Northern Periphery Programme General Overview How to Apply Seminar 16 th September 2010 Copenhagen Christopher Parker 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 Operational Programme approved in September 2007 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: million ERDF million ERDF equivalent million match funding Total programme budget (incl. match funding): 90 million 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 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. 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 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 Joint Transnational Strategy Priority 1 Promoting innovation and competitiveness in remote and peripheral areas i. Innovation, networks and competitiveness 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 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 Priority 2 Sustainable development of natural and community resources i. Environment as an asset in the periphery 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 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 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%. Current programme status A Snap shot Overview Where are we today? Programme commitment level On going activities Preparatory projects (seed money projects) Programme commitment level To date: 31 main projects and 25 preparatory project approved In total 69% of programme budget has been allocated after the 5 th call for main applications Programme partner countryAllocated to date Total available in Member State ERDF72% Priority 163% Priority 275% Faroe Islands70% Greenland50% Iceland95% Norway51% Ongoing activities Opening of the 6 th call on 3 rd of September 2010 Assessment of Main project activity reports Assessment of Preparatory project final reports Partner seminars in programme partners countries hosted by NPP RCP Upcoming evaluation autumn 2010/spring 2011 on simplification of programme administration. Clustering of ongoing main projects developing ToRs for strategic project call in spring Internal planning process 2011 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 60 and approved 25 preparatory projects Committed funds preparatory projects: (Remaining ) A call for preparatory projects from June 10 th 2010 addressing 6 project themes identified as gaps in the programme or not sufficiently covered. Special preparatory project call from September 1 st for Urban-rural partnerships for new service solutions Contact Details Programme Secretariat Northern Periphery Programme Secretariat Strandgade 91, 4. sal DK-1401 Copenhagen K, DENMARK Fax: Niclas Forsling Head of Secretariat Tel , mobile , Christopher Parker Programme Manger for Project Development Support Tel , mobile , Kirsti Mijnhijmer Programme Manager for Information & Communication Tel , Rachel Burn Project Officer Tel , Contact Details Regional Contact Points Norway Mr Tommy Nilsen Landsdelsutvalget Sjgata 3 N Bod Tel.: Fax: Website:Sweden Mr Bernt Vedin Region Vsterbotten Norrlandsgatan 13, Box 443 S Ume Tel.: Fax: Website: Contact Details Regional Contact Points Republic of Ireland Mr Michael O'Brien BMW Regional Assembly The Square Ballaghaderreen County Roscommon Tel.: Fax: Website:Northern Ireland Ms Teresa Lennon SEUPB, EU House 6 Cromac Place Belfast BT7 2JB Tel.: Website: Contact Details Regional Contact Points Finland Ms Paula Mikkola Regional Council of Lapland P.O. Box 8056 FIN Rovaniemi Finland Tel.: Mobile: Fax: Website:Iceland Mr rarinn V. Slmundarson Institute of Regional Development in Iceland rtorg 1 IS Saurkrkur Iceland Tel.: Fax Website: Contact Details Regional Contact Points Faroe Islands Mr Jakup Srensen NORA (Nordisk Atlantsamarbejde) Bryggjubakki 12 Box 259 FO-110 Trshavn Tel: Mob: Fax Website:Scotland Ms Denise Pirie Highlands & Islands Enterprise Cowan House, Inverness Retail & Business Park IV2 7GF Inverness Tel: Website: Contact Details Regional Contact Points Greenland Mr Jan Mrch Pedersen Greenland Tourism and Business Council Hans Egedesvej 29 PO Box Nuuk Tel: Fax: Website: For further information, please visit:Thank you for listening!