First 24 transnational cooperation projectsThe project “BaSIC” aims to build a “Baltic Sea Archipelago of Innovation” with seamless working conditions for innovative SMEs that

eu.baltic.net

First 24 transnational cooperation

projects

… and their contribution to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

Joint Technical Secretariat RostockInvestitionsbank Schleswig-HolsteinGrubenstrasse 2018055 Rostock, Germany+49 381 45484 5281+49 381 45484 [email protected]

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Joint Technical Secretariat RigaState Regional Development AgencyAusekļa iela 14-6Riga, LV-1010, Latvia +371 6 735 7368+371 6 735 7372 [email protected]

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Part-fi nancedby the European Union European Union

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Priority 1: Fostering innovations 8 JOSEFIN 8 BSR_CBP 10 BaSIC 12 BaltFood 14 BONITA 16 SPIN 18 Longlife 20 BSR InnoReg 22

Priority 2: Internal and external accessibility 24 BALTRAD 24

Priority 3: Baltic Sea as a common resource 26 WATERPRAXIS 26 COHIBA 28 BaltCICA 30 EfficienSea 32 BRISK 34 BalticMasterII 36 BalticGreenBelt 38 BaltSeaPlan 40

Priority 4: Attractive and competitive cities and regions 42 Urb.Energy 42 BioenergyPromotion 44 NEWBRIDGES 46 BalticClimate 48 Eco-Region 50 Parks&Benefits 52 BSLN 54

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In 2009, after more than three years of jointpreparation, the first generation of transnationalcooperationprojects-24intotal-oftheBalticSeaRegionProgramme2007-2013startedoff.Evenmoreprojects promoting regional developmentwill followin the coming years. As a whole, project resultswill contribute to making the Baltic Sea Region asustainable and prosperous place. TransnationalcooperationmeansjointlytacklingcommonproblemsandchallengesaffectingtheoverallBalticSeaarea.Thisprogrammewillparticularlysupportcooperationoninnovation,accessibility,theenvironment,andcityandregionaldevelopment.

Sofar,around66MillionEuro,or30%ofthetotalavailable European and Norwegian programme co-financing, is already in the pipeline involving 443projectpartnersfrom11countries.Atthesametime,theBalticSeaRegionhasgainedspecialattention:ItwillbecometheEuropeanUnion’sfirstmacro-regionwith its own tailored-made regional developmentstrategy.CantheBalticSeaRegionstandambitionsto become a regional cooperationmodule for otherEUregions?Thenewinitiativeofa“EuropeanUnionStrategyfortheBalticSeaRegion”waslaunchedbytheEuropeanParliament,andpreparedbytheEuropeanCommission inJune2009. Itwillbeadoptedat thehighest political level of the Union, namely by theEuropeanCouncilundertheSwedishEUPresidencyin2009.Consequently,allEUfundedprogrammesoftheareaarecalledupontocontribute to thesuccessfulimplementationoftheStrategy.

The Baltic Sea Region Programme and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region – strengthening transnational cooperation

Susanne ScherrerDirector of the Joint Technical Secretariat

Rostock/Riga

Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013

4 First 24 transnational cooperation projects

InterfacesbetweentheBalticSeaRegionProgrammeprioritiesandtheobjectivesoftheEU

StrategyfortheBalticSeaRegion.

The main aim of the Strategy is to coordinateexistingeffortsinordertoimprovetheenvironmentalconditionsof theBalticSea,aswellas tostimulategrowthandbalanceddevelopmentoftheoverallBalticSea Region. The Strategy focuses on four pillars:environment, economy, accessibility and security.The implementationoftheStrategywillbefinancedfromnationalandEUfundsintheareaincludingtheBalticSeaRegionProgramme.FromtheProgramme’sperspective, it is clear that the four pillars of theStrategy,itspriorityareasdescribedinitsActionPlan,aswellasitsactualimplementationthroughflagshipprojectsarestronglyinterlinkedwiththeProgrammeactivities. As the only transnational cooperationprogramme in the region involving 11 countries,including Russia and Belarus, the programme is atangibletooltoensurethesuccessfulimplementationof the Strategy. Moreover, the Programme’s andStrategy’splaygroundandkeyplayersarethesame.

We have prepared this overview of our firsttransnational projects to demonstrate that throughitsprojects,theBalticSeaRegionProgramme2007-2013 is already contributing tomeet the objectivesoftheEUStrategyfortheBalticSeaRegion.Youwilllearn more about 24 concrete cooperation projectswhichareexpectedtomakeapositivedifference inourarea.Pleasehavealook!

5… and their contribution to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

The European Union’s Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 promotes regional development through transnationalcooperation by funding projects fostering innovations, improving accessibility, managing environmental resources andstrengtheningcitiesandregionsintheBalticSeaRegion.Projectpartnersfromelevencountries-Belarus,Estonia,Denmark,Finland,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,Norway,Poland,RussiaandSweden–areworkingtogetherintransnationalprojects.Thepartnersmainlyoriginatefromthepublicsector(regionalandlocaladministrations,universities,NGOsetc.).ThetotalProgrammefundingis236millionEurofromtheEuropeanRegionalDevelopmentFund,(ERDF),andfromNorwegiannationalfunding.TheEuropeanNeighbourhoodandPartnershipInstrumentfinancesBelarusianpartners.

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FlagshipprojectlistedintheStrategy

StrategicprojectoftheProgramme

Projectalreadylistedonce

IToMakeTheBalticSeaRegionAnEnvironmentally

SustainablePlace

IIToMakeTheBalticSeaRegionAProsperous

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IIIToMakeTheBalticSeaRegionAnAccessibleAndAttractivePlace

IVToMakeTheBalticSea Region A Safe And

SecurePlace

1.Toreducenutrientinputstotheseatoacceptablelevels

2.Topreservenaturalzonesandbiodiversity

3.Toreducetheuseandimpactofhazardoussubstances

4.Tobecomeamodelregionforcleanshipping

5.Toadapttoclimatechange

6.Toremovehindrancestotheinternalmarketincludingtoimprovecooperationinthecustomsandtaxarea

7.Toexploitthefullpotentialoftheregioninresearchandinnovation

8.Topromoteentrepreneurship,strengthenSMEsandincreasetheefficientuseofhumanresources

9.Toreinforcesustainableagriculture,forestryandfishing

10.Toimprovetheaccessto,efficiencyandsecurityoftheenergymarkets

11.Toimproveinternalandexternaltransportlinks

12.TomaintainattractivenessoftheBalticSeaRegionforitscitizensandtoreinforceattractivenessfortourists

13.Tobecomealeadingregioninmaritimesafetyandsecurity

14.Toreinforceprotectionfrommajoremergenciesatseaandonland

15.Todecreasevolumeof,andharmdoneby,crossbordercrime

WATERPRAXIS

Baltic Green Belt

COHIBA

Baltic Master II

Longlife (Baltic Green Belt)

BaltCICA Eco-Region BalticClimate Urb. Energy

BaltFood BONITA BSR_CBP BSR InnoReg

JOSEFIN

BSLN

SPIN

BASIC

Bioenergy Promotion

NEW BRIDGES Parks & Benefits

EfficienSea

BRISK

BALTRAD

(Baltic Master II)

First 24 projects of the Baltic Sea Region Programme

contributing to the 4 pillars and 15 priority areas of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

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Horizontal Actions of the Strategy Buildingaregionalidentity (BaltFood) MaritimeSpatialPlanning BaltSeaPlan Status: May 2009

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JOSEFIN Joint SME Finance for Innovation

Small and medium sized enterprises are importantactors in the field of innovation and regionaldevelopment. At present, commercial banks arereluctant to provide financing for the transnationalactivities of SMEs, thus limiting them to regionalactivities only. Consequently, those key actors donot unfold their full potential by participating ininternationalmarkets.

Theproject“JOSEFIN”aimstobringforwardinnovativeproducts of SMEs to improve the transnationalcommercial activity of those companies. In orderto reach its goals the JOSEFINpartnership includesrelevant organizations for business development,suchaspublicauthoritiesresponsiblefordevelopmentand implementation of policies; public financialinstitutions; as well as research and technologydevelopmentorganizations.

Themainachievementoftheprojectwillbetheuseof a European counter guarantee fund. With thisfund,JOSEFINwillback-upfinancial instrumentsforSMEs such as loans, guarantees, seed or venturecapital. The financial risk of transnational activitiesforcompaniesandfinancial institutions involvedwillthus be reduced. This will boost cooperation andinternationalactivitiesofenterprises.SMEswillhavebetter access to financing, and will be assisted byindividualadvisoryandcoachingservices.Forfinancialinstitutions,anewrisksharingmodelforsafercreditprovisionwillbe implemented.ThismodelwillallowmorerealisticassessmentofthecreditworthinessofSMEs.

JOSEFINcontributestotheEUStrategyfortheBalticSeaRegionbypromotingentrepreneurship,strengthening SMEs andincreasing the efficient use ofhuman resource. In particular,theprojectwillsecureaccesstocapitalforSMEs.


• ImprovingfinancialsupportschemesfortransnationalandinnovativeSMEssupplementedbyindividualcapacitybuilding.

• DevelopmentandimplementationofSMEsupportstructuresintheBalticSeaRegion.

Project in keywords:

Partnership Publicauthorities,publicfinancialinstitutions,foundations,researchandtechnologicaldevelopmentorganizationsfromEstonia,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,Norway,PolandandSweden

Number of partners 23

Lead partner InvestitionsbankBerlin,Germany

Approximate total budget

3.9million€

ERDF funding 2.9million€

Norwegian funding 0.2million€

Duration 36months(January2009–January2012)

Contact person TorstenMehlhornTel.:+493021253692Email:[email protected]

www.josefin-org.eu


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BSR CBP Capacity Building Programme on Trans-National Cluster and Innovation Systems in the Baltic Sea Region

Thisproject isaspin-off fromtheEuropeanClusterAlliance launched by the European Commission’sDirectorateGeneralEnterprise.Theinitiativeidentifieda necessity of a common framework for clusterpolicies and transnational innovation programmes.TheministriesresponsibleforinnovationpolicyintheBalticSeaRegionsawaneedtoincreasetransnationalcapacitybuilding.

Theproject “BSR_CPB”will design trainingmoduleson cluster facilitation and the implementation andmanagementofpublic cluster supportprogrammes.Thosemoduleswillsubsequentlybeimplementedaspilottrainingsonregional,nationalandtransnationallevels.

Theprojectwillfacilitatethetransferofknowledgeandexperience in themanagement of clusters betweenselected Baltic Sea countries. The trainingmoduleswillbesubsequentlymergedandcomplementedwithan action plan for capacity building for the entireBalticSeaRegionafter2010.

The transnational transfer of cluster developmentand implementation instrumentswill lead to tighterandmoreactivetransnationalnetworksbetweencivilservantsfromrespectiveministriesandagencies.

BSR_CBP contributes tothe EU Strategy for the BalticSea Region by exploiting thepotential of the region inresearchandinnovation.

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• Developmentandimplementationofcapacitybuildingmeasuresfordecision-makersandstakeholdersofBalticclustersandinnovationsystems.


Partnership Danishpublicauthorities,LatvianInvestmentandDevelopmentAgencyandSwedishGovernmentalAgencyforInnovationSystemsVINNOVA.


Lead partner TriangleRegion,Denmark


0.4million€



Contact person SusanneKrawackTel.:+4575508383Email:[email protected]


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BaSICBaltic Sea Innovation Network Centres

RapidlygrowingSMEsseekingtointernationalizetheirbusinessoftenmeetobstaclesasthemarketsarestilldisconnected. InnovativeSMEs suffer fromdifferentregional regulations, financing conditions, and rulesforinvestingandopeningbranchoffices.

The project “BaSIC” aims to build a “Baltic SeaArchipelago of Innovation” with seamless workingconditions for innovative SMEs that will acceleratethe innovation dynamics in the metropolis regions.The project will identify, select, train and coachSME-gazelles – small firms that have great growthpotentials. SME-gazelleswill get harmonized accessto international markets and open gateway tofinancialinstruments.TheprojectconsortiumconsistsofleadingscienceparksandinnovationcentreswithstrongsupportfromtheBalticMetropolisNetwork.

BaSICdevelopedtrainingprogrammesforSMEswillcover regional peculiarities and specifications suchas legislation, tax, and market access regulations.BaSICwillalsocooperatewiththeproject“JOSEFIN”,andwill introducetheirfinancial instruments(loans,guarantees,seedandventurecapital)tothecoachedSMEs. Communication and cooperation betweenregionalclusterswill increase.Thiswill result intheestablishmentofstrategicalliancesbetweenselectedclustersintheBalticSeaRegion.

AfurtheraimoftheprojectistosetupMarketAccessPoints in the metropolis regions involved that willprovidesynchronizedservicesandtoolsfortheSMEs.ThePointswillhelpfastgrowinginnovativecompaniesto internationalise theiractivities,particularly in theBalticSeaRegion.

BaSIC contributes to the EUStrategyfortheBalticSeaRegionbypromotingentrepreneurship,strengthening SMEs andincreasing the efficient use ofhumanresources.


• CreatingharmonizedworkingconditionsforinnovativeSMEsforeasieraccesstomarketsintheBalticSeaRegion.


Partnership Regionalauthorities,leadingscienceparks,innovationcentresandregionaldevelopmentagenciesfromDenmark,Estonia,Finland,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,Norway,PolandandSweden


Lead partner WISTA-MANAGEMENTGmbH,Germany


2.8million€




Contact person HelgeNeumannTel.:+493063922240Email:[email protected]


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BaltFoodThe Baltic Sea Region Food Cluster: Innovation and Competitiveness in Action

The food industry has developed into a highlycompetitiveindustrialsector.Emergingtrendssuchasmore demanding consumers, changing functionalityof food,aconcentrationprocess intheretailsector,and shorter product lifecycles, however, requireconstanttechnologicalevolution.Inthisregard,onecan identify various deficits within the SME sector:late recognition of food trends, low conversion ofscientific findings intomarketable food products, orbelowaverageinnovationrates.

Theproject“BaltFood”aimstosecurethisdynamic,but very mature marketplace within the Baltic SeaRegionthroughtransnationalcooperationtoaddresscommon challenges and channel know-how intoprocessandproductinnovations.

The project partnership consists of 13 national andregionalorganizationsfromthebusinessandscientificcommunities, as well as public bodies representingfoodclusterorganizationsinsixcountrieswithintheregion.

BaltFood integrates local,regionalandnational foodclusterorganisationsaroundtheBalticSea intoonecommonlymanagedfoodcluster.Thiswillleadtotheexchangeofknowledgeacross thewholeBalticSeaRegion.Abrandingconceptforworldwidepromotionoftheclusterwillbeapplied.Furthermore,BaltFoodwillidentifypresentandfutureinnovationsandtrendsin the foodsectoranddisseminate themacross theregion. In order to successfully transfer knowledgefromscienceintotheproductionprocess,theprojectwill prepare training curricula, and a Baltic FoodAcademyshallbeestablished.

BaltFood contributes to theEU Strategy for the BalticSea Region by exploiting thepotential of the region inresearchandinnovation,aswellbybuildingaregionalidentity.


• DevelopmentofaPan-Balticfoodclustertoimproveknowledgetransferandmarketawareness;adaptionoftrainingprogrammesanddevelopmentofacommonbrandingconcept.


Partnership Publicauthorities,publicdevelopmentcorporations,scientificinstitutionsandfoodsectornetworksfromDenmark,Lithuania,Finland,Germany,PolandandSweden


Lead partner LübeckBusinessDevelopmentCenter


2.4million€



Contact person BjörnP.JacobsenTel.:+49-451-706550Email:[email protected]

www.baltfood.de


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BONITABaltic Organisation and Network of Innovation Transfer Associations

Cooperation and transfer of knowledge betweenresearch institutions and industry is insufficientlydevelopedintheBalticSeaRegion.Atransformationintoahigh-techareacanonlybeachievedifavailablescientificknowledgeissuccessfullyputintopractice.Although universities develop new technologies andproducts,their innovationsareoftennottransferredtocommerce.Thismaybeduetoalackofstructuresthatwouldfacilitatesuchtransfer,ortothemindsetsofacademicstaffwhodonotputenoughattentiononcommercialapplication.At thesame time,SMEsdonotexploittheirvastpotentialfor innovationduetomissingresources.

Theproject“BONITA”addressesthesedeficienciesbybridgingthegapsbetweenuniversities,laboratories,industrial actors and policy makers. The projectconsortiumrepresentsamixofinstitutionsresponsibleforregionaltechnologytransfer.

The project will evaluate and enhance the existingtechnology and innovation transfer modelsthroughouttheBalticSeaRegion.Atrainingprogramwillbeimplementedtoadvancecompetencelevelsofpersonnel in charge of implementing the enhancedtransfermodel.Theprojectadditionallycallsforthecreation of a, BONITA company. The company willsupportthenetworkoforganisationsandspecialistsworking with the enhanced transfer model. Themain activities of the company will be commercialexploitation and promotion of findings in researchobtainedduringandaftertheproject.

BONITA will also set up a virtual exhibition andshowrooms to demonstrate how research results inthefieldofmobileandwearable computingdevicescanbeusedformarketing.Theywillalsohelptoshareinnovationexperiencesamongpartnercountries.

BONITA contributes to theEU Strategy for the BalticSea Region by exploiting thepotential of the region inresearchandinnovation.


• ImprovementofmodelsfortechnologyandinnovationtransferintheBalticSeaRegion.


Partnership Universities,publicauthorities,researchandtechnologicaldevelopmentsupportersfromDenmark,Finland,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,Norway,PolandandSweden


Lead partner UniversityofBremen,Germany


2.6million€



Contact person Gerd-RüdigerKückTel.:+494212182712Email:[email protected]

www.tzi.de/tzi-vernetzung/bonita/


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SPIN Sustainable Production through Innovation in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises

TheBalticSeaRegionhasgreatR&Dpotential.Yet,the application of innovations, especially by SMEs,isratherscarce.Duetorapidglobalisationandnewenvironmental standards, SMEs are forced to bemore innovative. Even if SMEs have considerableinnovationpotential and the capacity to incorporatenewtechnologiesandknow-howintotheirbusiness,theyoftendependmoreonexternalsupportandthebenefitsofnetworking.

Theproject“SPIN”isaBaltic21Lighthouseproject.It is a joint effort of governments, applied R&DuniversitiesandtransnationalNGOs.Theprojectwillincrease the exploitation of the eco-innovations bySMEsbasedontheprinciple“eco-innovationsupply–demandmatching”.Thiswillleadtopublicbenefitandprivateprofits,andatthesametimereduceeconomicand environmental costs. SPIN will facilitate theapplicationofeco-innovationsinSMEs.Thepartnerswillcreateandtestatransnationalbestpracticetoolbox,whichwillhelpSMEs toapplyeco-innovations.Theirproductionprocesseswillbecomecleaner,andtheirprofitsandcompetitivenesswillincrease.

Furthermore, the project partnership will establishtheSPINnetworkconsistingofonenationalcontactpointpercountryandexpertinstitutionsinthefieldofeco-innovations.Thisnetworkwillhelptoovercomethe large disparities in the territorial distributionof innovation clusters. National contact points willprovideassistanceandsupporttotheSMEsandactasabridgebetweenSMEsandresearchers.

SPIN contributes to the EUStrategyfortheBalticSeaRegionbypromotingentrepreneurship,strengthening SMEs andincreasing the efficient use ofhumanresources


• Promotingapplicationofeco-innovationsbySmallandMedium-SizedEnterprisesintheBalticSeaRegion.


Partnership Nationalandregionalauthorities,universitiesandNGOsfromDenmark,Estonia,Finland,Germany,Lithuania,PolandandSweden


Lead partner FederalEnvironmentAgency,Germany


3.0million€



Contact person HorstPohleTel.:+4934021033374Email:[email protected]

www.spin-project.eu


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Longlife Sustainable, energy efficient and resource-saving residential buildings with consideration of unified procedures, and new and adapted technologies

The construction boom of the last decades fuelledthegrowthofthemarkets intheBalticSeaRegion.However, high-end technologies are still not widelyused in large-scale housing construction. Ownersand investors don’t introduce new energy-efficienttechnologiesasthesearemoreexpensive.Moreover,buildingtechnologiesandproceduressuchasplanning,approval, tendering, financing, and sustainabilitystandards are different between the countries, andthushindertheexchangeoftechnologies.

Theproject“Longlife”aimstooptimizemethods forbuildingsandconstruction,adaptandimplementnewtechnologies, and harmonise building proceduresbetween countries. This will lead to a reduction ofenergy consumption during the building’s lifecycle.TheprojectwillalsotacklethefinancingofsustainableresidentialbuildingsthroughvariousEUfunds.

Longlifewilldevelopguidelinesforenergyefficiency,sustainability, resource-saving buildings and lowlifecyclecosts.Theseguidelineswillincludeminimumrequirementsforsustainablebuildings,whichcanbemet by all participating countrieswith their currentstateoftechnologies,yetaimingatthestateoftheart.Furthermore,theseguidelineswillbeimplementedinaprototype residentialbuilding.Completeplanning,administrativeandtenderdocumentsforaprototypebuilding will be developed based on a commonstandard, yet still adapted to regional conditions.Financingandmaintenancemodelsforthisprototypeproject will be developed for planners, as well ashousingandconstructioncompanies.

Longlife contributes to theEU Strategy for the Baltic SeaRegion by developing solutionsto adapt to climate change,in particular, energy efficienthousing.


• Developinginnovativeandhigherstandardsforsustainableandenergy-efficientresidentialbuildings.


Partnership Regionalauthorities,universities,competencecentresandhousingassociationsfromDenmark,Germany,LithuaniaandPoland


Lead partner BerlinInstituteofTechnology,Germany


2.4million€



Contact person Maria-IlonaKiefelTel.:+49308036242Email:[email protected]

www.longlife-world.eu


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BSR InnoReg Strengthening Innovation Governance in Baltic Non-Metropolitan Regions through Transnational Cooperation

TheBalticSea region is recognizedasanattractiveand dynamic territorial cooperation area in Europe.With increasing global economic challenges anduncertainty,allregions intheareamustreactmorequicklyandaddresschallenges, through innovation.Regions outside the metropolises in the Baltic SeaRegionarecommittedtoenhancingdevelopmentandgovernanceofinnovation.Atthesametime,theyfacemajorchallengesinsecuringtheavailabilityofaskilledwork force, developing bridges between education,science and economy, and supporting creation andreformofsmallandmedium-sizedenterprises.

Theproject“BSRInnoReg”aimstoreinforceinnovationgovernance and to support environments outsidethe metropolitan areas. Project partners will focuson increasing effectiveness of activities supportingregional innovation by enhancing the strategiccapacities of business development organizations.The partner regions will also jointly develop andtest new instruments to support innovation. Theinstrumentsaimatuser-drivenandcustomer-orientedinnovation,start-upfinancing,andinvolvingstudentsininnovationprocesses.

The project brings together decision-makers fromtheinvolvedpartnerregions.Theywilldiscussglobaleconomic challenges and agree on a Memorandumof Understanding on efficient innovation policies.The Memorandumwill guide support for innovationandeconomicdevelopment,especiallyintheregionsoutsidethemetropolitanareas.Theprojectpartnerswillalsocreateahandbookonpractical instrumentstosupportinnovation.

BSR InnoReg contributes tothe EU Strategy for the BalticSea Region by exploiting thepotential of the region inresearchandinnovation.


• Enhancinginnovationsupportandgovernancefocusingonthenon-metropolitanareasoftheBalticSeaRegion.


Partnership National,regionalandlocalauthorities,businessdevelopmentorganisationsfromFinland,Estonia,Latvia,Lithuania,Germanyand Poland


Lead partner TheBalticInstituteofFinland, Finland


2.3million€



Contact person JohannaLeinoTel.:+358356565148Email:[email protected]

www.baltic.org/bsrinnoreg


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BALTRAD An Advanced Weather Radar Network for the Baltic Sea Region

The countries in the Baltic Sea Region differ inclimate, weather and water conditions that aredifficult to predict. However, accurate and timelyweather forecasts and warnings help to save livesandproperty,aswellasoptimizeactivitiesforseveralsectorsoftheeconomy.

The aim of the project “BALTRAD” is to create acutting-edge, real-time weather radar network fortheBalticSeaRegion.Theinvestmentswillresultinadvanced IT infrastructure – radar data exchangeand processing tools. High-quality radar-basedinformation will facilitate clearer, better and moreprecise weather forecasts and decision-making.Pilot cases will present how the radar network canbe used for various scenarios, such as emergencyplanningintheeventofflooding,aviationactivities,nuclear emergency, and optimised traffic and riskmanagement.

The network’s platform will be based on thetechnology currently being developed for theWorldMeteorological Organisation Information System,whichisthenextgenerationglobalstandardfortheexchangeofmeteorologicaldata.Thus,BALTRADwilldevelop mechanisms complying with European andworld standards. As a result, the countries of theBalticSeaRegionwill beable to shareandprocessweatherradardataandgeneratetheinformationtheyneedbasedonasetofcommonstandardmethods,thusmitigatingregionalcapacityimbalances.

BALTRAD contributes to theEU Strategy for the Baltic SeaRegionbyreinforcingprotectionfrommajor storms, at seaandonland.


• NextgenerationweatherradarnetworkfortheBalticSeaRegionandpotentiallythewholeofEurope–acutting-edge,real-timetoolsupportingweatherforecastsanddecision-makingprocess.


Partnership WeatherandhydrologicalservicesandnationalpublicauthoritiesfromSweden,Finland,Poland,Latvia,Denmark,EstoniaandBelarus


Lead partner SwedishMeteorologicalandHydrologicalInstitute,Sweden


2.1million€


ENPI funding 0.04million€


Contact person DanielMichelsonTel.:+46114958494Email:[email protected]

www.baltrad.eu


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WATERPRAXIS From Theory and Plans to Eco-efficient and Sustainable Practices to improve the Status of the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea suffers from heavy eutrophicationcaused by nutrient loads and pollution by harmfulsubstances.TheEUWaterFrameworkDirectiveaimsat healthy ecological status of all waters by 2015.PracticalmeasurestoreachthisobjectiveareincludedinRiverBasinManagementPlans(RBMPs).RMBPsarebased on the natural geographical and hydrologicalunits (river basins), instead of administrative orpolitical boundaries.However,whenputting generallevel RMBPs into practice, one faces a variety ofobstacles.Itisdifficulttoapplywaterpollutioncontrolmethods and change land-use practices since theRMBPscover largegeographical,often transnationalareas and the best practice examples are yet notavailable.

Theoverallobjectiveof theproject“WATERPRAXIS”istoenhancethepracticalimplementationofRBMPsintheregionandthusimprovethestateoftheBalticSea.

The project partnership consists of authorities incharge of water management and of experts inenvironmentaltechnology,economics,nature,socialsciencesandeducation.TheconsortiumcoverseightcoastalcountriesoftheBalticSea.

The project will analyze contents and planningprocessesofRBMPsandpreparebestpracticeactionplansforthepilotareas.Theplanswillaimtoprotectthewatersandraisepublicparticipation.Additionally,concretecost-andeco-efficientinvestmentplanswillbepreparedforselectedsites.Publications,trainingsandeducationalprogrammeswillhelptodisseminatetheinformationtoactorsinvolvedinthemanagementofwaters.

WATERPRAXIS contributes tothe EU Strategy for the BalticSeaRegionbyreducingnutrientinputstotheBalticSea.Projectenhances the implementationof the EU Water FrameworkDirective.


• ImprovedwaterqualityintheBalticSeaRegionthroughcost-efficientandeco-efficientwaterprotectionmeasures.


Partnership Environmentalinstitutes,universitiesandpublicauthoritiesfromFinland,Denmark,Germany,Poland,Latvia,Lithuania,SwedenandRussia


Lead partner FinnishEnvironmentInstitute,Finland


2.0million€



Contact person SeppoHellstenTel.:+358405004999Email:[email protected]

www.waterpraxis.net


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COHIBA Control of Hazardous Substances in the Baltic Sea Region

For a long time, the Baltic Sea was considered aninfinitereceptacle:everyonethoughtthateverythingjustdisappearedthereforever.However,thisattitudeis changing and people understand that the sea isextremelysensitive.Thechallengeofenvironmentallyhazardous substances is particularly affecting theBalticSeacountries.Thepreventionandeliminationofpollutioncoming into theBalticSea fromvarioussourcesurgentlyneedsasolution.

The project “COHIBA” aims to identify the mostimportantsourcesoftargethazardoussubstancesandestimate their impacts on themarine environment.JointassessmentandmanagementmethodswillbeabasisforcommonunderstandinganddecisionmakingonactionsreducingtheinputofhazardoussubstancesintotheBalticSea.TheprojectwillalsosupporttheimplementationoftheHELCOMBalticSeaActionPlan,whichaimstorestorethehealthyecologicalstatusofthemarineenvironmentby2021.Withitsadoption,the countries involved committed themselvesto achieve a “Baltic Sea with life undisturbed byhazardoussubstances”.

COHIBA will identify the sources and analyse theflow patterns of 11 target hazardous substancesthat are of special concern to the Baltic Sea. Theproject will perform screening of municipal andindustrial wastewaters, landfill effluents and stormwaters. Additionally, project partners will work onrecommendations on how to improve control ofchemicals, using biological testing of wastewaters,basedon theWholeEffluentApproach.COHIBAwillalsoproduceguidanceoncosteffectivemanagementofthe11substancestobeadoptedbyHELCOM.Theimplementationof theguidewill reducedischarges,emissionsandleaksofhazardoussubstances.

COHIBA contributes to theEU Strategy for the Baltic SeaRegion by reducing the impactofhazardous substances in theBalticSea.


• FosteringinnovativemethodsofcontrollinghazardoussubstancesintheBalticSea.


Partnership National,regionalandlocalauthorities,universities,researchcentresandNGOsfromDenmark,Estonia,Finland,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,PolandandSweden


Lead partner FinnishEnvironmentInstitute,Finland


4.9million€



Contact person AnsaPilkeTel.:+358408346537Email:[email protected]

www.environment.fi/syke/cohiba


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BaltCICA Climate Change: Impacts, Costs and Adaptation in the Baltic Sea Region

The scientific community expects climate changeto affect the frequencyof floods and storm surges.Changes in precipitation patterns and temperatureswillputfurtherpressureonavailabilityandqualityofpublicdrinkingwater.Aslargepartsofthepopulationin the Baltic Sea Region are settled along coastalareas,theirsettlementsareespeciallysensitivetoariseofsealevel.

The project “BaltCICA” will improve the ability todealwith the impactsof climate change.Citiesandsettlements from different countries face similarchallenges,and tackling thesecollectivelywillbeofadvantage. The project will assess impacts of theclimate change and elaborate adequate responsemechanisms. Furthermore, the project partnerswillcooperateonalternativesandbestpracticestoabatenegativeeffectsofclimatechange.

The project consortium consists of representativesfromregionalandmunicipalpublicauthorities,nationalresearchinstitutesandpan-Balticinstitutions.

BaltCICA will elaborate different scenarios of theclimatechangetoassesstheimpactinselectedcasestudies. The climate change issues will be includedinlocalandregionalplanningprocesses.Theprojectwill support actors with cost-benefit evaluationof adaptation measures. Partners will prepareappropriate defence measures to protect potentialfloodproneareas.Projectswilltestspecificsettlementstructuresresilienttoclimatechangeandwilldevelopbackupplanstosafeguardwatersupplies.

BaltCICA contributes to theEU Strategy for the Baltic SeaRegion by developing solutionstoadapttoclimatechangeandsupporting the development ofa regional adaptation strategyat the level of the Baltic SeaRegion.


• Adaptationmeasuresabatingeffectsofclimatechange.


Partnership Regionalandmunicipalpublicauthorities,nationalresearchinstitutesandpan-BalticinstitutionsfromDenmark,Estonia,Finland,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,NorwayandSweden


Lead partner GeologicalSurveyofFinland, Finland


5.3million€




Contact person JohannesKleinTel.:+358505502628Email:[email protected]

www.baltcica.org


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EfficienSea Efficient, Safe and Sustainable Traffic at Sea

SomeofthebusiestshippinglanesintheworldcrosstheBalticSea.Forecastspredictfurtherincreasesinmarineindustriesandmarinetrafficvolumes.Thiswillheightentheriskofshippingaccidents,oilspills,andthereleaseofhazardoussubstancesorlossofhumanlives.

TheoverallaimoftheprojectistoenhancemaritimesafetyandtheenvironmentalstateoftheBalticSearegion.Theproject“EfficienSea”willdevelopandtesttoolstoimprovemaritimesafety.

Theprojectconsortiumconsistsof17partnersfromsix countries in the region. Among the consortiummembersarenationalmaritimeadministrationshavingknowledge about present and future challenges inuseofthesea,apublicauthorityrepresentingthosesuffering consequences of environmental pollution,and scientific organisations providing strategies forthedecisionsupportsystemsandpolicies.

EfficienSeawillestablishadynamicriskmanagementsystem to respond to the increasing traffic anddeficits inthemonitoringofshiptraffic.Activities inthefieldofe-Navigationwill includetheassessmentofemerginginnovationswithinthefieldofmaritimedata.Simultaneously,authoritieswillbepreparedformajorinvestmentsrequiredtoimplementharmonisedmarinenavigationsystems.ActivitiesintheareasofVesselTrafficDataandMaritimePlanningwilladdressthechallengesemergingfromthegrowinguseofthesea.Theprojectwillsimplifyregulationsandimprovecoordinationbetweenauthorities.

EfficienSeaisapprovedasastrategicprojectduetoitsstrongbackingbynationalauthoritiesaswellasitsimpactontheBalticSearegion.

EfficienSea contributes tothe EU Strategy for the BalticSea Region by ensuring thatthe Baltic Sea Region becomesa leading region in maritimesafetyandsecurity,inparticular,fore-navigation.


• Riskprevention,safetyandplanninginthemaritimesector.


Partnership Maritimeadministrations,publicauthority,academicandscientificorganizationsandnon-governmentalorganizationsfromDenmark,Estonia,Finland,Norway,PolandandSweden


Lead partner DanishMaritimeSafetyAdministration,Denmark


8.0million€




Contact person GertrudHermansenTel.:+4532689635Email:[email protected]

www.efficiensea.org

TerjeRakke/briljans.se


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BRISK Sub-Regional Risk of Spill of Oil and Hazardous Substances in the Baltic Sea

TheBalticSeatodayisoneofthebusiestseasintheworld,accountingformorethan15%oftheworld’scargo transportation. Both the number and thesizeof shipshavegrown in recentyears,especiallyconcerning oil tankers, and this trend is expectedto continue. The Baltic’s narrow straits and shallowwatersmakenavigationverychallengingandincreasetheriskofshippingaccidents.

Theproject“BRISK”aimstopreparethewholeBalticSeaRegiontotacklemajoraccidentaloilspills.TheHELCOMBalticSeaActionPlanwasadoptedby theBalticSeacountriesandtheEuropeanCommissionin2007.Theprojectwillworktofulfiltherequirementsof the HELCOM Recommendation on strengtheningsub-regionalcooperationintheresponsefield.

BRISKwill perform thefirstoverall riskassessmentfortheBalticSea.Thestudywillcheckwhethertheemergency and response capacities in each sub-region are sufficient to tackle medium-size andlarge oil spills. This should also lead to a commonunderstandingoftheexistingchallenge.Furthermore,theprojectwillidentifymissingresourcesandpreparepre-investment plans describing how theBaltic Seacountries should jointly fill in the identified gaps.Suchsub-regionalapproachisthemostcost-efficient,as countries can “share” their resources to build acommon pool of response vessels and equipmentsufficient for a given sub-region. Another aim oftheprojectistospeeduptheprocessofdevelopingand concluding sub-regional agreements for jointresponseoperationsbetweenneighbouringcountries.

BRISK was approved as a strategic project as it isimportant for the sustainable development of thewholeBalticSeaRegion.

BRISK contributes to theEU Strategy for the Baltic SeaRegionbyreinforcingprotectionfrommajoremergenciesatseaand on land, and by ensuringclean shipping. Theprojectwillmap existing marine pollutionresponse capacities and makesub-regional plans for cross-borderresponsecooperation.


• DevelopinganappropriatelevelofpreparednessforresponsetooilspillpollutioninthewholeBalticSeaarea.


Partnership Nationalauthorities,institutes,coastguardandmaritimerescueservicesfromDenmark,Estonia,Finland,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,PolandandSweden


Lead partner AdmiralDanishFleetHQ,NationalOperations,MaritimeEnvironment,Denmark


3.3million€


Duration 30months(January2009–July2011)

Contact person PeterSoebergPoulsenTel.:+4589433405Email:[email protected]

www.helcom.fi


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Baltic Master II Maritime Safety – Transport and Environment in the Baltic Sea Region

The Baltic Sea has an extremely sensitive marineenvironment. At the same time, the Baltic Seaexhibitsaveryhightrafficvolume.Yet,manycoastalregionsdonothaveanon-landoilcontingencyplanin case of an accident. The capacity to respond totheaccidentsinmanyregionsandmunicipalitiesdoesnotcorrespondtothehighnumberofshipspassingthroughtheBalticSea.Theenvironmentandthewell-beingofthecoastalcommunitiesmaybeatstake.

Theoverallaimoftheproject“BalticMasterII”istoimprovetheland-basedresponsecapacitytooilspillsandtopreventpollutionfrommaritimetransport.Theprojectbringstogetheractorsfromlocal,regionalandnational authorities, research institutes, universitiesand pan-Baltic organisations. This link betweendifferentlevelswillensureacombinationofhands-onknowledgeandstrategicwork.

Baltic Master II will develop oil contingency plansfor the participating regions and test them jointly.The project will also combine the development ofoil contingency plans with coastal management tothegapbetweenthesetwoareas.Traditionallytheyhave been managed separately, but are in realityconnected. The projectwill also contribute practicalsolutions and suggestions for investments. Thesepreventive measures will increase maritime safetyandpreventpollutionintheBalticSea.

Baltic Master II contributesto the EU Strategy for theBalticSeaRegionbyreinforcingprotection from majoremergenciesatseaandonland,andbyimplementingactionstoreduceshippollution.


• Improvingresponsecapacitytooilspillsincoastalcommunities.


Partnership National,regionalandlocalauthorities,universitiesfromDenmark,Estonia,Finland,Germany,Lithuania,PolandandSweden


Lead partner RegionBlekinge,Sweden


4.0million€



Contact person ThereseNilssonTel.:+46455305025Email:[email protected]

www.balticmaster.org


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Baltic Green Belt

Baltic Green Belt contributesto the EU Strategy for theBalticSeaRegionbypreservingnatural zones and biodiversity,and by developing solutions toadapttoclimatechange.

The European Green Belt is an ecological initiativerunning through the continent following the routeof the former Iron Curtain. The division of Europelimitedeconomicandsocialactivityforover40years.Italsoallowedforthedevelopmentofanastonishingbiodiversityalongtheformerborders.TheaimofthisEuropeaninitiativeistosavenaturalassetsthatgrewalongsidetheseformerno-men’slands.

Within the Baltic Sea Region the Green Belt wasindicated along the South-Eastern coast fromGermanytoFinland.However,therewerenoactivitiesplanned to improve the environmental state of theBalticSeacoast.Theproject“BalticGreenBelt”aimstofillthisgapanddevelopanecologicalnetworkfortheBalticSeaRegion.Activitiesoftheprojectfocuson nature conservation and improvement of theecologicalsituationofthecoastalstripsonbothsidesoftheBalticSea.

A significant part of the project is dedicated todissemination activities aimed at including theBaltic Green Belt ideas into policies, programmesandactions. TheBalticGreenBeltwill evaluate thestatusofprotectedareas,naturalandculturalsites,infrastructure development and water quality. Theprojectunitespartnersfromlocalandregionalpublicauthorities, universities, non-governmental andinternationalorganisations.


• ProtectionofculturalandnaturalheritagealongtheBalticSeaCoastfollowingthetrailoftheformerIronCurtain.


Partnership Localandregionalpublicauthorities,universities,non-governmentalandinternationalorganisationsfromBelgium,Estonia,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,PolandandSweden


Lead partner ChristianAlbrechtsUniversityofKiel,Germany


2.3million€



Contact person SusanneNeufeldtTel.:+494318807246Email:[email protected]

www.balticgreenbelt.uni-kiel.de

Theprojectwill raise awarenessandoffer solutionsrelatedtobiodiversity,agriculturallandbasedpollution,andclimatechange.Thiswillstimulatesustainability.Project partners will compile summarizing reportsforeachGreenBeltCountry.Thereportswillenablesuccessful lobbying among decisive municipal,regional and international bodies. Partners willprovide and share scientific information on positiveandnegativeeffectsofestablishingprotectedareasandtheconservationofsandybeaches.PilotactionswilldemonstrateinpracticehowtoimprovetheBalticSea’s water quality through enhanced sanitationnetworks and lower emission levels in agriculturalproduction.


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BaltSeaPlan Introducing Maritime Spatial Planning in the Baltic Sea

Pressure on the space and resources in the BalticSeaisgrowing.Differentinterests,suchasshipping,wind farming,mineral extraction, nature and shoreprotection have to be balanced in a multi-sectoralperspective.

The project “BaltSeaPlan” follows the call of theEU Commission for its member states to draw upintegrated maritime strategies and to introduceIntegrated Maritime Spatial Planning (IMSP).The overall aim of the project is to create a jointunderstanding of the instruments and processesnecessarytosuccessfullyrealisetheIMSPintheBalticSeaRegion.TheBaltSeaPlanalsocontributestotheimplementationofbothHELCOMrecommendationonBroad-scaleMarineSpatial Planningand theVASABGdańskDeclaration.

BaltSeaPlan partnerswill jointly develop a commonvision for theBalticSea.Furthermore,partnerswillprepareproposalsforanationalmaritimestrategyineachcountry.Theproposalswillbedevelopedtakinginto account the land and sea interdependence,economic,socialandecologicalaspects.Sevendraftsof cross-border Integrated Maritime Spatial PlanswillbeworkedoutforselectedBalticareas,suchasthePommeranianBay,GulfofGdańskortheMiddleBank.Theseplanswillofferadirectionandvisionforhowthecoastalandmarinespaceshouldbeused.Inaddition, theplanswill layout zoneswhichprovidedifferentprioritiesfordifferentsectionsbasedontheidentifiednationalscenarios.

BaltSeaPlan contributes tothe EU Strategy for the BalticSeaRegionbyencouraging theuseofMaritimeSpatialPlanningaround the Baltic Sea anddevelopingacommonapproachforcooperation.


• IntegratedMaritimeSpatialPlanning–atoolforharmonioususeoftheseaspaceandresources.


Partnership Nationalandregionalauthorities,maritimeandresearchinstitutesandNGOsfromDenmark,Estonia,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,PolandandSweden


Lead partner FederalMaritimeandHydrographicAgency,Germany


3.7million€



Contact person NicoNolteTel.:+494031903520Email:[email protected]

www.baltseaplan.eu


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Urb.Energy Energy Efficient and Integrated Urban Development Action

Climate change and limited energy resources areglobalchallenges.TheEuropeanhousingstockisoneofthemajorcontributorstothewasteofenergyandCO2 emissions. Moreover, buildings are responsibleforover40%ofthefinalenergyconsumptionandformorethan25%ofCO²emissionsintheEU.Therefore,improved energy efficiency in buildings, increaseduse of renewables, and energy saving settlementstructures are becoming more important. However,therefurbishmentrate isvery low,especially inthenewEUmemberstates.

The project “Urb.Energy” aims at promotingsustainableandholisticrehabilitationoftheresidentialareas in the Baltic Sea Region. It will combine theapproachof integratedurbandevelopmentwith theenergyefficientrefurbishmentof thebuildingstock,and the energy supply structure. The project willinvolve owners, residents and other local actors torealise investments. Thus, theurban settlements inthe regionswill achievebetterenergyperformance.Thiswillhelptomaketheregionlessdependentonenergy imports and less affected by rising energyprices.

TheprojectpartnerswillpreparefiveintegratedurbandevelopmentstrategiesforthetargetareasinPoland,Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. These approachesforurbanrenewalcanbe transferred toothercitiesand regions around the Baltic Sea. Urb.Energy willprovide manuals on integrated urban developmentstrategiesandenergyefficient refurbishmentof thehousing stock, and renewal of the related energysupply systems. It will also present guidelines oninnovative use of financial instruments from publicandprivatebanks,andEUstructuralfundsnecessaryto implement investments.Theprojectwill facilitaterehabilitationoftheurbanareas.

Urb.EnergycontributestotheEU Strategy for the Baltic SeaRegion by developing solutionsto adapt to climate change,in particular, energy efficienthousing.


• Implementingenergyefficienturbandevelopmentconceptsintheresidentialareas.


Partnership Regionalandlocalauthorities,housingandurbandevelopmentassociationsandanationalfundinginstitutionandcompetencecentresfromBelarus,Estonia,Germany,Latvia,LithuaniaandPoland


Lead partner GermanAssociationforHousing,UrbanandSpatialDevelopment,Germany


3.8million€




Contact person PetraSchwarzTel.:+4930206132556Email:[email protected]

www.urbenergy.eu


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Bioenergy Promotion The Baltic Sea Region Bioenergy Promotion Project

In Europe and in the rest of the world, energyconsumption is growing. Yet, huge biomaterialresources are not utilised to the greatest extentpossible.Theinterestintheseresourcesisincreasing.Therefore,itisnecessarytobalancethecompetitionbetweentheusageofbiomaterialresourcesforfood,fibreandfuel.

The project “Bioenergy Promotion” aims atstrengthening the sustainable use of bioenergy intheBalticSeaRegion.Itwillcontributetoacommonunderstanding of the opportunities and challenges.The projectwill serve as amajor regional platformfor cross-sectoral and transnational networkingto facilitate the coordinated policy development,designandapplicationofinstrumentswhichpromotebioenergy.

Bioenergy Promotion was selected as a Baltic 21Lighthouseproject.Theconsortiumincludesnationalandregionalauthorities,researchinstitutions,expertsinthefieldof forestryandagriculture,andbiomasscompanies.BioenergyPromotionwasapprovedasastrategicproject.

Theprojectwilldevelopcriteriaforsustainablebiomasssupply, use and trade. These policy guidelines willcontribute to the development and implementationof national and regional biomass action plans. Theaction plans and feasibility studies will facilitatebioenergyinvestmentsintheBalticSeaRegion.Theprojectwillalsoestablishavirtualbrokerageplatformto meet the needs of all players of the biomassmarket by contributing to the fair trade options intheregion.Itwillalsoprovideapossibilitytocreatenetworks,clustersandpublic-privatepartnershipsinthebioenergysector.

Bioenergy Promotion contri-butestotheEUStrategyfortheBalticSeaRegionby increasinguseofrenewableenergies.Theprojectwillfosterconditionsthatsupport the Baltic Sea Regionin reaching the 20% target forrenewableenergiesby2020.


• Creatingacriticalmassforcompetitivenessandtechnologyinnovationinthebioenergymarket.


Partnership Nationalandregionalauthorities,universities,environmentalandforestrydevelopmentcenters,agenciesforrenewableresourcesfromBelarus,Denmark,Estonia,Finland,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,Norway,PolandandSweden


Lead partner SwedishEnergyAgency,Sweden


5.1million€





Contact person SonjaEwersteinTel.:+46165442207Email:[email protected]

www.bioenergypromotion.net


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NEW BRIDGES Strengthening of Quality of Life through Improved Management of Urban Rural Interaction

Theforecastssaythatby2020around80%ofpeopleinEuropewillliveinurbanareas.Growingdemandforlandinandaroundcitiesmayhavenegativeimpactsand prevent balanced development. Until now,regionalplanninganddevelopmenthaveoftenbeenperformed without systematic reference to impactsthey have on quality of life. The existing tools andpracticesdonotsufficientlytakeintoaccountvaryingconditionsandinteractionsbetweenurbanandruralareas.

Theproject“NEWBRIDGES”aimstoimproveurban-rural planning. Project partners will evaluate thepotentialforsustainableurban-ruralinteraction.Theprojectwillimplementnewworkingmethodsandpilotactionsthatcorrespondtotheneedsofthepopulation.ThiswillattractpeopleandinvestmentintotheBalticSea Region. The project partnership includes localand regional authorities and expert organizationsthroughouttheBalticSeaRegion.

Keypillarsforqualityoflifeareresidentialpreferences,services, mobility and accessibility. The project willlookintoindividualpreferencesofdifferentpopulationsegments (families, entrepreneurs and pensioners)andstakeholders(residentassociationsandbusinessassociations). Their preferences will be comparedwith the existing policies and practices. Gaps willbe transformed into actions through pilot planningand development projects at city and rural levels.Experience from those pilot projects will help todevelopasetofpolicyandpracticerecommendationstargetedatauthoritiesatlocal,regionalandnationalpolicy making and planning levels. The project willprepare a priority list for investments to improvequality of life. Partners will also introduce a newmanagement model integrating cross-sectoral andmulti-stakeholderworkingmethods.

NEWBRIDGEScontributestothe EU Strategy for the BalticSea Region by maintainingattractiveness of the BalticSea Region for its citizensand maximising the economicpotentialintheentireregion.


• Qualityoflife,integratedurban-ruralplanninganddevelopmentthatbettertakesintoaccountneedsofdifferentpopulationsegments.


Partnership LocalandregionalpublicauthoritiesandinternationalorganisationsfromDenmark,Estonia,Finland,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,PolandandSweden


Lead partner UnionoftheBalticCities,CommissiononEnvironment,Finland


2.8million€



Contact person SakariSaarinenTel.:+358449075994Email:[email protected]

www.urbanrural.netTuuliVesanto


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BalticClimate Baltic Challenges and Chances for local and regional development generated by Climate Change

Society is grappling with how to deal with climatechange – not as an unsolvable problem, but as amanageablesituation.Eventhoughinternationalandnational guidelines and recommendations are beingdeveloped,thelocalandregionallevelslacksupport,resources,knowledgeandexperienceonhowtodealwith it. In addition to mitigation measures, earlyadaptation is required. It will reduce unavoidablenegativeeffectsandmaybearnewchances for theeconomy,theenvironment,andthesocialsector.

The project “BalticClimate” is aimed at small andmedium-sizedcitiesandruralareaswithintheBalticSeaRegion.Theprojectwillidentifyhowtoapproachclimate change pro-actively in daily regional undmunicipalpracticeandlong-termplanningtoopenupnewopportunitiesfordevelopment.

The project will regionalise various climate changescenarios, assess impacts on the local and regionallevel, and carry out vulnerability assessmentsto identify fields of action. Partners will evaluatealternatives for spatial and trafficplanning, locationandstructureof residentialareas,energysolutions,andfarmingdecisions.TheprojectwillalsoprepareaSWOTanalysisfortheparticipatingregions.

To guide decisionmakers and business, the projectwill develop an ICT toolkit. The toolkit will containtoolstohandletheimpactsofclimatechangerelevanttotheirregion.

BalticClimate contributes totheEUStrategyfortheBalticSeaRegion by developing solutionstoadapttoclimatechangeandsupporting the development ofa regional adaptation strategyat the level of the Baltic SeaRegion.


• Proactiveapproachtoclimatechangeanddevelopmentofnewbusinessopportunitiesrespondingtoitseffects.


Partnership Spatialandenvironmentalresearchinstitutes,municipal,regionalandnationalauthorities,businessincubatorsanduniversitiesfromEstonia,Finland,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,PolandandSweden


Lead partner AcademyforSpatialResearchandPlanning,Germany


4.2million€



Contact person DennisEhmTel.:+495113494249Email:[email protected]

www.BalticClimate.orgPhotos:SMHI,Sweden


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Eco-Region The Baltic 21 Eco Region Project

ThedevelopmentintheBalticSeaRegionisfarfromsustainable:excessiveuseof land,growingdemandfor energy and polluting discharges are just a fewexamplesofnegativetrends.Goodpracticesonhowtoturnsustainabledevelopment intoarealityexist,buttheyarehardtofind.

Theoverallaimoftheproject“Eco-Region”istodeveloptheBalticSeaRegionintotheworld’sfirstEco-Region,wheretheeconomicgrowthgoeshandinhandwithenvironmentalintegrityandsocialjustice.Theprojectisbasedontheuniquemulti-stakeholdernetworkofBaltic21,whichwascreatedfortherealisationoftheAgenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region. The networkwill propose solutions to regional problems throughcross-sectoral and inter-regional cooperation, andtheintegrationofsustainabledevelopmentintopolicymaking.

Within Eco-Region numerous workshops will fosterthe dialogue and understanding on sustainabledevelopmentwithintheBalticSearegion.Tenmodelregionswillpreparestrategicsustainabilityplansandrealizeaselectedsetofconcretemeasures.Acapacitybuildingprogrammeoncyclical, integrated, regionalsustainabilitysystemswillsupportthisprocess.Eco-Region will produce an open accessible web-baseddatabase and numerous other information materialshowinggoodpracticesandcontactpointsonhowtofostersustainabledevelopmentonregionallevel.

Developing the Bal�cSeaRegion into the world’s first EcoRegion

Eco-RegioncontributestotheEU Strategy for the Baltic SeaRegion by developing solutionsto adapt to climate change,in particular, by promotingsustainable management ofcities and regions. The projectwill promote the Baltic SeaRegionasagreenregion.


• Makingcitiesandregionsmoreattractiveandcompetitiveinusingtheircommonknowledgeandpotential.


Partnership National,regionalandlocalauthorities,universitiesandinternationalNGOfromDenmark,Estonia,Finland,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,Norway,PolandandSweden


Lead partner FederalMinistryfortheEnvironment,NatureConservationandNuclearSafety,Germany


3.0million€




Contact person DörteRatzmannTel.:+4930285502372E-mail:[email protected]

www.baltic-ecoregion.eu


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Parks & Benefits Generating Socio-Economic Effects by a Sustainable Management of Protected Areas for the Benefit of their Regions

TheBaltic SeaRegion holdsmany sites of typicallyBaltic or even outstanding natural heritage. Thesesitesarepreservedbythestatusofprotectedareas.Whilerespectingtheirconservationanddevelopmentobjectives, sustainable Nature Tourism within andaround protected areas can be, or already is, animportantelementoftheregionaleconomies.

Uptonowtheeconomicpotentialisunderdevelopedand offers vast possibilities for the development oftourism,ofpublic-privatepartnerships,andimprovednatureconservation.At thesametime, theexistingeconomicperformanceisoftenunderestimated,whichresults in prejudices about the purpose of natureprotection. Therefore, all stakeholders in regionsworkingwithprotectedareashavetoputmoreeffortintocooperationandcommunication.Thiswillfostersustainabledevelopmentoftheregions.

The project “Parks & Benefits” will introduce andstrengthenasustainableapproachtoNatureTourismin the Baltic Sea Region. The project will increaseawareness of the mutual benefits to protectedparks and their surrounding regions for regionaldevelopmentandsustainednaturaldevelopment.

ThemaininstrumentisthetransferoftheEuropeanCharter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected AreasfromWesternandMediterraneanEuropetotheBalticSea Region, and the joint implementation in eightprotectedareas.Thepartnerswillcarryoutcapacityanalyses,workonmanagementofvisitorstandards,quality development, and cooperation with localtouriststakeholders.

The project will results in a network of certifiedprotected areas, improved nature tourism products(alsofordisabledpeople),increasedawareness,andrecognitionofthebenefitsofnatureprotectiononapoliticallevel.

Parks & Benefits contributestotheEUStrategyfortheBalticSea Region by maintainingattractiveness of the BalticSea Region for its citizensand tourists by promoting theculturalheritageandtheuniquelandscapes.


• Unfoldingeconomicpotentialthroughsustainableuseofprotectedareas.


Partnership Protectedareaauthorities,municipal,regionalandnationalpublicauthorities,businessincubators,universities,NGOsfromDenmark,Estonia,Germany,Latvia,LithuaniaandNorway


Lead partner MinistryforAgriculture,EnvironmentandConsumerProtectioninMecklenburg-Vorpommern,Germany


2.7million€




Contact person TobiasLercheTel.:+493814404951Email:[email protected]

www.parksandbenefits.netEnvironmentalBoard,EE

MüritzNationalParkauthority,DE

AivarsPetriņš,LV

Doverfjellrådet-DovrefjellCouncil,NO


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BSLN Baltic Sea Labour Network - A European Model for Improvement of Interregional Labour Policy

BSLN contributes to theEU Strategy for the BalticSea Region by increasing theefficientuseofhumanresourcesthrough harmonisation of thecommonlabourmarket.

The Baltic Sea Region faces economic disparitiescausing significant migration of workers. Thereare substantial differences in wage levels, labourmarket policies, social and working conditions andindustrial relations and traditions. Migrant workersoftenworkbelowtheirqualificationlevelsandunderworse conditions than local workers. Among theconsequences of this are a loss of competence andqualificationintheworkforce.Theseissueshavetobeseeninthecontextoftheincreasinginternationalcompetitioninlabour.

Inordertocounteractnegativedevelopmentsinthelabourmarkets,thepolicies–whichuptonowhavebeenhandledonly onanational level - need tobebetterorganisedontransnationallevel.Initseffortstoachievethisgoal,theproject“BSLN”willcreateanetwork that will identify improvements to existinglabourmarketpolicies.BSLNwillfacilitateinteractionamong non-governmental organisations, politicians,publicofficialsandexperts.Inparticular,theprojectwill address demographic changes and migrationprocesses. Theprojectpartnershipiscomposedoftradeunions,trade union confederations, employer associations,educational institutes and public authorities aroundtheBalticSeaandbeyond.

BSLN will evaluate regional and national labourpolicy strategies and help to exchange knowledgewithintheregion.Pilotprojectsonmigration,betterintegration,betterworkingconditions,optimaluseofforeignskilledworkers,and lifelong learningwill beimplemented.ABSLN-Forumwillhelp tocoordinateregionalandtransnationalactivitiesandbethedrivingforcefortheelaborationofaPanBalticLabourPolicyAgenda.

The project will setup a permanent representativebody, the “International Secretariat of BSLN”, torepresent the high number of organisations dealingwithlabourissuesintheregion.


• Coordinationandrepresentationoftransnationallabourpolicy.


Partnership Tradeunions,tradeunionconfederations,employerassociations,educationalinstitutesandpublicauthoritiesfromBelgium,Denmark,Estonia,Finland,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,Norway,PolandandSweden


Lead partner CooperationCentreHamburg,Germany


2.6million€




Contact person KatariinaRöbbelen-VoigtTel.:+49402858637Email:[email protected]

www.bslabour.net


Imprint

©ThisbrochurewasproducedandpublishedbytheJoint Technical Secretariat of the Baltic Sea RegionProgramme2007-2013.

Thanks to all the project partners who helped toproducethisbrochureandprovidedtheirphotographs.

It is permitted to print or download extracts from this brochure for public use providing the data source. No content must be used for any commercial purposes.

Editing:JointTechnicalSecretariatDesign&Printing:ArtBerries,[email protected]

eu.baltic.net

eu.baltic.net


projects


Joint Technical Secretariat RostockInvestitionsbank Schleswig-HolsteinGrubenstrasse 2018055 Rostock, Germany+49 381 45484 5281+49 381 45484 [email protected]

PhoneFax

email

Joint Technical Secretariat RigaState Regional Development AgencyAusekļa iela 14-6Riga, LV-1010, Latvia +371 6 735 7368+371 6 735 7372 [email protected]

PhoneFax

email

Part-fi nancedby the European Union European Union

Documents

First 24 transnational cooperation projectsThe project “BaSIC” aims to build a “Baltic Sea Archipelago of Innovation” with seamless working conditions for innovative SMEs that