EU INVEST CAMPAIGN

Regional andUrban Policy

Regional andUrban PolicyRegional andUrban Policy

EU Invest projects funded by

Regional Policy

TABLE OF CONTENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

AUSTRIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

BELGIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

BULGARIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

CYPRUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

CZECH REPUBLIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

DENMARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

ESTONIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

FINLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

FRANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

GERMANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

GREECE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

HUNGARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

IRELAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

ITALY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

LATVIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

LITHUANIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

LUXEMBOURG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

MALTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

THE NETHERLANDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

POLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

PORTUGAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

ROMANIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

SLOVAKIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

SLOVENIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

SPAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

SWEDEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

UNITED KINGDOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

CROSS-BORDER PROJECTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

TABLE OF CONTENT

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AUSTRIA BELGIUM

Southern Bavaria in Germany and the Salzburg region of Austria have a shared history and common culture, with citizens from both sides of the border regularly crossing for all aspects of daily life includ-ing school, work or holidays . However, one part of the population is limited in their ability to take advantage of this cross-border inter-action: people with disabilities . The Barrierefrei project sets out to break down these barriers by consolidating all information relating to inclusive, accessible holiday opportunities from across the region into a single, one-stop-shop website . It is akin to a Trip Advisor’ style travel review where people with disabilities and their relatives can share information on their experiences in particular hotels, restaurants and other holiday-related locations .

The former Bellevue brewery building, situated along the Brussels canal, in the Molenbeek area, is now home to several interlinked pro-jects . The old malthouse (a remarkable industrial building) has been renovated in line with low-energy standards, while a new building hosts a training hotel (the Belvue Hotel, with 29 comfortable 3-star rooms) . The two operate in close cooperation as the old malthouse hosts ‘Molenbeek Formation’, a local training centre for young people in the area who previously had less access to education, qualifications and jobs . By employing them and offering practical training, the site serves a three-pillar cause: it combines employment potential, urban renovation and energy efficiency . Furthermore, the project Bellevue-4Starters (run by a non-profit association, Art2Work) is also located in the old malthouse, so it could be said that the site represents a “brew-ery of new professional opportunities for young people in Brussels”!

‘Research center Energetikum – Living Lab’ jointly run by Burgen-land Research Center and the Fachhochschule Burgenland is a mul-tifunctional centre: research is carried out on the premises while the building functions as both an energy supplier and a storage centre . It focuses on a number of individual technologies, such as solar and photovoltaic systems, heat pump systems, storage technologies, as well as developing a system-wide control engineering strategy that takes user behaviour into account . .

The name Oude Dokken refers to an attractive project in Ghent which aims to create a new city/urban area from a formerly highly industrial and deserted zone by the waterfront . As a result, a new and lively city is arising from the remains of a rich industrial past . The presence of water to provide potential recreational value is further enhancing the attractiveness of the area – more than half of the area comprises water, quays and green space . The Old Docks project is focusing on affordable housing (to address the housing shortage in Ghent), as well as the construction of a primary school, a nursery and a com-munity hall .

Connected Vehicles is a research project covering three main areas of road traffic, namely: the efficient use of a road network, Car-2-Car communications, and the impact of security measures and safety re-quirements in Car-2-Car communications – all of this with the aim of reducing traffic congestion, accidents and traffic overload .

Oxygen for relaxing in Antwerpen is one of the key projects in Antwerp’s city renewal plan . A previously abandoned 24-hectare railway site in the north of the city has been transformed into an urban landscape park, with the direct participation of the city’s residents from the initial planning stag-es . The western part of the park focuses on culture and recreation (with an events meadow, an open and multifunctional shelter with summer bar, a BMX and skate bowl, a water garden and children’s playgrounds) . The east side houses several sports facilities, including the renovated park hangar (a former repair hangar for diesel and traction machines) that is now a multi-purpose events hall with sports infrastructure . The park con-nects three densely populated quartiers of the city where the creation of this green, relaxing and social park has been warmly welcomed . What’s more, the success of Park Spoor Noord initiated the reconversion of other former industrial sites into public parks, making Antwerp more green and friendly as a whole!

OUDE DOKKENEUR 959 504 92 - Gent - 15/12/2015 - Sector: urban development

BELVUE2007-2013: EUR 1 375 000 - 2014-2020: EUR 624 000 - Brussels (Molenbeek) -

Sector: social inclusion, training, urban

OXYGEN FOR RELAXING IN ANTWERPENPark Spoor Noord (‘Park Railway North’) EUR 14 00 000 - Antwerp - 06/2009 to be continued in 2014-2020 Sector: urban development

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LIVING LABEUR 584 000 – Burgenland - 2017 - Sector: research and innovation

BARRIEREFREIInterreg: EUR 11 103 (EFRE - Austria - Salzburg, Germany - Southern Bavaria) - 03/2015

Sector: inclusive growth, territorial co-operation

CONNECTED VEHICLESERDF: EUR 635 120/total EUR 793 900 - Hagenberg - 2014-2020 - Sector: Information and Communication Systems

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This project concerns the construction of a footbridge/walkway con-necting two important centres of development of the agglomeration, in particular the area around the TGV railway station, with the rest of the city, including a park and a museum which are also co-financed by the ERDF . Hence, this is a way of making residents’ lives easier by facilitating their commutes and attracting visitors to Liège to other parts of the city, thereby boosting tourism . The walkway is equally accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and disabled people .

LA BELLE LIEGEOISEERDF: EUR 3 346 627 42 - Liège - inauguration May 2016 -

Sector: environment, urban renewal, improving the attractiveness of an area

One of the most important infrastructure projects in Bulgaria in re-cent history, the Sofia Metro has overcome many economic, admin-istrative and archaeological hurdles to deliver impressive results and benefits for the 1 .7 million population of Sofia’s metropolitan area . While the first two lines have been completed under the Operational Programme Transport 2007-2013, the city’s third metro line, co-fi-nanced by the ERDF, is currently under construction and is expected to be completed before 2020 .

Darin was working on his PhD in Belgium and over time got slightly fed up with his little sister back in Bulgaria constantly asking for his help with her homework via Skype . So he started up some online tutorials . His website ‘Ucha’ (which stands for ‘to learn’ in Bulgarian) kicked-off thanks to EUR 30 000 funding from LAUNChub, a local accelerator backed by the EIF and JEREMIE technological start-up programme . This attracted the attention of two Bulgarian business angels who invested EUR 200 EIF 000 – and Ucha .se is now set to make profit!

The project’s main objective is to improve the lives of children with disabilities in Bulgarian institutions and to create a model for the transformation of specialised institutions for children into alternative and innovative community services .EU Member States are progressively moving vulnerable children from residential care to community-based services . The ‘Childhood for all’ project in Bulgaria aims to create a sustainable model of transition for children with disabilities, and supports the development of a new social infrastructure that will replace the traditional residential insti-tutions . Currently, these services are not sufficiently well developed and available for everyone in need . Equally, suitable accommodation is not always available and needs to be renovated or built . Thanks to the project, children and young adults will have equal access to services and will be cared for in the community, thereby encouraging their inclusion in Bulgarian society .

BELGIUM BULGARIA

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DARIN OR ONE OF MANY START-UP SUCCESS STORIESERDF: EUR 350 million - Several cities - Ongoing - Sector: environment/waste

METRO, SOFIA’S PRIDEERDF: EUR 486 million (in 2007-2013) and EUR 361 million (2014-2020) - Sofia - 1/9/2019

Sector: intermodal transport

BULGARIA-WIDE(Gabrovo, one of 62 municipalities) - Childhood for all - and all funds (ERDF, ESF, Rural Development) for Childhood. ERDF: EUR 46.5m - 62 municipalities in Bulgaria (nation-wide) - Sector: social inclusion, jobs, education and training

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The e-Schools project aims to increase the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in primary and secondary education in Croatia by providing ICT equipment and educational tools for stu-dents and teachers alike . This enhances teachers’ professional de-velopment, improves the quality of education and boosts students’ employability . The project’s greatest achievement to date was a pub-lic call for schools to formally express their interest in participating in a pilot: 150 schools are now actively involved in the project . The selected schools are evenly distributed across the country to ensure that the impact is felt in all regions .

It seems that wine is not just great for drinking: bioactive compounds created during production can be turned into valuable ingredients for a whole range of sectors . Now scientists at the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology have developed novel ways of extracting these compounds, which can be used either as raw materials or semi-finished products in further processing, such as in functional foods, as well as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics . A key project goal has been to strengthen the bond between Croatia’s sci-entific and business sectors – combining cooperation, research, in-novation, economic benefits, environmentally friendly elements and wine – what could be better! .

The Marasca cherry, a type of sour Morello cherry cultivated along Croatia’s coast, particularly around the town of Zadar, is reputed to be the world’s finest and is characterised by its astringent flavour and dark red juice . The University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology in Zadar has carried out research into processing the cherries with the aim of bringing new commercial food products to market, maximising the fruit’s economic potential to the region while, at the same time, capitalising on the health benefits stemming from its rich in biologically active compounds, anti-oxidant and an-ti-inflammatory properties .

APPLICATION OF INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES IN BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS: ISOLATION FROM ORGANIC WASTE IN WINE – EXTRACTING VALUE-ADDED INGREDIENTS FROM WINE WASTEERDF: EUR 391 885 - 10/2014-02/2016 - Zagreb

E-SCHOOLS PROJECT TO INCREASE ICT USE IN CROATIA’S EDUCATION SYSTEMERDF: EUR 34 000 000 - 03/2015-02/2018 - Sector: education

MARASCA SOUR CHERRY AS AN INGREDIENT FOR FUNCTIONAL FOOD – HARNESSING THE POTENTIAL OF CROATIA’S WORLD-FAMOUS INDIGENOUS CHERRYERDF: EUR 360 000/EUR 496 800 - 2007-2013 - Sector: innovation, research and technological development

A three-year EU-funded project is currently modernising the water and waste-water infrastructure to ensure that they meet European standards, bringing benefits to Slavonski Brod’s inhabitants and safe-guarding the environment in the River Danube Basin . Upgrading the water and waste-water systems will boost the quality of life of an estimated 67 000 citizens .

An innovative and commercially competitive robotic system for neu-rosurgery applications has been developed through an EU-funded project based in Zagreb, Croatia . The new system comprises a master robot for pre-planned navigation and an assistant robot for handling complex medical instruments, enabling it to perform specific and complex actions that require incredible precision and accuracy . This will help to improve patient safety and reduce the potential trauma that can be caused by manual procedures .

ROBOTIC INNOVATION GIVES CROATIAN NEUROLOGICAL SURGEONS A HELPING HANDERDF: EUR 342 729/486 638 - 12/2014- 4/2016 - Sector: innovation, neurosurgery

WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM WITH WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR SLAVONSKI BRODCohesion Fund 2007-2013: total Investment EUR 29 652 030, EU Investment: EUR 17 390 915

CROATIA CROATIA

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ENGINO .NET LTD, an incredibly successful, innovative toy company in Cyprus, is currently involved in three interlinked projects: ‘The robotic platform for design and technology course’ in schools (EUR 136 792), ‘The design and development of constructive educational toys relat-ing to renewable energy sources’ (EUR 103 098), and ‘The develop-ment of a 3D design software for children’ (EUR 150 .000) . Since its foundation, the company has expanded tremendously and has won several prizes for its innovative products which combine a strong ed-ucational approach, highly advanced scientific research and, last but not least, guaranteed fun for children of all ages!

A number of interlinked urban projects are focusing on Limassol, the second largest city in Cyprus . The city is located on the island’s south-ern coast and is the biggest Cypriot port in the Mediterranean transit trade . It has also become one of the most important tourism, trade and service-providing centres in the area and has made it on to the Mercer’s List for best places in the world to live, ranking 88th on the annual Quality of Living survey .

The work is being carried out over 9 .5 kilometres in Limassol’s city centre . The project includes the Improvement and underground in-stallation of all the services and supplies, (electricity, telecommuni-cations and water) and the construction of pavements, roads and town squares with a view to redefining the town centre as the heart of social, cultural and other activities by preserving and exposing the cultural and traditional identity of this historical centre .

LIMASSOLEUR 18 million + EUR 13 million + EUR 7.8 million + EUR 13 million

ENGINOEUR 136 792 + EUR 103 098 + EUR 150 000 - Sector: innovation, competitiveness, education

REGENERATION OF LIMASSOL TOWN CENTREEUR 18 million – 01/2010-05/2013

The project, which covers an area of 65 000 square metres, includes the construction of platforms pointing towards the sea, seating are-as, cafeterias, playgrounds, a bicycle path and bicycle parking places, a small theatre, pedestrian paths/walkways, landscaping, lighting and improved parking places . The aim is to redefine the park’s role as the centre for social, cultural and other local functions which will respond to the needs of both the residents and visitors to Limassol . The project will also complete the system connecting Akti Olympion, the old port, the town centre and Garillis Linear Park via pedestrian and bicycle lanes .

The project includes the construction of a new stage, changing rooms, orchestra pit, storage rooms, toilets, stage equipment, a sound sys-tem, electromechanical installations, lifts, structural improvements to the building, reconstruction of the roof, suspended ceilings, wall pan-elling, floorings and new seats . The aim is to create a safe, healthy and functional theatre with a seating capacity of 740, and equipped with modern systems .

The project, which extends over 5 .5 kilometres, includes the construc-tion of a walkway and bicycle path and creating squares, where there is sufficient space, with landscaping, lighting and bridges . The objec-tive is to improve the current environment along the river sides by regenerating the area, organising and managing the traffic, building bicycle and pedestrian lanes and connecting the residential areas in the north with the centre and the seafront .

RESTORATION OF PATTICHIO MUNICIPALITY THEATREEUR 7.8 million – 03/2009-11/2014

LINEAR PARK ALONG THE GARILLIS RIVEREUR 13 million – 7/2010-7/2015

MULTIFUNCTION SEASIDE PARKEUR 13 million – 12/2010-01/2015

CYPRUS CYPRUS

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In the absence of trees, the muddy plain slows the two small rivers almost to a standstill, losing their way in greenish puddles . But, fast forward a little more than a year and the wasteland-like features of the 300-metre-long stretch of the Vřesůvka and Malý potůček conflu-ence in the Central Moravia region have been transformed into lush marshland supporting reeds, grass and trees . Although this is a small project, the results are tangible and can now be enjoyed by a very diverse group of beneficiaries: the locals and their visitors who can enjoy this improved area when using the nearby inline skating track . Similarly, the new animal inhabitants of this bio corridor are reaping the project’s benefits of more food and shelter .

CZECHLIB was approved as a national systemic project in September 2016 and its implementation began in January 2017 . The National Library of Technology is the largest and the oldest library of technical literature in the Czech Republic . Located in the heart of the Czech Technical University campus in Dejvice in Prague, it will house the new national centre for the purchase of scientific literature and research materials . Thanks to this coordinated and centralised approach (com-mon in most Scandinavian countries and the UK, for example) Czech universities and researchers will save a lot a money in the long run since a single buyer has much more leverage and is in a better posi-tion than the publishers and database providers!

The main objective of the project is to create a permanent and in-tensive partnership between firefighters from Lánov, Szklarska Pore-ba and Karpacz, thereby improving safety in the Czech-Polish border area . This partnership is ensured through intensive communication between the firefighters who are organising joint training exercises and meetings, and are also involving young volunteer firefighters .

CZECHELIB2017 - Sector: research and education

COOPERATION AND EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCE AMONG FIREFIGHTERS IN LÁNOV, SZKLAR-SKA POREBA AND KARPACZ MUNICIPALITIESERDF: EUR 658 271 15/total EUR 774 436 96 - 2007-2013 - 05/2013-09/2015 - Sector: territorial cooperation, risk

REVITALISATION OF VŘESŮVKA AND MALÝ POTŮČEK CONFLUENCEERDF: CZK 1 707 423 60 /total eligible costs: CZK 1 797 288 00 - 28/08/2014 - 30/04/ 2015

CYPRUS CZECH REPUBLIC

The project aims to serve the waste management needs of the 235 000 people who live in the Limassol district, creating a number of jobs and focusing on sustainability . The work includes the design and construction of integrated installations for the management of mu-nicipal solid waste . A new recycling plant will be built to contribute towards a more circular local economy . In addition, landfill sites will be rehabilitated and a new waste-transfer centre will be built .

NEW INTEGRATED APPROACH TO EASE PRESSURE ON LIMASSOL DISTRICT WASTE-MAN-AGEMENT SYSTEMERDF: EUR 72 638 300, of which Cohesion Funding totals EUR 46 547 221 - Sector: environment

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The aim of the project is to establish an efficient knowledge-shar-ing system for product and enterprise development for SMEs, with a strong focus on creating jobs . Through Smart Innovation, the busi-nesses involved develop high-technology concepts or prototypes in close collaboration with researchers from the Technical University of Denmark – setting up a fruitful cooperation of all the actors involved in the field of innovative technological advancements .

An interesting culinary project is taking shape in South Denmark, focusing on four key identified areas: qualitative food experiences, sustainability, internationalisation and productivity . The project is fo-cusing on SMEs, by boosting their competitiveness . It is also expected to create 99 new jobs, 15 new growth-oriented businesses and an additional turnover of DKR 150 million .

The project involves the research facilities ESS, MAX IV and eight uni-versities in Sweden, Denmark and Norway . Its main goal is to increase the number of young researchers in the region who can use the fa-cilities . The project has identified several fields where there is great potential for working across borders . A research work package will be combined with work packages on marketing, business involvement, international attractiveness and breaking down cross-border barriers . This is the largest project in the history of the ÖKS-programme .

THRIVING CULINARY EXPERIENCESERDF: DKR 14 721 090 (EUR 2 million)/total investment: DKR 29 442 181 (EUR 3.9 million) - 2014-2020 - South Denmark Sector: Food

SMART INNOVATIONERDF: DKR 24 835 700 (EUR 3.3 million)/total investment: DKR 49 671 400 (EUR 6.6 million), capital region – 01/10/2015-31/08/2018 - Sector: SMEs

ESS and MAX IV – cross-border science and societyERDF: EUR 8 970 475 - Region Hovedstaden, Region Midtjylland, Region Skåne, Västra Götalandsregionen, Akershus fylke – 09/2015-08/2018 - Sector: research and Innovation

X-Road is the backbone of e-Estonia . It is the invisible yet crucial en-vironment that allows the nation’s e-services databases, both in the public and private sector, to link up and operate in harmony . More than 1000 interconnected databases covering some 1700 services help answer more than 50 million enquiries each month . X-Road ena-bles a wide range of otherwise complex services to be offered quickly and conveniently, thereby rendering otherwise long bureaucratic pro-cedures much more convenient and modern .

Initially, the purpose of the renovation loan programme was to im-prove energy efficiency in apartment buildings by combining a finan-cial loan with technical assistance and guidance throughout the ren-ovations and favourable pay-back prospects . Through this scheme, 615 apartment blocks housing over 22 000 apartments throughout Estonia became more energy efficient – at its height, energy saving reached a huge 63 % !

A long-term investment plan for the development of the water and waste-water system in Narva comprises investments in drinking wa-ter treatment and distribution, as well as waste-water collection, for all the residents in Narva . Significant environmental benefits stem from the elimination of groundwater and subsoil contamination, thanks to the reconstruction of waste-water collectors and elimina-tion of leakages .

RENOVATION LOAN PROGRAMMEERDF: EUR 17.7 million - Sector: energy

NARVA WATER AND SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM RECONSTRUCTION2007-2013 Cohesion Fund: EUR 28.6 million/EUR 44.4 million - 18/12/2008-31/10/ 2015 - Sector: environment

THE CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION OF THE X-ROAD2014-2020 Operational Programme for Cohesion Policy Funds: ERDF: EUR 352 000

Sector: e-services, cross-border, interoperability

DENMARK ESTONIA

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DiveSMART Baltic is a good (and highly emotional) example of prac-tical cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region concerning sea safety . In recent years, several shipping accidents have proved that no single authority or organisation with divers can handle a large-scale acci-dent at sea . The region is still traumatised by the Estonia disaster in the 1990s when more than 800 people died, making the accident the second deadliest after the Titanic . This is a very hands-on project that promotes an exchange of knowledge and develops a capacity to react jointly . It focuses on clear output, clear results and clear rational for cooperation since most Member States around the Baltic Sea are rather small or medium-sized and do not have the capacity to handle the described disaster scenarios alone .

In another example of close cooperation between the Baltic States, the Let us be active! Project is aiming to reduce social exclusion and loneliness among elderly people in Estonia, Finland and Latvia by in-volving them in voluntary work . Workshops, meetings and events for seniors, healthcare workers and social workers are being organised as part of the project to develop a new type of voluntary activities . At the same time, an information platform will be set up in each city (Pärnu, Riga and Turku) which will be managed by the seniors themselves . As a result of the project, the social inclusion of older people is expected to improve, as well as their mental health and general well-being, not to mention the fact that closer ties will be created across communi-ties and society at large .

Project Sohjoa addresses the challenges of new economic growth in-dustries and the development of sustainable intelligent transporta-tion in the form of autonomous small electric buses . These mini buses are self-driven (yes, that means no bus driver!) and can hold up to six to eight people . They have the potential to reduce operating costs, lower the overall emissions and offer better service to the mobility customer, for instance by offering a ‘last-mile service’ (transferring people to their houses from bus stops) . The idea is to test and develop intelligent, remotely supervised, autonomous urban traffic which has yet to be trialled anywhere in the world to this extent . Therefore, the project is a major step towards the future, especially for Finland – and will attract broad media attention . See article on the New York Times: https://www .nytimes .com/2016/11/08/science/finland-public-trans-portation-driverless-bus .html?_r=1

LET US BE ACTIVE!ERDF (2014-2020): EUR 208 054 - Estonia, Latvia, Finland - 28/02/2017 - Sector: skilled and socially inclusive region; more people benefiting from stronger Central Baltic communities

DIVESMARTInterreg: EUR 1 719 202 - Baltic Sea Region (including Sweden, Finland, Poland) – 02/2019 - Sector: transport, safety at sea, emergency preparedness

SOHJOAEUR 224 957 - Helsinki and Tampere - 2014-2020 - 31/05/2018 - Sector: research and innovation

The ‘Parasol’ of Ajaccio, a charging station for electric and hybrid ve-hicles, was inaugurated on 11 May 2016 . It comprises 86 photovolta-ic panels over a surface area of 140 m2, and operates on 100 % solar energy . By installing this unique prototype worldwide, Driveco wants to develop a network of parasols, every 50 kilometres, making Corsica the first region to be able to drive using 100 % solar energy .

The cable car in Brest, Brittany, is innovative in two ways: it is the first urban cable car in France dedicated to everyday mobility, and connected to the tramway, it is an integral part of the Bibus network . The 460-metre cable spans the River Penfeld and connects Brest city centre with the surrounding areas where an Ecoquartier project is under way . With a single ticket, passengers can use the bus, the tram and the cable car interchangeably and consecutively .

The ‘nursery’ welcomes, hosts and accompanies young innovative companies, the aim being to create favourable conditions for devel-oping companies in sectors that carry high added value but require longer setting-up procedures, with a relatively long return on invest-ment . Innovation is understood here in the territorial sense of the word: everything that is new in the territory of Guyana is considered innovative . Similarly, innovation is not just technological . It can there-fore relate to a product as well as to a service, a process, a business model, and the social, marketing and sales aspects of the organisa-tion .

BREST CABLE CARERDF: EUR 1.7 million (2007-2013) + 4 million (2014-2020) - Inauguration 16/11/2016 - Sector: clean urban transport, inno-vation, research and technological development, technological and market innovation

CREATION OF A NURSERY FOR INNOVATIVES ENTERPRISES (GUYANE)ERDF: EUR 2 400 000 - Cayenne - 2015 - Sector: innovation/ICT

CORSICA SOLE (DRIVECO) PHOTOVOLTAIC PARASOLERDF: EUR 959 339 - 11/05/2016 - Sector: renewable energy

FINLAND FRANCE

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Dortmund’s U-Tower - Centre for Arts and Creativity has created a space where the visual and media arts, academia, education and the digital economy can come together to generate knowledge and innovation . The U-Tower houses a varied mix of organisations and facilities from the RWE U Forum cinema, the Technical University of Dortmund and the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences, the Cen-tre for Cultural Education in the Digital Age, the Hartware Media Art Association, and has a restaurant on the top floor .

By transforming former industrial land and investing in green infra-structure, an EU-funded project in Germany’s Ruhr region has demon-strated how industrial heritage can be adapted to suit the environ-mental and economic needs and concerns of the 21st century .

Auxilia provides an assistance and safety system to support of people living with dementia . Their aim is to respond to demographic change in Saxony: the increase in life expectancy and a declining birth rate is a challenge Germany needs to find solutions for . Technology-wise, imaging sensors are used so that the activities of everyday life, such as daily movement, can be detected, and the patient can be brought into the alarm system to register potential emergencies .

RUHR VALLEY ON THE RIGHT PATH TO GREENER MOBILITYERDF: EUR 4 890 003 - Dusseldorf - 31/12/2015 - Sector: city star – sustainable growth

AUXALIAERDF: 75 % of EUR 3.1 million (EUR 2.325 million) - Chemnitz - 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 - Sector: research and innovation

DORTMUND: NOT A TRUMP TOWER BUT DORTMUND U TOWER FOR ART AND CREATIVITYERDF: EUR 23.2 million - Dortmund - 10/2014 - Sector: arts and creativity

FRANCE GERMANY

The Mont Saint-Michel stands in a bay with a remarkable landscape and ecosystem . This site has been mentioned twice on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites . But this masterpiece is now facing a se-rious ecological threat . According to international experts, if nothing is done, by 2040 the sand will build up once and for all around Mont Saint-Michel, which will be surrounded by salt marshes . To avoid this, since 2009, a new dam has been using the combined forces of tide and river water . The funds are used for the sustainable preservation of the Mont so that this beautiful world heritage can be accessible to visitors from all over the world in the future, too . For this reason, an international communication was launched in 2016 targeting tourists from 21 countries .

MONT ST MICHELERDF: EUR 11 million (2000-2006) - EUR 10 million (2007-2013) - EUR 100 000 (2014-2020) - Normandy - Sector: sus-tainable development

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This project aims to save lives in the heart of Berlin . Berlin Heart develops, produces and sells innovative systems for mechanical car-diac support . Thanks to their support systems outside the body, heart patients can survive until a suitable donor is found, or patients who are not eligible for heart transplants can receive adequate long-term support and therapy . Berlin Heart is the European market leader in the development of cardiac care for young children . Its success is boost-ing the competitiveness of the sector in Europe and established tech-niques can be exchanged in order to save more lives across Europe .

Fiagon is an electromagnetic surgical navigation company that seeks to improve patient outcomes by enabling surgeons with easy-to-use, integrated navigated solutions . With the proprietary ‘direct naviga-tion’ technology, Fiagon develops and produces the latest-generation unique surgical navigation systems . In the last few years, they have been working alongside world-class physicians and have changed the standard in electromagnetic-based surgical navigation technol-ogy . Fiagon navigation systems are being used successfully in over 150 hospitals in more than 50 countries . The company was founded in 2007 and has 62 employees . It has received numerous awards in Germany for its innovative ideas and ways of running its business .

Being independent of developments in the volatile gas market while providing citizens with secure energy can only enhance the quality of life . At the end of November 2015, the municipal energy supplier in the city of Schwerin started one of the biggest geothermic projects in Mecklenburg-Westpomerania . The project will help the city to fulfil its goal to become CO2-neutral by 2050 .

FIAGON - NAVIGATION ON THE SPOTERDF: EUR 2.175 million - Brandenburg - 12/2015 - Sector: innovation, medical technology, industry 4.0

GEOTHERMIC USE OF EXISTING THERMIC BRINE FOR DISTANT HEATING IN SCHWERINERDF: EUR 9.2 million - Schwerin - Spring 2018 - Sector: renewable energies/energy supply for the public

HEART SURGERY CLINIC IN BERLINERDF: EUR 1 831 140 - Berlin - 2009-2015 - Sector: strengthening research, technological development, innovation and the competitiveness of SMEs More medical advances are being made in Germany by connecting

labs, researchers and businesses . The InfectoGnostic Research Cam-pus is a state-of-the-art facility that hosts numerous photonic tech-nologies, an array of laboratories and a bio bank . It serves as a hub for fast transnational science: technologists and scientists who typ-ically work isolated in a university lab are now working directly with clinicians and pharmaceutical and medical companies . Gaps in the medical value chain can only be overcome by direct public-private partnerships, and this cooperation is highly beneficial for all the par-ties involved .

The main aim of the project is to reduce the travelling time between Erfurt and Halle (from 77 to 31 minutes) closing one of the high-speed (up to 300km/h) rail gaps on the TEN-V rail connection Ber-lin-Leipzig/Halle-Munich-Verona .

Connecting Erfurt to Leipzig and Halle completes the missing sec-tion of a continuous line crossing Germany from north to south, from Hamburg to Munich . The modernisation and completion of the railway not only reinforces national and European mobility, but also creates jobs during and after project implementation: to be more precise, an estimated 808 jobs during – and 696 jobs after – its implementation .

The Innovation Centre examines the needs of small and medi-um-sized companies to modernise through potential analyses in the region . SMEs in particular are faced with the challenge of building digital infrastructures in order to remain competitive . Hence the need for this new advice and consultation centre for companies that want to meet the challenges of increasingly integrated production and in-formation technologies .

TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY – RAILWAYS ERFURT-LEIPZIG/HALLE(SAALE), MODULE 3 – OVERHEAD CONTACT WIRE IN SECTION THURINGIA, GERMANYERDF: EUR 10.4 million - Thuringia - Sector: transport

BRANDENBURG INNOVATION CENTRE FOR MODERN INDUSTRY (IMI)- CUSTOMISED SOLU-TIONS FOR INDUSTRY 4.0 IN PRACTICEERDF: EUR 1.5 million - Brandenburg - Sector: Innovation; small and medium-sized enterprises; industry 4.0; knowledge and technology-transfer

INFECTOGNOSTICS RESEARCH CAMPUS JENA – A PARTNERSHIP IN INFECTION DIAGNOSTICSERDF: EUR 7.9 million - Jena - 29/2/2020 - Sector: smart growth

GERMANY GERMANY

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The Attica Schools project refers to two public-private partnership contracts involving the design-build-finance-operation and mainte-nance of 24 school units located in Attica over 25 years . It address-es the huge quantity and quality requirements for schools in Attica, with a population of 6500 students . Their construction will eliminate double shifts and allow students to be hosted in modern, safe and environmentally friendly classrooms managed according to strict per-formance standards . It received the ‘Education Deal of the Year 2014’ award by World Finance Magazine .

This is the first time ever that an integrated waste project and a pub-lic-private partnership for waste treatment has been signed in Greece: Design and Construction (two years) and Operation and Maintenance (25 years) of the Integrated Waste Treatment of West Macedonia . The solid waste management plant, which has an annual capacity of 120 000 tonnes, will focus on recyclable materials and produce com-post as well . The project is expected to enhance the region’s devel-opment prospects, creating at least 200 jobs during construction and around 150 permanent jobs during operation . In addition, the project also aims to raise public awareness and prevent waste generation .

The ICT venture capitals funds is a project in support of innovative start-ups and businesses that are developing new information society services and applications through the use of venture capital funds . The varied and revolving nature of this form of investment ensures that, unlike a traditional grant approach, the investments have a more sustainable and durable impact . The venture capital funds play a vital role in nurturing a blooming entrepreneurial culture: small companies that previously only worked on a national level are now taking a ‘think global – go global’ approach . Through this support, a wide range of products and services are covered from innovative applications in the field of biotechnology to boat rentals and boating holidays .

INTEGRATED WASTE TREATMENT PROJECT IN WEST MACEDONIAERDF/JESSICA: EUR 13 million - Eordaia - Western Macedonia Region – 6/2017 - Sector: environment

ATTICA SCHOOLERDF/JESSICA: EUR 35.8 million - Attica – Greece - signed May 2014 - Sector: education

ICT VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDSJEREMIE: EUR 46 207 239 - 12/2015 - Sector: economy

The Extreme Light Infrastructure is a cutting-edge project promoting na-tional and European research by creating an internationally renowned re-search infrastructure, open to specialists from the academic and private scientific sphere, as well as the business sector . In 2006, it was identified by the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructure (ESFRI) as one of the top priority projects in research infrastructure for Europe . The project has basically contributed to reversing the brain drain: keeping lo-cal researchers by offering them top research jobs and attracting experts from other countries . One concrete example in the project, which adds a human element, is Katalin G . Varjú, Head of the Attosecond Sources Division at ELI-ALPS (HU) . She holds a Diploma and a PhD in Physics from University of Kent (UK) and an MSc in Physics from JATE University in Hungary . Having gained her PhD, she took on a postdoc project at Lund University (SE) . Since 1999, she has been employed by the University of Szeged on different projects and has been involved in ELI since 2010 .

A new chapter has been opened in Budapest’s public transport sys-tem: the Hungarian capital joined the group of cities offering public bike-sharing . By improving the conditions for cycling, the objective of BKK (the capital’s public transport provider) is to ensure that more and more passengers choose cycling as their travel alternative for short journeys in Budapest . The system was developed after carefully analysis of previous success stories Europe-wise on such bike-shar-ing projects (notably London, Brussels and Paris) . The number of us-ers is well over 100 000 now (over 1 .5 million individual journeys have been made totalling 3 million kilometres) – making it a popular alternative to taking the bus, tram or metro .

The major goal of Iron Age Danube is to develop and implement joint strategies for approaching a common heritage, in order to increase public awareness of the importance and attractiveness of prehistoric sites incorporated in the cultural and natural Early Iron Age land-scapes in the Danube region . It aims to integrate these prehistoric landscapes, which until recently remained partly hidden and often endangered by urban development as well as intensive agricultural activities, into cultural and sustainable tourism .

BUBI – BUDAPEST BICYCLE – PUBLIC BIKE-SHARING SCHEMEERDF: EUR 2.2 million - 09/2014 - Sector: transport, tourism

IRON AGE DANUBEInterreg ERDF: EUR 2 169 200 - 30/06/2019 - Sector : environment and culture responsible Danube region, foster sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage and resources

TOGETHER AGAINST BRAIN DRAIN(mainly HU, but also RO and CZ or the ELI project) ERDF: EUR 231 million for the Hungarian site, EUR 356 million for the Romanian and EUR 278 million for the Czech - Hungary (Szeged); the Romanian (Măgurele), Czech (Prague) - ongoing - Sector: research and innovation

GREECE HUNGARY

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The project saw the construction of three new pedestrian bridges (with the bridge adjacent to Kilbeggan Bridge shortlisted for the Irish Concrete Society 2014 Main Award), giving a boost to the city and improving the area around the canal in general .

A strong body of expertise in the innovative and currently underex-plored field of glycoscience has recently been developed in Ireland . This advance has been driven by the recognition that the study of glycomics is required for a full understanding of many biological pro-cesses . The aim is to identify the next wave of innovative diagnostics and therapeutics .

With six academic partners and over 35 industry partners, CÚRAM is establishing a global hub of research expertise in medical device technology . The establishment of CÚRAM puts Ireland at the forefront of the world’s medical device industry – a leading area of innovation, employment and export in the country . .

SRC AGRC: GLYCOSCIENCE RESEARCH CLUSTER50 % of eligible direct costs - total budget EUR 5 160 086 - Sector: Immunity and Infection

CÚRAM – CENTRE FOR RESEARCH IN MEDICAL DEVICES50 % of eligible direct costs - total budget EUR 28 823 238 - 01/01/2015 to 31/12/20 - Sector: biomedicine

TULLAMORE CANAL CORRIDOREUR 1.2 million – 2011-2013 - Sector: infrastructure, urban development, urban regeneration

HUNGARY IRELAND

EVOPRO KFT is responsible for developing a family (a gas-fuelled bus, a trolley and an electric bus) of environment-friendly, urban buses . Modulo provides a range of bus models that are built in a way that they can accommodate a varying number of passengers and can be ordered with various powertrains . Because of the novel layout of the axes and doors, Modulo can transport up to 50 % more passengers than similar vehicles of the same size from other manufacturers . Thanks to its drastically reduced weight and environmentally friendly powertrain solutions, the impact of the Modulo buses on the envi-ronment is significantly less than that of competing buses . The fully electric powertrain produces zero emissions!

DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTRIC, COMPOSITE BUSES – EVOPRO KFTERDF: around EUR 2.2 million/total EUR 4.5 million - Sector: transport, sustainability

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The UNESCO site of Pompeii is undoubtedly the most renowned ar-chaeological site in Italy . It spans a total of 66 hectares and its city walls extend for 3 kilometres . Excavations carried out from 1748 to date involve an area of 44 hectares . The Great Pompeii project turned into a gigantic work of restructuring and safeguarding the site, includ-ing the opening of new areas and houses for visitors, and providing access for disabled people – all with the aim of attracting thousands of visitors coming from all corners of the world, thereby boosting the economy of the whole region .

Health outcomes in Italy are amongst the best in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) . Life expectan-cy, at 82 .3 years, is the fifth highest in the OECD . These reassuring figures, however, mask profound regional differences . The ERDF re-gional programme in Sicily is co-financing investments to further en-hance the public health system and support it in delivering consist-ently high-quality healthcare . One of the most successful projects is targeted on the ISMETT – the Mediterranean Institute for Organ Transplantations and Highly Specialised Therapies – which is based in Palermo . ISMETT is a government-approved research hospital (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico - IRCCS) for the treatment of, and research into, end-stage organ diseases .

Digital divide is one of the major gaps between Mezzogiorno regions in Italy and the rest of Europe . Italy’s national ultra-broadband plan, the ‘Strategy for next-generation access network’ (Strategia Nazion-ale per la Banda Ultra-Larga, SNBUL) was approved by the Council of Ministers in March 2015 . It aims to develop a high-speed access network .

POMPEIIERDF: EUR 41 811 000 - Region of Campania - Phase I completed in 2015; Phase II by 31/12/2018 - Sector: cultural heritage, tourism

SICILY, PALERMO HOSPITALERDF: EUR 10 816 483 - Palermo (Region of Sicily) – 12/2015 - Sector: healthcare, research and development

CALABRIA, BASILICATA, SARDAIGNIA, MOLISE – OR ‘CHRIST STOPPED AT EBOLI BUT ICT CAME TO MATERA, BASILICATA’ERDF: EUR 176 million - Regions of Molise, Apulia, Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily – 12/2015 - Sector: ICT and digital agenda, tourism

IRELAND ITALY

CoLab, which comprises 23 business centres spread over 2500 m2, provides campus-based incubation facilities to start-up companies as well as some facilities for industrial research, all with the aim of sup-porting entrepreneurs at every stage of their business development .

A lovely family business in operation for over five decades and em-ploying 20 people, Goatsbridge realised action was needed as im-ports began to threaten their business of selling fresh trout to the fresh-fish counters in shops and supermarkets around the country . The funding was highly appreciated, as were all the different kinds of soft support: management development, IT programmes, sales and marketing training are all critical to an expanding business .

COLAB: A CENTRE FOR INCUBATION, RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISEERDF 2007-2013 - total investment EUR 2 673 684 - EU Investment EUR 1 270 000 - Sector: research and enterprise

GOATSBRIDGE TROUT FARMERDF: EUR 18 000 - total public eligible expenditure EUR 45 000 - 24/09/2012-31/12/2012 - Sector: food processing

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A new smart system to manage the public bus fleet has been com-pleted and further extended to other neighbouring cities . 264 bus-es are now constantly monitored and the estimated waiting time is shown at 281 bus stops . Dedicated apps allow users to download real-time info, and have also introduced a new ticketing and valida-tion system for these buses . To improve energy efficiency, led lights are used for the traffic . For private vehicle mobility, a system linked with traffic control can divert traffic flows . The impact of the project on traffic reduction is impressive: journey times have been reduced by a minimum of 15 % to a maximum of 44 %, and estimated annual fuel savings amount to EUR 1 700 000 .

The restauration of the ’Pont d’Aël‘ in the Vallée d’Aoste in northern It-aly and the surrounding village buildings is part of the strategy of the regional department for education and culture which, in the last three years, has focused on making a number of monuments and cultural heritage sites accessible to the public . This intervention is the first part of a bigger project aimed at revitalising the archaeological site and the old village, with the creation of new services and integration of the bridge into a unique hub comprising both cultural and natural attractions . This strategy aims at strengthening Vallée d’Aoste’s posi-tion in the overall cultural offering in Italy, thereby contributing to im-proving and diversifying the attraction of tourism, which is still largely based on mountain and winter tourism . More than 12 000 tourists visited the site in 2015 .

The borough of Sampierdarena in the city of Genoa has recently ac-quired a new public connection between the central area and the up-per section, following the closure of the old installation eight years ago and its replacement by a shuttle bus . The project is particularly innovative because the cabin initially travels horizontally along what was once a pedestrian tunnel, and then scales the 26-metre hill, con-stantly attached to the cable that draws it along horizontally before hooking up to the vertical system . The ascent/descent will therefore have no intermediate stops . This is a major project to upgrade public transportation .

RESTAURATION OF THE PONT D’AËLERDF: EUR 518 631 - Project completed in April 2015 - Sector: cultural heritage, tourism

CALGIARI, FOR A BETTER URBAN MOBILITY (SARDAIGNA)ERDF: EUR 2 419 904 - completed in December 2015 - Sector: local public transport

URBAN DEVELOPMENT – CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW INCLINED ELEVATOR FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN GENOA (LIGURIA)ERDF: EUR 940 000 - Inaugurated in December 2016 - Sector: transport

Liepāja has a long cultural, and particularly musical tradition and as such has been campaigning for the construction of a concert hall to match the grandeur of its music secondary school, orchestra and popular music fes-tivals . The new concert hall, which operates as a multifunctional cultural centre with several rooms and different facilities, is living up to this great expectation . The building itself, with its beautiful colours and location by the waterfront, is an architectural delight designed by the world-famous Austrian architect, Volker Giencke . It has also received the International Architecture Award of 2016 and is now attracting a great number of visitors and music lovers .

Due to the nature of the work performed (reconstruction of a runway, taxiways, system modernisation), the overall capacity of the airport has increased by 27 % . This increased capacity is being put to good use and the project is bringing tangible results: there has been a signif-icant rise in new routes since the end of 2015, with flights including but not limited to Verona, Salzburg, Berlin, Athens, Rimini, Barcelona, Rejkjavik, enabling Latvian citizens to travel more widely, and bring-ing more visitors to the country, boosting tourism . The airport reached a new passenger traffic record in 2016 with 5 .4 million passengers . The remodelled airport boasts another feat: it is the largest air traffic hub in the Baltics, serving 44 % of the air passengers and thus connecting the Baltic States via air travel . The airport has also been recognised as a top employer, in a survey carried out by a recruitment company .

The project helped to renovate and upgrade the station and improve services for both the Estonians and Latvians using it . Since the station is an important hub, it was essential to reconstruct Valga’s railway junctions as joint railway and bus transportation are at the heart of this twin town in order to create decent conditions for all travellers . The project has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the local people .

RECONSTRUCTION AND MODERNISATION OF RIGA AIRPORTCohesion Fund: EUR 57.71 million - Marupe district - 12/2015 - Sector: transport, airports

VALGA RAILWAY RENOVATIONEUR 399 000 - Valga - 05/2/2014 - Sector: transport, cross-border

GREAT AMBER CONCERT HALLERDF: EUR 8 537 231 - Liepāja - 30/06/2015 - Sector: development of cultural infrastructure

ITALY LATVIA

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The centre has a very admirable mission and vision of improving the quality of life of cancer sufferers and the caring members of their families, by providing pastoral assistance, professional and voluntary psychological and social assistance . The staff also focus on preven-tion and the importance of early diagnosis, breaking down social bar-riers between patients and their families, changing negative attitudes on the disease, etc .

During the implementation of the project, 3357 kilometres of fibre-op-tic cable lines were laid and 509 RAIN network units were installed, connecting all Lithuanian rural elders (467) to 51 municipalities, and 330 schools were also connected to fibre-optic infrastructure . The to-tal scope of this technological and connectivity oriented project cov-ers 300 000 residents in the country’s rural areas (i .e . about 10 % of Lithuanian people!) . The project is very future oriented and was set up in a way that would allow potential improvements and increase the speed without many additional costs . The RAIN project was entered in the Golden Book of the World Summit on the Information Society .

The project has renovated and modernised a multi-apartment build-ing in Vilnius, significantly increasing the building’s overall energy ef-ficiency level .

ST. FRANCIS ONCOLOGY CENTERCohesion Fund: EUR 1 171 818 19 - Sector: services, oncology

RURAL AREA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BROADBAND NETWORK (RAIN)ERDF: EUR 15 519 784 81 – 09/2005 – 08/2008 - Sector: broadband network

RENEWAL OF MULTI-APARTMENT BUILDING ŽALIŲJŲ EŽERŲ G. 1, VILNIUSJESSICA: EUR 19 08 2016 - start date 08/01/2014 - Sector: energetics

LATVIA LITHUANIA

The project ensured that all Valga/Valka border-area youngsters and art lovers interested in art education have an opportunity to receive a high-quality education in art and art-related subjects in their native language (Latvian, Estonian or Russian) . In the period 2013/2014, the school was attended by 228 students of whom 114 come from Estonia, with 24 of them attending classes in Estonian .

ART SCHOOLERDF: EUR 122 429 75 (the ERDF used: EUR 83 202 81) - 1/3/2012-31/8/2013 - Sector: education

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An interesting project that combines several facets of energy saving and reducing CO2 by using electric cars for car sharing, carpooling af-ter work, and travelling to meetings during the day . A charging station and electric car is available to employees in a participating company in each location and the activities are monitored in order to provide an even better service and hence further reduce emissions and encour-age the use of these electric cars .

Malta is investing in the promising life sciences sector with well-es-tablished operations in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, the production of software for the healthcare indus-try, as well as a growing health tourism sector . The Life Sciences Park is designed to allow companies in this sector to commence operations with minimal preparation in order to focus on their core activities and to leverage synergies with other operators within the Park and with academia .

Another green project in the south of Luxembourg aims to reduce waste by using up all available organic waste to produce compost which is then used for gardening and agricultural purposes . Not only that, but the plant also makes use of the biogas that results from the processing, which is directly used for providing energy to around 1300 households!

The project concerns the development of an oncology centre (Mater Dei Oncology Centre) as an extension of the public general hospital (Mater Dei Hospital) in Msida . This new section of the hospital fills a gap in Malta’s healthcare: in the absence of this new health facility, the Maltese Government would have been forced to seek alterna-tive treatment options abroad, with a significant impact on costs and, above all, on patients’ quality of life .

The Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine is accelerating bi-omedical research by closing the link between systems biology and medical research . This is resulting in a close cooperation between researchers and practitioners, bridging different spheres to ensure the best and fastest development of new tools in diagnostics and therapy for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease .

This is a very important project for the country as flash-flood events in Malta directly and indirectly affect all economic, productive and life sectors . The NFRP involves the construction of a network of under-ground tunnels, canals and bridges to provide a better storm-water drainage infrastructure for the worst-hit areas . The proposals go be-yond focusing on the local problem; they also address the intercon-nections between problems in different localities .

COMPOSTING BIOGAS MONDERCANGE PLANTEDRF: EUR 4 000 000 - 2011 - Sector: energy and CO

2 reduction

URBAN REGENERATION AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE - MATER DEI HOSPITAL ONCOLOGY CENTREERDF: EUR 31 723 846 - completed in August 2015 - Sector: health

ZAC-EMOVINEDRF: EUR 81 839 00 - 2015 - Sector: energy and CO

2 reduction

ENHANCING KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION - SETTING-UP A LIFE SCIENCES CENTREERDF: EUR 15 300 000 - completed in October 2015 - Sector: research, development and innovation

LUXEMBOURG CENTRE FOR SYSTEMS BIOMEDICINEEDRF: EUR 2 670 000 - 2012 - Sector: research and innovation NATIONAL FLOOD RELIEF PROJECT

ERDF: EUR 32 163 677 - completed in 2015 - Sector: risk prevention

LUXEMBOURG MALTA

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The project refers to a start-up incubator and events hub called the Dutch Game Garden, dedicated to the video-games industry, the first of its kind both nationally and internationally . It has succeeded in giving greater visibility to the gaming sector, has managed to create a network of professionals across the industry, and has organised a number of events attracting 22 000 people in total . Their servic-es have been extended to 500 companies and created more than 200 jobs – a real boost for the sector!

Energising Deltas is an innovative Dutch project aiming to provide water safety and management to produce energy in a sustainable way . The project is contributing to the smart and sustainable growth objective of the Europe 2020 strategy . It concerns the close cooper-ation of three companies and three research organisations, building on cutting-edge knowledge in the industry . Their focus is on tidal and blue energy both of which have very high market potential as well as offering a promising low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels – a clear win-win!

A clear financial success story, this project addressed a regional mar-ket gap for access to finance for SM enterprises in the early stage of their development . The fund provided them with both financial (equity, loans) and non-financial support (in the form of networking, training and coaching) . Their work involved 33 SMEs and thus created 325 full-time jobs in the region . What’s more, the fund managed to leverage its ERDF allocation of EUR 6 .14 million more than six times . Its clientele includes enterprises from the agro-food, life sciences, high tech and energy sectors .

ENERGISING DELTASERDF: EUR 549 980 - Den Helder (Noord) - 30/6/2015 - Sector: water management

DUTCH GAME GARDENERDF: EUR 1 600 000 - Utrecht – 10/2015 - Sector: innovation, support to SMEs, digital economy, creative industry

THE INNOVATION FUND IN EAST NETHERLANDSERDF: EUR 6 140 000 - Overijssen and Gelderland - 6/2015 - Sector: innovation, support to SMEs, food, health and technology sector

Amsterdam Smart City is a very interesting, dynamic and blooming initiative in the Dutch capital, based on a public-private partnership, with partners from the government, business, scientific researchers and practitioners and citizens, etc . The idea behind the partnership is that information sharing, resource pooling and collective brain-storming can help create a more sustainable, energy-efficient city . Essentially, by challenging parties to submit and execute innovative solutions to urban issues, ASC connects the right stakeholders and ac-celerates this progress . This advances the development of new mar-kets and profits for innovative solutions . Where possible, these solu-tions are being replicated elsewhere in the city . The underlying aim is to reduce energy consumption in Amsterdam by 20 % . Commissioner Corina Crețu visited the Smart City Experience Lab on 22 April 2016 .

AMSTERDAM SMART CITYERDF: EUR 1 560 000 - Amsterdam - 11/2008-11/2011 - Sector: resource efficiency

THE NETHERLANDS THE NETHERLANDS

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The project is part of an investment health programme being pursued by the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region which is focusing on achieving the technical and professional hospital standards required by Polish and EU law . The project includes construction and equipment hospital fa-cilities for the Rydygier Regional General Hospital in Torun . The work will cover modernisation and extension of the existing main building and construction of a new infectious diseases ward and a modern psychiatric ward . The building will also host the emergency depart-ment, with its rooms and modern diagnostic facilities, an invasive cardiology ward, as well as the hospital’s main operating theatre, four bed wards (including 318 new beds for surgical wards), a roof hel-iport, a hospital pharmacy and a three-storey car park . This is also a prime example of different funds being combined under the aegis of one project .

Liquefied natural gas is one of the most cutting-edge and innovative energy technologies . The LNG Terminal is the biggest of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe . The expansion of connections with other gas systems in Europe enhances energy security in Poland, leading to the current diversification of gas supply sources . The project has a positive impact on the skills of the 59 people hired to build the ter-minal and the 129 employed to operate it . The employees are being trained to gain specialist knowledge and competences . Polish con-sumers will benefit as gas fuel is playing an increasingly important role in everyday life, for heating, cooking, car engines and power gen-eration . This is the biggest investment in the region’s history and will be the driving force for its future growth .

By creating a backbone and a distribution network of around 4600 kilometres, the Wielkopolska broadband network has succeed-ed in achieving a number of goals at the same time . First, it has ensured internet access to residents in areas with no access at all or where there was insufficient competition to allow the residents to choose a suitable offer, hence the slogan ‘minimum cost and max-imum accessibility’ . Secondly, due to this connectedness and high-speed broadband network, the region’s overall competitiveness has been significantly increased, whilst providing a number of new jobs in sectors and positions previously unimaginable . This has also played an important role in reducing the economic migration of younger peo-ple, effectively reversing the effects of the brain drain . This project is a great example of the successful implementation of managing EU Structural Funds, private and regional funding together – earning this project the European Broadband Award of 2016 .

LNG TERMINALERDF: EUR 224 000 000 - West-Pomerania Region and Baltic Sea coast - 31/7/2015 - Sector: energy

TORUN HOSPITALERDF: EUR 40 000 000 - Torun - ongoing - Sector: health

WIELKOPOLSKA BROADBAND NETWORKERDF: EUR 67 079 781 - Wielkopolska region - 2007-2013 - Sector: broadband

The Odra River Flood Protection Programme has been designed by the Polish authorities to prevent future floods, since, historically, the large number of floods in the region have left their mark on people’s collective memory . Since the existing flood-defence infrastructure re-mains vulnerable to floods, the Racibórz project is designed as a dry reservoir/polder . It will cover a total area of 24 km2 and a capacity of 185 million m3 to retain flood waters and protect the lives of the 2 .5 million inhabitants .

ODRA RIVER FLOOD PROTECTION PROGRAMMEEUR 76 051 375 - Śląskie - 30/9/2020 - Sector: environmental protection, including adaptation to climate change

POLAND POLAND

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A socially anchored project, Lar Residencial ‘Vidas Coloridas II’ aims to provide housing, occupations and training for people with disabilities . As such, the autonomy, self-esteem and well-being of those involved has been significantly enhanced . This unit is mainly intended to wel-come clients from the district of Beja, responding to a pressing soci-etal need . The residence is very environmentally friendly – the project uses solar energy for water heating . Not only that, it has also created 12 direct and full-time jobs and a handful more indirect jobs – equal-ity of access to opportunities was guaranteed for all the jobs created .

Almost EUR 11 million of ERDF funding went towards modernising and upgrading one of the most used transport lines in the city of Cluj-Napoca . New trams with high-quality services on-board connect renovated stations, while travel time has been halved, travel con-gestions avoided and noise pollution significantly reduced . Authorities estimate that the new trams, tracks and stations will lead to a 10 % increase in travellers . This is good news for the environment as more and better electric trams mean not only faster and safer travel, but also fresher air in the buzzing city .

In the north of Portugal, a few kilometres from Porto, the Porto Cruise Terminal is the largest project ever for opening the Port of Leixões to the city . It is an important gateway to the region, revitalising the area, attracting cruise ships and thus giving tourism of the region a sig-nificant boost . With this new pier, the Port of Leixões is now able to receive much larger cruise ships than before, up to 300 metres long . The terminal building has received an important architectural award this year in the public architecture category . .

This is the story of a small company from the north-east region of Romania that went global, supplying giants like Boeing, Airbus and Renault with its products . Thanks to EU funding, Ratis Serv acquired top-notch equipment and machinery . One of their greatest successes occurred in 2013, when the company delivered parts for the Renault F1 cars, one of which won the Formula 1 world championship!

Centro Bio: Bio-industries, Biorefineries And Bioproducts (Centro, Portugal - European Regional Development Fund) is the 2016 RegioStars Awards winner in Category 2 ‘Sustainable Growth’ . The BioCentre project refers to a technological and innovation campus aiming to help rural regions with low population density to become less dependent on energy and raw ma-terials . The BioCentre campus collaborates with researchers and business to research and invest in innovative new products and technologies based on the model of economic activity within a closed loop – meaning that products can be reused and recycled to reduce the use of energy and raw material . The project, which represents a public/private investment of EUR 9 .2 million, has already won three excellence awards, has boosted the set-ting up of 24 sub-projects in R&D, seen the creation of four spin-offs and six start-ups and a follow-up investment of EUR 125 million (followed by the European Investment Bank) . The project has also helped to set up the All-Portuguese Association of Bioeconomy and Circular Economy, connect-ing it to society and stakeholders, as well as the creation of 38 scholar entrepreneurship projects involving 2360 young people .

In 2013, a second bridge was opened between Calafat (Romania) and Vidin (Bulgaria), replacing the ferries that used to link the two cities . The bridge provides a timely road and rail connection between the two Member States, stimulating collaboration between the two coun-tries, and paving the way for further infrastructure projects across the Danube .

PORT OF LEIXÕESERDF: EUR 25 495 826 - Matosinhos - 31/03/2015 - Sector: cruise tourism

MAKING TECHNOLOGY FOR CHAMPIONSERDF: EUR 110 000 - Roman - 2007-2015 - Sector: innovation in SMEs

LAR RESIDENCIAL ‘VIDAS COLORIDAS II’ERDF: EUR 490 009 - Beja - 2013 - Sector: local cohesion equipment

BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR A BUZZING CITYERDF: EUR 11 million - Cluj-Napoca - 2007-2013 - Sector: transport and mobility

CENTRO BIO: BIO-BASED GROWTH FOR RURAL ECONOMIESERDF: EUR 2 640 000 - Centro - 28/09/2015 – Sector: sustainable growth, technology and innovation, rural economy

BRINGING BULGARIA AND ROMANIA EVEN CLOSERCohesion Fund EUR 70 million - Vidin-Calafat - Sector: transport

PORTUGAL ROMANIA

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The project comprises the construction of new sections of the D4 mo-torway (the southern part of the ring road around the City of Bratisla-va) and the R7 Expressway . This construction has been made possible by a combination of funds . It is also creating improved inter-regional and international connections, attracting businesses, improving road safety and helping to develop tourism .

RCERO Ljubljana is the largest cohesion environmental project in Slo-venia, combining as many as 37 municipalities and consequently is one of the best examples of regional cooperation in the country . The amount of waste processed at the new facilities that end up in landfill is below 5 % – the rest is recycled for use by industry as raw materials or as an energy source .

The project involves construction of a recycling facility using synthet-ic textile offcuts and transforming them into a new product, mostly used in the construction industry for building insulation or as building structure components . Thereby, materials that would otherwise go to waste are finding a new use – and a sustainable cycle hs been set up .

The aim of this investment was to boost the better use of domestic and foreign knowledge and to enhance innovation potential in those business sectors which are important to benefit Slovenia’s economic and social development . The project focused in particular on the con-centration of knowledge and publications in international circles, and the recognition of qualifications .

A total of 45 new low-floor, high-capacity trams have been added to Bra-tislava’s public transport fleet . This will benefit local residents, visitors and particularly commuters, a very high number of whom use public transport in the Slovak capital on a daily basis .

The renovation of this building has been implemented as a pilot ener-gy-efficiency project of nearly zero-energy public building . The build-ing is intended for summer or winter camp programmes for primary school pupils and as a sports facility for sport associations, clubs and other NGOs .

RECYCLING OF SYNTHETIC FABRICS - STERED, KRAJNÉCohesion Fund: EUR 2 241 645 38 - Krajné, district Myjava - Sector: environment

LJUBLJANA FACULTY OF CHEMISTRY AND INFORMATION SCIENCEERDF: EUR 46 203 809 64 - Llubljana - Sector: research and innovation, education

D4 PPP PROJECT MOTORWAY BYPASS AROUND BRATISLAVAApproximately EUR 28 million as mezzanine facility from OP Integrated Infrastructure, EIB: EUR 427 million (backed by EFSI) Sector: construction, transport

WASTE MANAGEMENT CENTRE (RCERO) LJUBLJANAEUR 77 571 941 - completed in October 2015 - Sector: environment

NEW TRAMS ADDED TO BRATISLAVA’S PUBLIC TRANSPORT FLEETCohesion Fund: EUR 93 145 125 - Bratislava - Sector: transport, environment, urban development

CENTRE FOR SCHOOL AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES BOHINJ – COMPLETE ENERGY RENOVATION - PPP PILOT PROJECT (NEARLY ZERO ENERGY BUILDING)Cohesion Fund: EUR 276 321 – 11/2015-8/2017 - Sector: energy efficiency

SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA

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Following the construction of the new Mercado de Fundo which hous-es a nursery, a library, a supermarket and a new market came the creation of a new economic, social and cultural centre . The new ser-vices available in the neighbourhood have improved the quality of life of residents, and revitalised a poor district of Santa Coloma de Gra-menet Catalunia . In short, the project has generated better economic, social and environmental conditions in the area, improving the quality of life of residents in four neighbourhoods .

All Spanish regions are participating in this project which promotes joined-up innovation policies at EU, national and regional level that recognise the bottom-up, demand-driven nature of the process . The project is promoting the importance of innovation as a broad process of converting ideas into action, which is crucial to the survival and pros-perity of businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, and to the growth and competitiveness of the economy as a whole . The companies, their products and their objectives are diverse, ranging from an interactive, play approach to ensuring the right pronunciation of English for schoolchildren (Colour Trick), a start-up with an applica-tion to facilitate finding parking spaces (Parkapp), a multi-purpose light for cyclists, prams and wheelchairs to make them more visible (Lilight), to a small health food store that was able to expand into a number of eco-supermarkets across several regions in Spain .

The Sustainable Construction Programme in Andalusia, Spain, is using energy saving and renewable energy to promote the energy refur-bishment of buildings, thereby rehabilitating urban areas . As a result, the competitiveness of companies in the construction sector has im-proved . These companies create skilled employment in a part of Spain largely affected by unemployment, and energy poverty in the region has been significantly reduced .

INNOCAMARASERDF: EUR 29 206 490 - Sector : SME innovation, research and development

SANTA COLOMA DE GRAMENETERDF EUR 7 298 264 - Barcelona Province, Cataluña - finalised in 2015 - Sector: urban sustainable development

PICSAERDF: EUR 132 800 000 - Andalusia - 12/2015 - Sector: sustainable growth, energy efficiency, employment, energy poverty

The main aim of PLOCAN and, in particular, the new platform, is to provide a stable base for operations which will support the develop-ment of maritime technologies . A special area of interest for PLOCAN is the support to research projects and SMEs to cover the gap be-tween research and commercialisation . Because of its location and facilities, it is most suited to the final development of prototypes and pre-series equipment . By offering affordable testing facilities as well as research and administrative advice, PLOCAN is both accelerating and facilitating the progress of new technologies and their introduc-tion into the market . PLOCAN is an inshore operations base and an offshore platform, providing office space, workshops, a barometric chamber, specialist maritime equipment and facilities for communi-cation, testing and teaching .

PLOCAN - PLATAFORMA OCEÁNICA DE CANARIASERDF: EUR 8 345 854 - 12/2016 - Sector: research and development

SPAIN SPAIN

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Small beginnings can lead to great things . For medical technology (med-tech) SMEs, successful steps into foreign markets can give their niche products access to enough customers to bring commercial suc-cess . In close cooperation with Business Sweden, UK Trade & Invest-ment and the NHS, Sahlgrenska Science Park’s programme has de-fined entry points into Britain for the Swedish companies . The project is a also a RegioStar 2016 finalist!

The Superfast Cornwall project is the largest single European invest-ment in broadband infrastructure to date . Following a pilot scheme in early 2011, it has already brought superfast broadband to over 15 000 customers . The investment is expected to create 4000 new jobs, protect a further 2000, and make Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly one of the best-connected places in the world .

A one-stop-shop for the support of entrepreneurs, start-ups and busi-ness development in the Gothenburg region, this project is unique in its combination of being located out of the city centre and offering business free support in over six languages: Swedish, English, Arabic, Persian/Farsi, French and Maltese . A very inclusive initiative, its ac-tivities are customised to appeal to female, young and foreign-born entrepreneurs .

The Women’s International Centre for Economic Development (WICED) provides a high-quality business environment for women-led small business and enterprises through the provision of incubation units and hot desks . Managed by the Women’s Organisation, and sup-ported by GBP 2 .4 million, the facility in Liverpool includes space for 70 women’s enterprises which enables entrepreneurship and small businesses to prosper . It also assists enterprises to start, grow, main-tain and improve performance, all helping to create and safeguard local jobs and boost local growth . The Centre has supported the start of 486 new women-led businesses and growth support to 3787 women . The building also houses an international research hub which provides access to research information and international links with other female entrepreneurs on a global scale .

The electric road for fossil heavy traffic in Gavleborg is the world’s first on a public road . The hybrid trucks function via a sensor system enabling them to run only on electricity at speeds up to 90 kilometres per hour – with zero emissions! It is also important to highlight the existence of a newly opened visitor centre in Sandbacka Science Park . This brings together various re-searchers, development and project groups to work on issues related to security, business models, regulation, operation, and the maintenance and development of related services .

The project concerns a fellowship scheme forming part of the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales’ strategy to build research capacity in Wales . The scheme will complement the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND proposal and supports fellowships in any areas of research relevant to the three pillars in the Science for Wales strat-egy, with a particular focus on smart specialisation and innovation . High-quality researchers and research proposals which are driven by innovation are prioritised, and over half of the fellowships are expect-ed to involve collaborations with industry .

‘ONE STOP FUTURE SHOP’ERDF: SEK 6 907 086 (about EUR 736 000) - 01/01/2016-30/06/2018 - Gothenburg - Sector: SMEs

WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (WICED)ERDF : GBP 2.466 million – 04/2009 – 03/2013 Liverpool, UK - Sector: business support

BRIDGE TO MED-TECH SUCCESSERDF: EUR 398 315 - 07/2012-12/2014 - Sector: SMEs

SUPERFAST CORNWALLERDF: EUR 65 551 300 - Cornwall, UK - Sector: digital connectivity

‘VIRUS’: THE WORLD’S FIRST FOSSIL-FREE ELECTRIC ROAD FOR TRUCK TRAFFICERDF: SEK 4 954 086 (EUR 530 000) - 01/01/2016-30/06/2018 - Sector: sustainability

SER CYMRU II (SMART SPECIALISATION EXAMPLE)ERDF: EUR 10 000 0000 - East Wales, EUR 18 342 853 - West Wales – 11/2015 – 01/2023 Sector: research and innovation

SWEDEN UNITED KINGDOM

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Lido Ponty, a heritage facility of historic significance to Wales, un-derwent a major restoration project and reopened to the public in 2015 . This heritage asset, which has considerable economic potential, is enormously popular with visitors .

A project focusing on knowledge transfer between businesses and universities – for instance, by working with market-leading sports businesses to identify gaps in the market for SMEs, hosting informa-tion events around these market opportunities, and developing inno-vative products .

CUBRIC is set to become one of Europe’s top facilities for brain im-aging, mapping and stimulation, with a pivotal role in better under-standing the causes of neurological and psychiatric conditions such as dementia, schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis, and thus develop-ing better treatments .

A project enabling local people to contribute to the regeneration of the Stonehouse neighbourhood in Plymouth is increasing the compet-itiveness of the area and providing jobs . The project forms part of the Urban Enterprise element of the South West Competitiveness pro-gramme to create more jobs for people in the city . The new Business Enterprise Centre ‘Genesis’ has provided 1995 metres of commercial workspace, housing up to 50 flexible hot-desk spaces .

A project on bio-refining (the process of transforming plants into products via physical, chemical and biological means) is adding value to Welsh nat-ural resources . The resulting close cooperation between universities across Wales is translating academic knowledge into product innovation, thereby giving Welsh companies’ a competitive advantage to achieve sustainable growth .

CUBRIC - CARDIFF UNIVERSITY BRAIN RESEARCH IMAGING CENTREEUR 4.6 million – 06/2015 – 10/2021 Cardiff, Wales - Sector: research and innovation

MILLFIELDS ‘COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRUST’; BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CEN-TRE ‘GENESIS’ERDF : EUR 2.497 million – Plymouth UK - Sector: urban enterprise

PONTY LIDOERDF: EUR 3 749 100 - Wales - Sector: public sector

THE SPORTING CHANCEGDP 705 852 – 01/2010 – 06/2015 - Stirling, Scotland - Sector: SMEs

BEACON+EUR 7.9 million - Wales - Sector: research and innovation

UNITED KINGDOM UNITED KINGDOM

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The objective of the CANFRANEUS project is to re-establish and de-velop the rail traffic for transporting both merchandise and people through the Pyrenees, not only for local connections but also for long-distance journeys . The desire to connect the two countries de-spite the challenge of crossing the Pyrenees made Spanish and French people develop the train connection at the beginning of the 20th cen-tury . The cross-border train had been operating for 40 years but it is now time to recover the Pau (France)-Canfranc (Spain) railway line .

The building sector has a high potential for energy optimisation . In terms of public buildings heritage, energy consumption in schools is the second highest expenditure of municipalities’ total running costs . This sector offers potentially remarkable achievements in terms of energy efficiency, the application of renewable energy sources (RES) and reducing the carbon footprint . ENERGY@SCHOOL aims to in-crease public sector capacity for implementing energy-smart schools by introducing an integrated approach that educates and trains not only school staff but also pupils to become senior and junior energy guardians . This active involvement of all parties is key to its success . Thanks to the project, more than 40 schools in seven central Euro-pean countries will implement innovative energy-efficiency measures leading to long-lasting energy management and, more importantly, positive behavioural changes among the younger generation .

A project on bio-refining (the process of transforming plants into products via physical, chemical and biological means) is adding value to Welsh nat-ural resources . The resulting close cooperation between universities across Wales is translating academic knowledge into product innovation, thereby giving Welsh companies’ a competitive advantage to achieve sustainable growth .

STREFOWA addresses and improves food-waste management in selected central European functional urban areas by fostering food-waste preven-tion and treatment, leading to a reduction in environmental impacts . Pro-ject results will contribute to raising knowledge and implementation ca-pacity regarding food-waste management among all target groups along the whole food supply chain (including private individuals, local authorities, gastronomes, retailers, teachers and waste-management authorities) .

ENERGY SCHOOLInterreg: EUR 2 127 776/2 581 379 - 01/07/2016-30/6/2019 - AT (Graz, Flagenfurt, Wörthersee), DE (Stuttgart), HR (Karlovac), HU (Szolnok, Ujseilvas), IT (Lugo, Faenza, Bologna), PL (Bydgoszce), SL (Koroska, Celje) - Sector: low carbon energy

CANFRANEUSEUR 2 378 802 of total EUR 3 659 696 - ES (Canfranc)-FR (Pau) – 06/2011-11/2015 - Sector: transport, environment

ENTREPYRERDF: EUR 105 300 of total EUR 162 000 – 01/2013 – 06/2015 ES-FR (Pyrenees border) - Sector: IT, tourism, mountain internet access

STREFOWAInterreg: EUR 1 938 349/EUR 2 363 175 - AT, CZ, HU, IT, PL - 01/07/2016-31/07/2019 - Sector: cooperating on natural and cultural resources for sustainable growth in Central Europe

CROSS-BORDER PROJECTS

The KRAKE project will tackle the problems multi-disciplinary prob-lems beyond borders with the aim of keeping or improving the quality of life in small villages . A key feature is the strong involvement of volunteer groups from the villages (like local heritage associations or hometown associations) . Some 40 pilot villages have been developed on both sides of the border . In cooperation with the rural inhabitants, medium-sized and small companies in the villages and the universi-ties of applied sciences involved, concepts for more quality of life will be developed and achieved .

RECURUT is a research and dissemination initiative focusing on the historical recovery of trans-Pyrenean migratory routes between 1930 and 1970 . The project presents the recent past of European internal borders, which are not so different to current European external ones . With regard to the misery and desperation which faced our ancestors, it would appear that they were waiting for an answer: why are we not helping refugees?

RECURUTEUR 205 631 of total EUR 316 355 - ES-FR (Andorra border) - 01/2014-09/2015 - Sector: tourism

KRAKEInterreg - EUR 1 884 850 99 of total EUR 3 769 701 98 - DE-NL - 01/2016-06/2019 - Sector: social innovation

CROSS-BORDER PROJECTS

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