Projects

The project involves mapping how integrated territorial approaches are being planned and implemented, gaining insights into progress and challenges. The research encompasses 800 integrated territorial strategies from across the EU, focusing on the factors influencing the way in which territorial strategies are set up and implemented and the effectiveness of the strategies.

This project involved research on the take up and effectiveness of financial instruments (FIs). The new regulatory framework for EU Cohesion policy in 2014-20 has reinforced the scope for (repayable) financial instruments to deliver Cohesion policy objectives, as an alternative to using grants. The research focuses on: identifying the rationale for using FIs within Cohesion policy programmes; providing a ‘stocktake’ of how EU Member States are making use of FIs in 2014-20; identifying the issues which influence uptake of FIs; and analysing complementarities and interaction between Cohesion-policy funded FIs and other sources of funding such as the European Fund for Strategic Investments.

The project involves a background statistical review and area analysis of the North Sea Region to support the development of a revised North Sea Region 2020 Strategy.

The project involved research on the development of an Arctic regional collaboration mechanism funded by the Northern Periphery Programme. The aim was to consider the need for improved collaboration across regional economic development programmes in the Arctic and how a collaboration mechanism can be optimally structured and delivered. In doing so, the project will critically assess the potential for synergies, the benefits for stakeholders of improved collaboration and options for systems/platforms for collaboration and knowledge sharing and building.

The project involved an ex ante evaluation of the North Sea Region Programme (NSRP) for the 2014-20 period and a subsequent project to set the indicators, baselines and targets for the 2014-20. This involved supporting the work of the NSRP drafting team in the development of programme indicators, in particular result indicators; refining a methodology for the development of appropriate results indicators; establishing appropriate result baseline values for the NSRP; and proposing results targets for the NSRP.

The project involved the provision of advice to the House of Lords Sub Committee D Inquiry into EU Marine Regional Co-operation.

The project involved preparatory research and the organisation of an international conference on regional cooperation in the Arctic. The research focussed on the development of a regional collaboration mechanism, and the conference brought together policy officials, programme managers and other stakeholders to discuss practical opportunities for working together on Arctic issues and the potential role of ETC and ENPI programmes.

The project involved background research and advisory input for the ex ante evaluations, drawing on international experience.

The project examined how Arctic or Arctic-relevant themes could be pursued under the auspices of the Northern Periphery Programme, which includes the Highlands and Islands as well as other areas of Scotland.

The project comprised an ex ante evaluation accompanying the design of the 2014-2020 Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme and appraisal of its different elements. EPRC research focused on the ex-ante evaluation of the Northern Periphery and Arctic programme 2014-20. The purpose of the ex-ante evaluation was to improve and strengthen the quality of the programme under preparation and to optimise the allocation of resources.