Interreg lVC – “Why Bother?”

Lubuskie November 9, 2009

Ghita Wolf Andreasen, Director

South Denmark European Office

Agenda

• Why Bother?

• Interreg lVC programme information

• South Denmark in Interreg lVCs

• How to Write a Winning Proposal?

• Conclusion

Why Bother?

• Regional growth through– New knowledge/solution to regional

challenges and organisational development– International network: learning from others

outside national arena– Funding for regional development initiatives

(structural funds are decreasing)

Why We are NOT Motivated• Competition

– (especially from experienced players)

• High effort / low success rate. – (Unpredictability)

• Complexity of the process – (Paper mountains, complex processes).

• National/structural funds are ‘easier’

What You Get:

• Why we participate (before): funding, networks and new knowledge

• What we get (after): Networks, knowledge and funding

Interreg lVC Programme Information

Interreg lVC Aim

• Enabling local and regional actors across the EU to exchange their experiences and knowledge;

• Matching regions less experienced in a certain policy field with more advanced regions;

• Ensuring the transfer of good practices into Structural Funds mainstream programmes.

Interreg lVC Purpose

• To improve the effectiveness of regional development policies in the areas of innovation, the knowledge economy and risk prevention with a view to contributing to economic modernization and increased competitiveness in Europe

Interreg lVC

Priorities

1)Innovation & the knowledge economy

2)Environment & risk prevention

Programme approach• Identification and

exchange of knowledge and good practice

• Improve local/regional policies

Interreg lVC

Project type Budget indication

Next call (tbc) Success rate

Regional Initiative Projects (RIP)

min. € 500.000 - max 5 mio.Average € 2 mio.

Late 2010 10 %4-500 applications

Capitalisation projects

Early 2010

Interreg lVC

Eligibility• EU-27 + Norge • National/regional/local

public authoritiesBody governed by public law

Funding rate• 75% for EU-15 lande

85% for EU-12 lande samt Portugal og Grækenland50% for Norge (Norwegian funds)

South Denmark in Interreg

Interreg proposals: 1st and 2nd call

3 projects lead by Denmark: ALL FROM SOUTH DENMARK

1 st call: Project Example – SDEO as partner

Possibility: The culture and creative sector is a growing sector, developing at a higher pace than the rest of the economy

Problem: Europe has lost half of the jobs in manufacturing since the late 90’s.

EU-Problem

Challenges

– How can the creative sector become a strong player in business?

– How can the creative sector help established businesses to compete in a global world?

– How can the creative sector generate growth in Europe?

Creative GrowthCreative entrepreneurs needs to learn how to

sell their product.

“Creative Growth” wants to put the concept “culture-business” on the agenda in EU.

2 nd call: Project Example – SDEO as lead

ENSPIRE EU

One clear problem: The desire for Europeans to be self-employed is decreasing, especially in the EU15.” (Source: Eurobarometer survey)

Project Idea

5 Essential Questions

1. Why bother ? (What exact problem are you addressing?)

2. Why should this be funded at EU level (and not at National level)?

3. Are there solutions, practices or processes already available to solve this problem?

4. Why now? – why is it urgent now? (What would happen if this was not funded? Would anyone notice)

5. Are you the best people to undertake this project?

How to Write a Winning Proposal

How to Write a Winning Proposal

• Policy problem

• People

• Process

• Paper

ENSPIRE EU – the problemExpenses for improvement of entrepreneurial framework (small business act, more finance, less red tape etc.)

Entrepreneurial mindset: Willingness to become entrepreneur

ENSPIRE EU – The project• Exchange of experiences among regions

”How to inspire people to become entrepreneurs?” What works?

Example: Vejle and an ethnic entrepreneurial coach

Example: Advancia /ill de Paris has an Entrepreneurship University

Example: Larnaca (Cyprus) has female entrepreneurship workshops

CRITERIA • Innovation: projects must be innovative in their scope, ideas

and approach

• European dimension: truly transnational projects. Cross-border cooperation and problem-solving must be relevant and be of genuine interest to partners

• Mid/long term cooperation: project lifetime usually 2-3 years

• Co-finansing: EU-funding is a contribution - partners are required to match-fund.

How to Write a Winning Proposal

• Policy problem

• People

• Process

• Paper

ENSPIRE EU - detailsENSPIRE - People

12 partners from 11countries: DK, PO, UK, FR, SP, SW, CY, CZ, RO, HU, SL

How to Write a Winning Proposal

• Policy problem

• People

• Process

• Paper

ENSPIRE Process and paper

• Timing: the time period from initial idea, to submitted application and through to EC evaluation and project approval can be (at least) 6-9 months

• Step-by-step: idea generation and brainstorming; screening of funding programmes and next deadlines; adjusting the initial idea; searching for european project partners; further developing the project concept; writing the application

• Project application and budget: be concise, precise and wise

When it Goes Wrong• Formalities• Lack of innovation:

– It is almost impossible to write a winning proposal on a bad idea

• Lack of previous experience with EU projects and understanding of EU process and priorities

• Lack of skills, resources and network• Lack of interntional dimension

There is No Such Thing as a Rejection

– it is an Evaluation

ENSPIRE Proposal Content

ENSPIRE Content

The WHY, HOW, WHAT and WHO’s of the project

– defining activities, actors, approaches and objectives

C1: Management and coordination

C6: Dissemination and communication

C2: Mapping and analysis of best practice

C4: Piloting

Preparation phase Implementation phase Assessment and recommendation phase

C3: Debate camps and policy action/recom-mendations

Consultation phase

Project logic:

ENSPIRE Activities

• Networking events: Conferences etc• Handbook on the best experiences across the EU on how to

inspire people to become entrepreneur• Exchange of staff• Set up of ENSPIRE network in Brussels• ’Exchange camps’ for stakeholders from industry, education and

so on• Pilot implementation: Some of the good experiences will be

carried out in the partner regions.

ENSPIRE Budget• Overall budget € 1.8 mio.

• Lubuskie budget: € 93.000 – Funding from EC € 79.000 – Co-financing €

14.000 (15 %)• Staff costs 45 %• Travel 25 %• External expertise 25 %• Admin costs 5 %

Remember:

Why Bother?

• Regional growth through– New knowledge/solution to regional

challenges and organisational development– International network: learning from others

outside national arena– Funding for regional development initiatives

(structural funds are decreasing)

Remember

You never go to Brussels looking for money for a project.

You go to Brussels to help the EU address a problem (priority, policy) that

they have identified.