Current programme status – “ A Snap shot”

1. Northern Periphery Programme 2007-2013Programme InformationLead Partner Seminar8th September 2010 – Bunratty Co. Clare, IrelandChristopher Parker & MattiasAssmundson

2. Current programme status – “ A Snap shot” Overview • Where are we today? • Programme commitment level • Main projects • Programme activities

3. Programme commitment level • To date: • 31 main projects and 25 preparatory project approved • In total 69% of programme budget has been allocated after the 5th call for main applications

4. Main projects • The NPP 2007 – 2013 Programme Monitoring Committee has approved 31 main project in two priorities:- Priority 1: 19 projects and Priority 2: 12 projects • Programme secretariat has received 63 applications • 3 strategic projects are on-going:- SMALLEST, RASLRES and RTS • NPP target for main projects is 40 and 8 strategic project

5. Preparatory projects • The NPP 2007 – 2013 Programme Monitoring Committee delegated authority to the Programme secretariat to approve preparatory projects and make funding decisions. • The Programme Secretariat has assessed 60 and approved 25 preparatory projects • Committed funds preparatory projects: € 433 387 (Remaining € 66 613) • A call for preparatory projects from June 10th 2010 addressing project themes identified in gaps in the programme (and 6 themes currently partly covered). • Special preparatory project call from September 1st for Urban-rural partnerships for new service solutions

6. Programme activities • In preparation for the Sixth Call the PMC agreed to the definition of products and services has widened and alternative wording has been provided for a number of themes to facilitate a better understanding. • Producing a new product or service that has a transnational or trans-regional character. • Transfer and adaptation of existing products and services from one region into transnational or trans-regional solutions • Update and adaptation of existing transnational or trans-regional products and services with additional features • Call Opens: 3rd of September 2010 • Call Closes: 14th of October 2010

7. Programme activities • 6th call has targeted themes • urban-rural partnerships for new service solutions • maritime safety in relation to remote areas with arctic, harsh conditions • exchange of best practice and establishment of cooperation networks between R&D institution and SMEs to increase the capacity for innovation, facilitate the design of innovation systems and strengthen competitiveness • cooperation and exchange of best practice between SMEs on how to address and reach markets with existing and new products • increased use of ICT to overcome distance • developing innovative product and service solutions for developing and maintaining transport infrastructure with regard to roads, railways, airports and ports under harsh climatic conditions

8. Programme activities 6th call has targeted themes:- The PMC also welcomes applications in all other programme objectives and themes. However, in priority 1 themes:- • Implementation of ICT to modernise and to innovate industries and businesses in the Northern Periphery” and • transnational cooperation networks and knowledge transfer to develop existing and new innovative products as already covered. In priority 2, the theme • Developing new approaches to efficient and sustainable management and utilisation of resources”, is viewed as sufficiently covered. New initiatives for small scale renewable energy resources and other natural resources projects, which are appropriate for the programme area are still welcomed. These themes need to strongly justify the need of the project and demonstrate concrete tangible added value in products and services to be developed.

9. Programme activities • Events • How To Apply seminars – September 16th, 2010 • Lead partner seminar – Final project reporting and new lead partner seminar – September 8th.Final Report package seminar, which is especially relevant for those projects due to finish during the second half of 2010 and early 2011. Lead Partners will learn what is expected from them when closing an NPP project and what information should be provided in each of the 3 main templates: Final Project Claim Final Administrative Report Final Content Report. • Annual conference – September 9th in Bunratty, Ireland. Theme:- “Stimulating Growth, Social Inclusion and Equal Opportunities in rural areas through enhanced rural business development and core service provision”. The purpose of the conference is to improve the implementation of the horizontal principle of equal opportunities by NPP projects and stimulate business development in rural areas through social inclusion and equal opportunities.

10. Programme activities • Project development • Urban-rural partnership for new solutions partenariat • Clustering on-going NPP projects to create Terms of Reference for “Strategic projects” • Seventh Call for Applications will be launched spring 2011. The PMC views the Seventh Call as a focused call also with the view to generate strategic projects.

11. Messages from Regional Contact Points • Norway over 2 million euro available for Norwegian partners. "We are looking forward to welcoming more Norwegian partners into the programme, and we are especially pleased to announce that the Norwegian intervention rate has increased from 30 to 50% (again).  Almost 50 % of the Norwegian NPP funds are still available, and we will help potential partners to search for match funding in Norway. • Faroe Islands, the Faroese RCP is that all possible Faroese partners are welcome to contact the RCP regarding project ideas for the NPP. Projects that are in their concluding phase are also welcome to contact us and we will help them disseminate possible projects results through our network and our newsletter. • Finland. First Level Control instructions for Finland have been updated on the NPP-homepage. Please check if they apply to your projects.Reminder to national partner meeting for Finland will be held during 8-9 December 2010 in Joensuu at Hotel Kimmel. The lunch-lunch meeting will discuss practical project performance issues. Deadline for registration is November 26th. Notice about the event will appear on the NPP homepage after the Annual conference. Greetings from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.

12. Messages from Regional Contact Points • Northern Ireland, Regional Contact Point is keen to see increase involvement from Northern Ireland in the Northern Periphery Programme. We have a wealth of experience and expertise in a wide range of areas including rural issues, equality and social inclusion, all of which are the focus of this Annual Conference. In relation to the Lead Partner seminar, we encourage Lead Partners to inform their Northern Ireland partners to keep in touch with the NI RCP and Verification Officer to discuss all issues of budgets and eligibility of expenditure. • Ireland , as host to this year’s Lead Partner seminar and Annual Conference. The BMW Regional Assembly would like to welcome you all to the Shannon region and to Bunrattyand hope you enjoy you stay in Ireland.  • The Lead Partner seminar is designed to improve the administration and efficiency of your projects and to enhance dissemination and publicity of project results. The social media clinics will assist your communications work. The event will also be a useful mechanism to network with other partner organizations in the context of future collaborations.

13. First Level Control Event in Copenhagen • In cooperation with INTERACT at the Programme Secretariats offices in Copenhagen on the 25th – 25th of August. • The purpose was to inform all National Controllers about the financial claim procedure in the NPP 2007-2013 • Some of the topics discussed during the event were: • The principles and processes of FLC • On-the-spot-checks status • Involvement of SMEs • Associated Partners • Match Funding – what can & can’t be included • Office costs distributed proportionally • Appeal of FLC certification.

14. Evaluation • An upcoming evaluation of the NPP 2007-2013 during fall and spring 2010 – 2011 • Project idea generation and development process • Project application process • Project claiming and reporting process • Purpose is to find simplification measures and evaluate what can be done and what can’t be done • Brainstorming sessions • Focus groups

15. N+2 Status NPP 2007-2013 • What is N+2? • N+2 is a rule among the Member States stating that each programme budget have to demonstrate project certified expenditure to the budgeted amount up to 2 years after the initial year N. • In other words, NPP’s programme budget for 2007 have to be spent and certified by projects and ”paid out” by the Certifying Authority before the end of 2009. • The N+2 rule however changed this year because of the late start of many of the Programmes which made it difficult for them to reach their N+2. The budget for 2007 was therefore divided equally over the following six years leaving a N+2 1/6 rule instead. • What is the N+2 1/6 implications for the projects in NPP? • With the ERDF payments made last year and the ones that has been made this year, N+2 1/6 has been reached. • No need for extra project claims from the projects • It is however necessary for the projects to keep up with their spending so it follows the budgeted implementation rate.

16. www.northernperiphery.eu Thank you for listening!