31st IQ-Net Conference (Aachen) discusses financial instruments in Structural Funds programmes

IQ-Net partners from 17 EU countries, together with representatives of DG Regio of the European Commission, met at the 31st IQ-Net conference in Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen on 7-9 December 2011. The conference was hosted by the Ministry for Economy, Energy, Construction, Housing and Transport of the Land Nordrhein-Westfalen. The main focus of the conference was on the experiences of IQ-Net partners with planning and implementing financial instruments under their Structural Funds programmes, including experience with the EU Jeremie and Jessica initiatives. Discussions also covered current programme implementation issues, with a focus on the future, specifically the European Commission's proposals for the new Structural Funds regulations. During the conference, partners viewed several projects which have benefited from European funding: the http://www.nrwbank.de/de/foerderlotse-produkte/NRWEUMikrodarlehen/15262/produktdetail.html NRW/EU.Mikrodarlehen micro loan instrument , a revolving fund supporting start-ups in Nordrhein-Westfalen; a zero-emission http://www.vossloh-kiepe.com/electric-buses/hybrid-buses hybrid electric fuel cell bus ; a fully transplantable artificial heart project developed by the http://www.ame.hia.rwth-aachen.de/index.php?id=cve&L=0 Institute for Applied Medical Engineering located in the Helmholtz Institute, Aachen; and the http://streetscooter.eu StreetScooteraffordable electric vehicle prototype.