Lorelei HuntDirector of Innovation South West England Regional Development Agency

RAPIDESuccesses and Challenges

20 May 2010

EUROPEAN UNION European Regional Development Fund

Benjamin KuscherRAPIDE Project Manager

RAPIDE Partner Regions

› South West of England – UK› Galicia – Spain› Kujawsko-Pomorskie – Poland› Örebro – Sweden› Region of Western Greece› Saxony-Anhalt – Germany› Tartu – Estonia› Wales – UK› Presov – Slovakia› South Bohemia – CZ› Lapland – Finland› Észak-Alföld – Hungary

RAPIDE’s learning curve... Past

› Learning Summit in Cornwall Summer 2007› 18 member states, 25 regions› Key factors preventing innovations reaching the market› High level of enthusiasm

› INTERREG IVC application 2008› 12 regions, 13 member states› 3 themes; partnership, finanbvce, risk› Identification of our toolkit

› 1st phase of the project 2008-09› 3 working summits› 2 conferences› Building partnerships,

developing our working methods

RAPIDE’s learning curve...Present

› Four peer groups 2010› Innovation Vouchers - Effective Funding – Innovation

Partnerships - Innovative Procurement› Developing and adapting proposals

› 17 Regional Action Plans 2010› Action Plans finalised› Beginning the implementation› Starting the action

› Drawing up policy recommendations 2010

RAPIDE’s learning curve...Future

› Implementation of concrete actions› Innovation Vouchers+› Pre-Commercial Procurement› Business Angel Networks› Start-up Assessment› Innovation Partnerships

› RAPIDE digital story telling for a better pitch› To be presented at the final RAPIDE conference

› Impact on Structural Fund Programmes› Variable involvement of MAs› New projects› More efficient/effective delivery of existing projects› Improved outcomes

Experience of a Fast Track Network

› Fast Track means just that!› Did we understand how hard we would have to work?› Benefits of a short, sharp, ‘task and finish’ approach› Continuity of personnel› Involvement of external regional experts

› Relationship between regions and the Commission› Sense of collective effort between regions and the

Commission› Strong dialogue between the EU and regional practioners› Capitalise on new ideas and developments on the European

level› Commission benefits from development, testing and

implementing of new ideas within the RAPIDE regions› Variation in extent to which DGs and units engaged› Different expectations of the INTERREG JTS and the EC

Recommendations for Fast Track

› The project theme should be clearly defined at the outset to allow a quick start

› Each DG should nominate an expert on the theme

› DG REGIO geographical units need to be regularly briefed and to support the project

› Implementation of actions should start within the project life cycle to avoid any loss of momentum

Lorelei HuntDirector of InnovationSouth West RDA 20th May 2010

Why South West England is theLead Partner of RAPIDE?

EUROPEAN UNION European Regional Development Fund

Advantages for Fast Track Lead Partner

› Direct involvement in leading search for new ideas and designing new approaches to innovation in Europe

› Direct contact to the Commission, influencing policy and ‘having a say’ in Europe

› Developing productive new partnerships across Europe

› Real opportunity to apply experiences from other regions

For more information

RAPIDE www.rapidenetwork.euInterreg IVC www.interreg4c.netDG Regio ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm

EUROPEAN UNION European Regional Development Fund

Lorelei HuntDirector of InnovationSouth West of England Regional Development Agency

Benjamin KuscherRAPIDE Project ManagerSouth West of England Regional Development Agency