European Commission approves funding for 14 new regional innovative actions
The European Commission approved the funding of 14 new regional innovative actions under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) on 8 January 2003. The innovative actions' objectives fall into three main categories: helping the regions to raise their technological and knowledge base level, developing e-EuropeRegio, the information society at the service of regional development and promoting regional cohesion and competitiveness through an integrated approach to economic, environmental, cultural and social activities. The total budget available for ERDF innovative actions is approximately 400 million euro; approved actions can receive between 300,000 euro and 3 million euro of ERDF funding over a maximum of two years. Among the 14 projects funded for the period 2003-2004 are: - 'Utrecht Innovates': The Dutch innovative action's ultimate aim is to become a 'knowledge province'. It expects to raise awareness of innovation through measures such as prizes for innovation and a television series produced for local broadcasting in which the work of innovative entrepreneurs from the region can be showcased. Above all, the action hopes to stimulate networks to facilitate better cooperation between all parties, which contribute to innovating the Utrecht business sector. - The Norra Mellansverige (North Central Sweden) innovative action is to concentrate on accelerating the process of conversion from a traditional economy to a 'new economy'. This will be achieved through measures such as joint research and development projects between small and medium sized businesses, universities and colleges as well as other players. A strong emphasis is also to be placed on the exchange of experience and network building in Europe. - 'BRAIN', the North West of England innovative action plan focuses on communities and business businesses, which still lack access to information technology and will promote 'e-literacy' at all levels in the Community, the workforce and in administrative decision-making. Measures include building regional e-communities, building e-trading capacity in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), mobilising the knowledge bases and using information and communication technology (ICT) tools to engage young people in regional innovation. - DIESIS, an innovative action from Sardinia (Italy) aims at improving the conditions of implementation of the information society in the region. In an effort to improve the position of the region in the global market, projects will be prepared in e-tourism, e-government, e-learning, e-commerce and knowledge management. By promoting financial strategies and the diversification of financial sources, the action expects to duplicate investment in infrastructure and information society products and services.