Projects

This study for Enterprise Ireland examined the implications for Ireland of the refrom of the Regional Aid Guidelines.

The project involved an assessment of the Europe 2020 strategy with particular reference to its seven Flagship initiatives (Innovation Union, Digital Agenda, Industrial Policy, Resource-efficient Europe, Youth on the Move, New Skills and Jobs, and the European Platform against Poverty). It explores their coherence with Cohesion policy with a view to the preparations for the 2014-20 period and identifies ways of integrating the Flagship initiatives into the future Common Strategic Framework. Detailed roadmaps were provided for each Flagship initiative, indicating what, when, how and by whom actions should be carried out over short-, medium- and long-term perspectives. Lastly, the report delivered recommendations related to the implementation of the Flagship initiatives using Cohesion policy instruments.

The project involved research on regional development and regional development strategies in old-industrial regions of the EU.

The project involved a short study for the Committee of the Regions on the implications of the reform of the regional aid guidelines

The project involved an exploratory analysis of the nature of innovation among SMEs in Scotland, and particularly the extent to which they engage in open innovation. It examines how firms engage in open innovation within what has been described as a relatively weak innovation system, and whether there are differences in the forms of open innovation pursued by firms in different sectors.

This project assessed the long-term economic impact of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) from 1989 to 2012. Undertaken in collaboration with the London School of Economics and a network of nine other research institutes across Europe, the study involved a mix of in-depth quantitative and qualitative research in 15 case study regions in 10 countries. It provided new insights into the relevance, effectiveness and utility of Cohesion policy in the EU15.

This project comprised a second element part of the on-going evaluation of the 2007-13 Northern Periphery Programme. It responded to the need to: position the NPP for post 2013, reviewing existing and emerging strategies and policies affecting the region and scoping these over the 2014-2020 period and beyond; identify options for future themes/priorities for the post 2013 NPP; evaluate existing themes of the NPP and evaluate the future relevance of these in the post 2013 period; evaluate whether the NPP should extend its geographic coverage for the next programme period, i.e. involve more regions and possibly more countries; and gather input into the programme development process. 

The project involved providing research and advice to the Ministry of Regional Development, Poland, during the Polish EU Presidency, focusing on regulatory and budgetary issues during the debate and negotiations on reforming Cohesion policy in 2011-13.

The project comprised an ex post evaluation of the management and implementation of the Cohesion Fund (including former ISPA) in 2000-06. The study had the overarching objective of assessing the building-up of management capacity to deliver ISPA and Cohesion Fund projects in the 14 countries benefiting most from the Cohesion Fund and ISPA in the 2000-06 period.

The project analysed the factors which facilitate or discourage local stakeholders' and businesses' decision to apply for support from Structural Funds. Through a wide-ranging literature review, case studies, questionnaires and interviews, this study tried to answer questions about what could be done to attract more applications during the recession of the late 2000s, and how the participation of successful applicants could be made more effective. It put forward a number of specific recommendations for policy makers at local, regional, national and EU level.