RAPIDEfrom 3 to 17

15 June 2010

EUROPEAN UNION European Regional Development Fund

Benjamin KuscherRAPIDE Project Manager

RAPIDE’s learning curve... Past

› Learning Summit in Cornwall Summer 2007› 18 member states, 25 regions› High level of enthusiasm

› INTERREG IVC application 2008› 13 partners, 12 regions, 11 member states› High risk to approve this project

› 3 themes; › RAPIDE partnership› RAPIDE finance› RAPIDE risk

RAPIDE’s learning curve...Present

› 17 Regional Action Plans 2010

1.Innovation Vouchers+2.Pre-Commercial Procurement3.Business Angel Networks4.Start-up Assessment5.Innovation Partnerships6.RAPIDE digital story telling for a

better pitch

RAPIDE – Who are we

› 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

What the partner got out of RAPIDE

› South West of England – UK› Europe is not an island

› Galicia – Spain› Never make elections during a project

› Kujawsko-Pomorskie – Poland› To make the opening event is a challenge

What the partner got out of RAPIDE

› Örebro – Sweden› Everybody loves Sweden

› Region of Western Greece› We love our FLC

› Saxony-Anhalt – Germany› The federal government copies the regional ideas

What the partner got out of RAPIDE

› Tartu – Estonia› Good work brings us into new projects

› Wales – UK› Do not change the department during the project

› Presov – Slovakia› With a good idea you can convince the central MA (NO floods)

What the partner got out of RAPIDE

› South Bohemia – CZ› Innovative, small and doable

› Lapland – Finland› Lapland only goes for big money

› Észak-Alföld – Hungary› To be active brings you closer to the cherries›

What the EC got out of RAPIDE

› European Commission› Europe at its best

› 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

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

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

Benjamin KuscherRAPIDE Project ManagerSouth West of England Regional Development Agency