysed and their approach towards innovation evaluated Various types of projects are understood as

innovative - sometimes the term is misinterpreted

The share of preferential criteria for selection of the projects with innovation Low relative score Obligatory criteria for selecting projects mostly

formal Finances devoted to the Fiches which

includes innovative projects No adequate attention paid to the real

contribution of the projects to innovations

6. References (1) Association of DHV CR, spol. s r.o. and TIMA Liberec, s.r.o. (2010) Zpráva

o střednědobém hodnocení. Průběžné hodnocení Programu rozvoje venkova ČR za období 2007 - 2013. [online], Available: http://eagri.cz/public/web/file/109376/Zaverecna_zprava_EK_151210.pdf [10 Nov 2011].

Civic association Aktivios (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available: http://www.mas-aktivios.cz [11 Jun 2012].

Dargan, L., Shuccksmith, M. (2008) ‘LEADER and Innovation’, European Society for Rural Sociology, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 274-291.

Development partnership of Region Hranicko (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available: http://www.regionhranicko.cz [20 Jun 2012].

Fritsch, M. and Slavtech, V. (2011) ‘The Determinants of the Efficiency of Regional Innovation Systems’, Regional studies, vol. 45, no. 7, pp. 905-918.

Hooghe, L. (1996) Cohesion Policy and European Integration. Building Multi-level Governance, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Hradiská, A. and Hudec, O. (2010) ‘Kritické faktory úspešnej implementácie v prístupe LEADER’, Region Direct, vol. 1, no. 2, pp 32-51.

6. References (2) Kyjovské Slovácko in move (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online],

Available: http://www.kyjovske-slovacko.com [12 Jun 2012]. LAG BYSTŘIČKA, p.s.c. 2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online],

Available: http://www.masbystricka.cz [20 Jun 2012]. LAG Blanický forest - Netolicko (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche

[online], Available: http://www.mas-netolice.cz [11 Jun 2012]. LAG Gate to the Czech paradise (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche

[online], Available: http://www.masbcr.cz [10 Jun 2012]. LAG Krkonoše (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available:

http://www.mas-krkonose.cz [10 Jun 2012]. LAG nad Orlicí (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available:

http://www.nadorlici.cz [10 Jun 2012]. LAG of Mikroregion Frýdlantsko (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche

[online], Available: http://www.jizerske-vyrobky.cz [26 Jun 2012]. LAG Opavsko (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available:

http://www.masopavsko.cz/ [10 Jun 2012]. LAG p.s.c. for Czech paradise (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche

[online], Available: http://www.craj-ops.craj.cz [10 Jun 2012].

6. References (3) LAG - Partnership Moštěnka, c.a. (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available:

http://www.mas-mostenka.cz [12 Jun 2012]. LAG Posázaví (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available: http://leader.posazavi.com [11 Jun

2012]. LAG Pošumaví (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available: http://www.posumavi.jz.cz [20 Jun

2012]. Local Action Group Hříběcí mountains, c.a. (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available:

http://leader.isu.cz [12 Jun 2012]. Moravian path (Litovelsko-Pomoraví), c.a. (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available:

http://www.moravska-cesta.cz [20 Jun 2012]. Papadopoulou, E., Hasanagas, N., Harvey, D. (2011) ‘Analysis of rural development policy networks in

Greece: Is LEADER really different?’, Land Use Policy, vol. 28, pp. 663-673. Region HANÁ, c.a. (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available: http://www.regionhana.cz [20

Jun 2012]. Region Pošembeří, p.s.c. (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available:

http://www.posemberi.cz [14 Jun 2012]. Rýmařovsko, p.s.c. (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available: http://mas.rymarovsko.cz [13

Jun 2012]. Steiner, M., Kirschner, E., Harder, S. (2011) ‘Innovation in rural areas? Exploring the potential for co-

operation, knowledge and competitiveness’, Region Direct vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 58 89. Strážnicko Local Action Group 2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available:

http://www.straznicko.cz [11 Jun 2012]. Vidal, R. V. (2009) ‘Community facilitation of problem structuring and decision making processes:

Experiences from the EU LEADER+ programme’, European Journal of Operational Research, no. 199, pp. 803–810.

Vyhlídky, c.a (2012) Strategic plan LEADER, Fiche [online], Available: http://www.vyhlidky.eu [13 Jun 2012].

Thank you for your attention