Projects

Theproject examined the types of innovation that occur in peripheral, sparsely populated areas. It used a broad definition of innovation, ranging from the commercialisation of research and development, to the introduction of new services, business models and ways of working. It focused on sectors where innovation is rooted in the natural resources or sparse population of peripheral areas (e.g. alternative energies; wildlife/landscape tourism; food processing and marketing; cultural industries; and the use of ICT in public service delivery). It also examined the kinds of interaction that are important for innovation in remote areas and considered how innovation is shaped by local strengths (e.g. natural resources) and by external demand and supply-side factors (e.g. regulatory frameworks, external markets, government and business decisions). It focused in particular on peripheral areas of the Austria, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the UK.

The project involved a comparative study of development policies implemented through a shared management model. The study included assessmment of international financial institutions and country examples, drawing lessons for Cohesion policy.

The project involved research on the concept of place-based policymaking and its application to regional and territorial development policies in practice. The study also involved the assessment of economic development policies in Switzerland the relevance of place-based concept.

The project involved research on knowledge exchange networks to support learning and exchange of experience in the field of regional development and the provision of guidance to the Management Organisation Unit in Greece on the appropriate methodology for setting up an internal network dealing with the implementation of regional policy in Greece.

The IQ-Net project involves comparative research and knowledge exchange on the management and implementation of EU Structural Funds programmes. Funded by national and regional authorities from across the EU, the project investigates how EU Cohesion policy is implemented on the ground, and facilitates policy learning and exchaneg of experience on themes relating to programme design, management and delivery.

Visit the project website here.

The EoRPA project involves comparative research and knowledge exchange on regional policy in Europe, involving annual reviews of regional policies in Europe (covering 30 countries) focusing on EU Cohesion policy and the impact of EU Competition policy on regional policy on policy objectives, instruments, eligible areas, governance and effectivenes. Funded by a consortium of national government departments, EoRPA also involves research in the interactions between national regional policies and EU Cohesion policy and EU Competition policy.