Regiostars brochure 2014 by Inspiring Work

RegioStars

Awards 2014

Presentation of the finalists

Regional and Urban Policy

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European Commission, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy Communication Ana-Paula Laissy Avenue de Beaulieu, 1 – 1160 Brussels Email: regio-publication@ec.europa.eu Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). Photos courtesy of European Commission © European Union, 2014 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. Printed in Belgium

RegioStars

Awards 2014

Presentation of the finalists

Table of contents 1

Smart growth • SME innovation

JIC Innovation Park (CZ)

The Road Towards Entrepreneurial Poland (PL)

Art on Chairs (PT)

NovaMedTech (SE)

Innovating for Growth (UK)

Cluster for Accelerator Technology (CATE) (ETC*)

Sustainable growth • Green growth and jobs through Bio-economy

Ecoponto em Casa (PT)

BEACON (UK)

ARBOR (ETC*)

ORGANEXT (ETC*)

Inclusive growth • Creating jobs for the young generation

Einstiegszeit: All aboard for Young People in Brandenburg (DE)

SAS – Springboard for the Active Guidance of Young Job-seekers (FR)

Ideas! New Enterprises! (IT)

Fifteen Cornwall Apprenticeship Programme (UK)

Mini Europe (ETC*)

Citystar • Investment projects in sustainable urban public transport

Development of pro-ecological public transport in tri-city metropolitan area (PL)

Ecological transport (PL)

Swansea City Bus Station (UK)

Ticket to Kyoto (ETC*)

* European Territorial Cooperation

Canarias

Guyane

Açores

RegioStars Applicants 2008-2014 Number of applicants  1-3  4-6  7-12  >13

Source: DG REGIO

Guadeloupe Martinique

Madeira

Smart growth • SME innovation

A catalyst for innovation and growth in South Moravia

JIC Innovation Park A business support programme that has evolved to become the largest business incubator scheme in the Czech Republic was established in Brno in 2003 in response to a severe economic downturn in South Moravia that had led to the closure of several factories in the region. For over a decade the programme, which has proved to be financially sustainable and is based on a strong regional partnership, has helped to reverse the region’s fortunes by successfully promoting enterprise, skills development and the commercialisation of research. The main focus of the JIC Innovation Park is to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of IT, software engineering, computer security, machining, bio-technology and robotics as well as other hightechnology fields. Start-ups as well as young smalland medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are provided

‘The mission of the JIC Innovation Park is to empower people to create businesses that change the world. Its impact is embodied in the success of the 100 plus companies that benefited from its business support services. Ten years after the establishment of the park, demand for a place is so high that only one in twelve applications from new companies can be accepted. This enables the project to strengthen its impact by choosing the best of the best to work with.’ Jiří Hudeček, Chief Executive Officer, JIC Innovation Park

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with work / office / laboratory space and access to support facilities at the Innovation Park, which with its 7000 m2 of space has enough capacity to provide accommodation for 60 companies at any one time. To qualify for access to the programme companies have to have been established for no longer than three years and must have an annual turnover of under CZK 10 million (around EUR 400 000). Companies from abroad wanting to start a business in South Moravia are also welcome to use the scheme. Participating companies are given accommodation in the Innovation Park for up to three years, during which time they receive tailor-made advice on formulating or refining their business plan and how to develop and grow their business. The customised consultancy advice is provided both by the Innovation Park’s inhouse team of experts as well as through a network of external mentors. The mentoring programme covers areas such as marketing, branding, legal issues, human resources and public relations and each year involves the organisation of numerous workshops, educational, research and networking activities. Companies in the JIC Innovation Park also have access to seed capital through the JIC Fund which aims to help young innovative start-ups that would otherwise be neglected by the Czech financing institutions. The project also aims to bolster co-operation between companies, universities and other firms in the region

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and this policy has been particularly successful in the fields of information technology security and telecoms. The aim here is for the Innovation Park to act as a hub that harnesses and brings together the innovative potential of local research organisations, students and entrepreneurial young people on the one hand, and experienced local entrepreneurs (mentors and potential investors) on the other side. The ambitious targets of the programme include helping to create at least five global leading companies by 2015, the creation of at least one company with a turnover of more than CZK 1 billion (around EUR 38.7 million) by 2020 and the creation of 2 000 highly qualified jobs.

Since its launch in 2003 more than one hundred companies have been incubated at the JIC Innovation Park and the majority of these successfully established themselves in business after leaving the programme. Only 5 % of participating companies failed. In 2012, companies involved in the programme launched 53 new products or services and generated turnover of nearly EUR 21 million. In the same year, seed capital invested in programme companies amounted to EUR 1 264 000 and the proportion of people employed at the park in full-time research and development positions rose to 44 % of the park’s total workforce of nearly 300.

Project JIC Innovation Park Region Jihomoravský kraj, Czech Republic Programme Operational Programme Industry and Enterprise 2000-2006; Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation – Prosperity 2007-2013 Duration of project 08/2005 – 06/2008 Funding EUR 12 519 000 of which EUR 9 026 000 is European funding (ERDF) Website www.jic.cz/home

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Smart growth • SME innovation

Promoting innovation across Poland

The Road Towards Entrepreneurial Poland A business support programme in Poland that provides incubation facilities for young companies has, in the space of just five years, helped over 6 000 start-up initiatives and, by generating income of around EUR 35.5 million, has had a positive effect on the lives of around two million people. With two years of the programme still to run, it has so far achieved the creation of 38 out of 50 planned business incubators across Poland, making it Europe’s largest network of business incubators. The programme has developed an innovative network of pre-incubation facilities (Academic Business Incubators – ABIs – located in universities), incubation services (ABI Business Link centres) and an ABI Seed Capital system. Collectively, the provision of support infrastructure and business services has created an entrepreneurial ecosystem and a community of young entrepreneurs.

‘The Road Towards Entrepreneurial Poland project has been designed to develop modern and pro-innovative services for young entrepreneurs and to support the implementation of innovative solutions among start-ups. The strategic result of the project is the creation of favourable conditions to shape and accelerate entrepreneurship in Poland by giving support to more than 6 000 startups.’ Łukasz Skiba, Project Manager

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The ABI scheme provides low-cost office, research or production accommodation to start-up companies and provides business support services to around 1 450 start-ups per month. An innovative feature of the scheme is that participating companies can take advantage of ABI’s legal personality to run their own separate independent business whilst acting, from a legal point of view, as part of ABI. Participating start-ups also benefit from being able to cooperate on research projects with the leading Polish universities, who have a presence in the incubator accommodation. The ABI Business Link enterprise centres, meanwhile, are used by over 300 established companies per month. These centres offer companies a comfortable workplace, modern conference and meeting rooms, multimedia facilities and networking spaces. The programme has focussed on developing entrepreneurship and innovation in the fields of IT, software engineering, computer security, machining, bio-technology and robotics as well as other hightechnology fields. Advice is given on areas such as core financial and legal issues, book-keeping and marketing. Individual meetings with participating companies are organised to diagnose the needs of a company and the appropriate selection of tools needed to help promote the business, attract new customers or investors as well

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as to identify synergies between companies already operating within the ABI and ABI Business Link network. Meetings are also arranged between the companies and business mentors, and workshops are organised on a wide variety of business issues. Training sessions take place at least twice a week and are web-streamed via the Internet to all participating companies. The programme also administers a fund, ABI Seed Capital, from which to provide seed finance to innovative start-ups. This fund has so far invested PLN 9 million (EUR 2.09 million) in 51 start-up companies. The seed capital fund requires only 15 % equity shares for fixed investments of PLN 100 000 (around EUR 25 000).

Project Region Programme Duration of project Funding Website

Companies wishing to expand their businesses into international markets are supported with professional advice through a network of three start-up ‘embassies’ in China, the United States and the United Kingdom. The Road towards an Entrepreneurial Poland has organised two national conferences, five regional conferences, 36 publicity campaigns and more than 100 informational and promotional events in Poland’s largest cities. An annual international conference for innovative small- and medium-sized enterprises and corporations is organised in one of the countries where a network is operating.

The Road Towards Entrepreneurial Poland Mazowieckie, Poland Operational Programme Innovative Economy 2007-2013 10/2008 – 04/2015 EUR 15 800 000 of which EUR 11 400 000 is European funding (ERDF) http://www.przedsiebiorca.pl

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Smart growth • SME innovation

Supporting growth through innovative design

Art on Chairs The furniture industry has for years been one of the most important economic activities in the northern Portuguese city of Paredes and the city has the highest concentration of chair factories in Europe, accounting for 65 % of national furniture production. But although the industry was highly productive its image was old-fashioned and conservative. It was to capitalise on the region’s expertise in furniture construction and to stimulate creativity in the industry that the Art on Chairs project was devised. By focussing on the importance of design, the project has helped to breathe new life into this long-established sector of the regional economy and created new high value-added products.

‘The Art on Chairs seeks to combine art, design and creativity with the promotion of a sector – furniture – that is vital to the social, economic and cultural development of Paredes and to northern Portugal, via a structured set of initiatives of an artistic and creative nature. Why the chair? Because it’s a familiar object in our day-to-day living and a recurring icon in arts and design throughout history. In Paredes, the chair is also the main symbol of its more representative industry.’ Celso Ferreira, Mayor of Paredes Municipality

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The project culminated in 2012 in an international exhibition being held at Paredes which aimed to be the largest ever global event focussed on chairs, art and design. Before the Art on Chairs project got underway, the Portuguese furniture industry was not associated with innovative design but things are now changing. The chair was chosen as an emblem for the project as it is an everyday object but also an icon of the furniture industry. Aside from the international exhibition, the Art on Chairs project also included a wide variety of related activities designed to boost creativity in the furniture manufacturing sector and to stimulate cooperation between individual furniture designers and small to medium-sized manufacturing businesses. As part of the project, nine separate exhibitions were organised over a three-year period, in addition to other events such as workshops, concerts, guided tours, book presentations and four design competitions. The Art on Chairs International Design Competition received 449 applications from 37 countries and led to nine winning entries being prototyped by the local furniture industry. The winning projects were selected by an international jury and some of the prototypes were put into commercial production.

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Meanwhile, the More Design, More Industry international competition provided grants to nine Portuguese and foreign designers for residencies with local furniture companies.

and students and, potentially, the next generation of furniture manufacturers. The project also aimed to transfer knowledge and expertise from local universities to the furniture industry.

Another high-profile competition was based on dialogues between designers and celebrity personalities – such as the footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, the football manager José Mourinho and the businessman Luciano Benetton. The result was the design of eleven chairs which reflected the cultural heritage and life experience of the celebrity personality. In association with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the chairs were auctioned off and raised EUR 112 000, which was used to support educational projects in Africa. The participation of celebrities attracted international media attention and created a massive buzz around the project.

In total, 136 furniture products were designed over the course of the project. The publicity given to the project’s various events and the discussion they generated within the community has helped to transform attitudes within the furniture industry and has led to the successful launch of several new furniture products, some of which are being exported internationally. Many of the new products are premiumprice designer chairs but new furniture lines are also in production.

The Art on Chairs project involved the whole community, from chambers of commerce to businesses, municipal authorities, universities and schools. The educational aspect to the project was designed to stimulate interest in furniture design among pupils

Project Region Programme Duration of project Funding Website

Thirty-eight small to medium-sized enterprises in the region were actively involved in the project and 75 have registered their interest in being involved in the 2014 edition of the project. Seventy-seven designers were involved in the project, 54 000 visitors and participants attended project activities and 3 000 students from local schools and colleges took part in workshops and related activities.

Art on Chairs Norte, Portugal Operational Programme ‘Norte’ 2007-2013 01/2010 – 05/2013 EUR 1 096 000 of which EUR 931 000 is European funding (ERDF) http://www.cm-paredes.pt

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Smart growth • SME innovation

A catalyst for the launch of new products and services

NovaMedTech An ambitious cluster and networking project in the field of medical technology has, in its first five years, helped to bring over a dozen new products to market, and has led to the creation of 12 new companies and around 70 new jobs in the region of Eastern Central Sweden. The main aim of the NovaMedTech project is to boost entrepreneurship and innovation for bio-medical engineering and technology products by bringing together healthcare professional, academics and businesses. The project also aims to improve the quality of healthcare through the adoption of innovative technology and to increase knowledge in the field of bio-medical engineering. The project works by identifying innovative ideas for new products and services with commercial potential. Promising new product proposals are then supported in the transition from idea to reality through coaching, networking and the provision of capital grants.

‘NovaMedTech is working in a field with an enormous future potential for creating growth. Its model of taking care of ideas is unique as far as I know and we are following the progress of the project with great interest!’ Mr Anders Risberg, ERDF programme manager, Eastern Central Sweden

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So far, the project has helped bring a wide range of new products into being, such as advanced technology in hospital care (in the fields of brain surgery, magnetic resonance technology and radiology), aids for the care of the elderly (such as home equipment and bathroom aids) and information technology solutions (for example, journal systems and web services). A good example of a successful initiative is the Centre for Applied Autonomous Sensor Systems (AASS) at Örebro University which was helped to develop an electronic nose, or e-nose, for detecting bacterial species that cause infections such as Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus. The new e-nose allows for faster diagnosis of patients as long culture times are not necessary. This is particularly helpful in treating conditions such as the potentially fatal Sepsis. The NovaMedTech has undoubtedly contributed to the medical technology field of knowledge developed in Eastern Central Sweden and one of the project’s objectives is that the region should become a national leader in this field. Before it comes to an end in June 2014, NovaMedTech aims to have created 25 new companies, have identified 60 new innovations and strengthened around 60 companies in some form or other. The support could be in the field of raising skill and competence levels in a company, finding new customers or in some other respect.

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Partners in industry, academia and the healthcare sector are, as part of the project, encouraged to interact, co-operate and to share knowledge and best practice. The NovaMedTech cluster network includes a large number of international contacts in several countries.

The initiative, one of the largest such networks in Sweden, differs from other innovation schemes in that NovaMedTech supports innovators throughout the process of transforming an initial idea for a new product or service into a marketable commercial proposition.

The project organises conferences, workshop, seminars on subjects such as prototype development and market preparation. NovaMedTech also aims to identify knowledge gaps among partners and innovators and educational, training and other activities are arranged to raise competence levels.

In addition to receiving EU financial support, NovaMedTech also receives financing from the region’s universities, healthcare organisations and businesses. After the project comes to an end in 2014, its work will be continued with long-term financing from the academy and other national agencies in line with the Swedish government’s strategy for boosting innovation, growth and competitiveness.

Project Region Programme Duration of project Funding Website

NovaMedTech Őstra Mellansverige, Sweden Operational Programme Eastern Central Sweden 2007-2013 07/2008 – 06/2014 EUR 7 938 000 of which EUR 5 750 000 is European funding (ERDF) http://novamedtech.se/ http://www.imt.liu.se/

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Smart growth • SME innovation

Turning innovative ideas into commercial reality

Innovating for Growth The British Library in central London is the UK’s national library and holds the largest collection of published business and intellectual property (IP) information in the UK, if not the world. Launched in 2011, the Innovating for Growth project aims to support small businesses with big ambitions to transform their innovative ideas for expansion into a viable business plan. Intellectual property is an increasingly important means of supporting growth, especially in a knowledge-driven economy, and the UK has many highly innovative SMEs for whom the ability to protect their novel ideas is crucial to maintaining their competitive edge. Research has shown that only 6 % of SMEs obtain patent protection for their innovations, as opposed to 13 % of large firms. Furthermore, 37 % of the fastest-growing companies have a trade mark.

‘This project is a unique initiative in the United Kingdom, which supports growth by leveraging the British Library’s IP collections and expertise for the benefit of SMEs. By providing expert advice and support on successful IP commercialisation, the project facilitates innovation and helps SMEs to enter new markets, develop new products and services and build a brand presence.’ Christina Murphy, Innovating for Growth Project Manager, British Library

It was against this background, and a need to tackle the recession and an associated rise in unemployment, that the Innovating for Growth project was devised. The project is open to any small to medium-sized business in the London area and supports the whole innovation cycle from the initial idea, through to IP protection, exploitation and commercialisation. Because of the British Library’s formidable resources, no other business support provider in London can provide the depth and breadth of business and IP collections and expertise. New participants are recruited on a quarterly basis and selected by an independent panel. Over the course of three months, companies taking part in the project receive at least twelve hours of free customised face-to-face support, advice and mentoring on a wide variety of subjects such as accessing new markets, developing new products and services, branding, business strategy and how to maximise growth. The British Library’s unparalleled collection of business information allows companies to access market research reports, trade journals, up-to-the minute electronic databases on companies, markets and trends, as well as patent, trade mark and registered design specifications. Since the British Library is the library of the UK Intellectual Property Office, participating companies are particularly well-placed to protect and exploit their IP. Assistance is also provided by a dedicated information

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specialist, who helps SMEs to use these resources by providing training or facilitated research. Meanwhile, a dedicated relationship manager helps to ensure that companies complete their growth plan. The project also helps businesses and other organisations to collaborate and increase innovation by organising regular networking events, such as ‘Growth Club’ evenings, where SME owners have the opportunity to meet peers, share experience and best practice, spark ideas and develop new business opportunities. An example of a company that has been helped to grow as a result of the project is Aquatina, a small business that makes eco-friendly collapsible water bottles. The company initially received support on making a patent application. Following advice received from the project, the company rebranded

Project Region Programme Duration of project Funding Website

the product to ‘Ohyo’, partly to avoid a potential trademark infringement with a beverage manufacturer in the US called Aquafina. Thanks to the project’s support on protecting its IP and scaling up, the company has now secured an order with two of the UK’s largest supermarket chains and generated enough extra turnover to support two new full-time members of staff. So far 107 companies have taken advantage of the scheme and the aim is for 200 companies to take part by the end of 2015. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and 62 new jobs have been created as a result of the project. The target is for 200 new jobs to have been created by the time the four-year project is completed. It is estimated that every euro of public funds invested leads to an additional 39 euros being triggered in company turnover.

Innovating for Growth Inner London, United Kingdom London ERDF Programme 2007-2013 10/2011 – 09/2015 EUR 1 800 000 of which EUR 900 000 is European funding (ERDF) http://www.bl.uk/bipc/growth/innovating.html

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ETC

Smart growth • SME innovation

Getting ready for new high-tech business opportunities

Cluster for Accelerator Technology (CATE) Plans to build two world-class particle accelerators in southern Sweden have created business opportunities for companies in Sweden, Denmark and Norway to provide accelerator technology equipment. The establishment of a Cluster for Accelerator Technology (CATE) offers companies in the ÖresundKattegat-Skagerrak (ÖKS) Scandinavian cross-border region business development opportunities through the exchange of best practice and the sharing of knowledge. ‘The central objective of CATE is to strengthen the competitiveness of companies in the ÖKS region in the field of accelerators by means of technology transfer from the academy in three steps: tailor-made courses, organised study visits to research facilities in Europe, and “learning-by-doing” in a pilot project. CATE is strategically important for the region and has already helped to create corporate partnerships, cross-border collaborations and new business activities that would not have happened without CATE.’ Claes Fahlander, CATE Project Manager

The main aim of the INTERREG-funded CATE project is for high-tech companies to improve their chances of obtaining contracts for the design, construction and maintenance of the advanced accelerator technology equipment needed for the planned European Spallation Source (ESS) proton accelerator to be built at Lund and for the MAX-IV particle accelerator currently under construction, also at Lund. Development and maintenance work in the combined construction and operational phase of the ESS accelerator is expected to be around 40 years, so regional competence in this field should be in demand for a long time to come. The ESS and MAX-IV particle accelerators will primarily be used for research in the fields of material science, life sciences and medicine. But no company in the region has the capacity to build the highlyspecialised equipment needed on their own, so coordination of the efforts of companies with different types of specialised knowledge is necessary and in some areas the region’s competences must be improved. These competences include areas such as electron beam welding, the construction of vacuum tanks, the precision machining of high-purity copper and low-temperature technology. As a result of the CATE project, regional companies will have the opportunity to develop their competences in these and other highly-specialised fields. Participating organisations will be able to attend free,

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tailor-made courses and some will have the opportunity to build an accelerator module in collaboration with other companies, universities and experts from research facilities around Europe. Once the high-tech skills of local companies have been improved, the region’s companies will be better placed to take advantage of ESS and MAX-IV and of other large-scale research facilities around the world. The CATE project was initiated by researchers from universities in the ÖKS region together with regional councils, business organisations and the ESS. In total 80 companies and research institutes in the region are taking part in the CATE project. The project has produced a corporate booklet to help the companies to promote themselves internationally. This booklet contains details of companies with experience in fields such as materials processing, measurement technology, construction, control systems, engineering services, automation, cryogenics and radio frequency technology.

In addition to strengthening the competitiveness of regional companies through skills development, the CATE project has also helped to bolster cross-border research collaboration in basic science in the field of sub-atomic physics between the universities involved. The project has also raised awareness of the increasing importance of accelerator technology for the region and has already helped companies to attract new business. Because researchers and companies in the region have, through CATE, worked together collaboratively, this co-operation will hopefully continue in other high-tech projects in the future.

Project Cluster for Accelerator Technology (CATE) Region Hovedstaden, Midtjylland, Nordjylland, Sjalland, Denmark; Sydsverige, Västsverige, Sweden; Østlandet, Sørlandet, Norway Programme Interreg IVA Operational Programme Öresund – Kattegat – Skagerrak 2007 to 2013 Duration of project 01/2011 – 06/2014 Funding EUR 1 806 000 of which EUR 773 000 is European funding (ERDF) Website http://www.cateproject.org

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Sustainable growth • Green growth and jobs through Bio-economy

An innovative and personalised waste collection service

Ecoponto em Casa Portugal is not yet so well known for its waste-recycling prowess. The Ecoponto em Casa project set out to change this by introducing an innovative and userfriendly waste disposal system for the city of Maia’s 135 000 residents. This has dramatically improved the face of waste collection in the municipality and can be used as an example for the rest of the country.

Through the use of innovative technology and incentive-based invoicing, the project has been pivotal in increasing the amount of waste sent for recycling across the city. As a result, Maia’s recycling industry has grown, strengthening its bio-economy. Better urban health and safety standards have also been recorded.

Tags attached to the bins allow operators to track the number of times a container is set out for collection. This simplifies billing and supports the introduction of the ‘pay as you throw’ or PAYT principle; a process that rewards households and businesses that separate their rubbish, and penalises those that don’t.

Managed by local waste disposal company Maiambiente, the system uses wheeled bins for disposing of paper, packaging, glass, and other rubbish. In addition, each bin is equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology that supports the identification and traceability of waste.

The project has been a resounding success as is evidenced by its impressive results. Some 77 000 bins have been acquired for private use since the project began in 2010. In addition, 4 278 kg of waste was sent for recycling during the first quarter of 2013. This translates into a 56 % increase in the collection of packaging, while paper and glass removal has risen by 23 % and 29 % respectively. Overall, these figures represent a 33 % increase in recycled waste, compared to the first quarter of 2012.

‘Ecoponto em Casa is the biggest, more complex, innovative and sustainable project ever made in Portugal by a municipality, concerning urban waste management, and probably, one of the most effective examples of Cohesion Policy success.’ Carlos Mendes, CEO, Maiambiente

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Meanwhile, there has been a 10 % reduction in the amount of waste sent to landfill or incineration. All these results mean less pressure on natural resources, as well as cost savings. As rubbish is stored inside the bins and collected with automatic lifters, less physical effort is demanded from operators. There is also less risk of waste spillage on public streets as the rubbish bags are stored inside the containers. Overall, plastic bag use has decreased in the municipality, which is good news for the environment.

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Crucially, the collection frequency of non-recyclable waste has been reduced from three to two times per week, reducing costs fuel and labaour costs. At the same time jobs are actually being created in the recycling sector, in stark contrast to today’s tough economic climate, as recycling becomes more important and popular in the region.

Not only is the scheme the first door-to-door waste collection service in Portugal that covers an entire municipality; it is also unprecedented in that it collects paper, packaging, and glass separately. Another innovation in the project can be seen in the technology it uses; the RFID system is a first, as is the fact that the service will be taxed by a PAYT principle.

Awareness of the Ecoponto em Casa initiative was raised via a combination of advertising, social media, direct mailing, and events. In fact, one such awareness-raising event featured hundreds of students participating in a ‘flash mob’.

Ecoponto em Casa has taken great steps to reinforce the recycling industry in Maia, increasing waste to recycling, decreasing waste to landfill, and improving street cleaning. For the city’s residents, it is also seen as a more hygienic, effective, and fair waste disposal system.

Project Region Programme Duration of project Funding Website

Ecoponto em Casa Norte, Portugal Operational Programme ‘Norte’ 2007 – 2013 08/2010 – 07/2013 EUR 2 510 000 of which EUR 1 537 000 is European funding (ERDF) www.maiambiente.pt

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Sustainable growth • Green growth and jobs through Bio-economy

Meeting the demands of an ever increasing population

BEACON Experts predict that the world’s population will reach 9 billion by 2050 – an increase of 2 billion on current figures. This surge in population coupled with the growing threat of climate change will see demand for the planet’s resources increase dramatically. BEACON is an initiative that is building integrated ‘green supply chains’ to develop new routes to functional, cheap products using biomass rather than oil.

BEACON has a network of scientific expertise based at the Universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, and Swansea in Wales, UK. Through this network, the project is creating new jobs in rural Wales, stimulating inward investment and promoting Welsh scientific excellence at a global level.

BEACON has already assisted several companies in a variety of sectors to produce innovative products. For example, its collaboration with Aber Instruments in Aberystwyth has resulted in the Welsh biomass measurement company receiving its first order for biomass probes.

Specifically, the project team’s focus is on biorefining; a process that uses non-food crop feedstocks, in much the same way that oil refineries use crude oil, to produce a broad spectrum of commodity products. Biorefining is seen as crucial for the EU’s burgeoning bio-economy.

Other companies across Wales have benefited through the project’s business support seminars that demonstrate how BEACON can help commercialise their research and exploit intellectual property.

‘The BEACON project is providing a translational pipeline for research into low carbon bio-based technologies to benefit society. It is also rejuvenating the economy by identifying sustainable alternatives for fossil fuels as well as creating new green jobs.’ Professor Iain Donnison, BEACON Director and Project Coordinator.

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Another key feature of the BEACON initiative is its supply chains. There are currently over 70 companies actively involved in various supply chains under BEACON, ranging from animal production and grain milling to food production. A network is thus being formed across the supply chain that is promoting the transfer of knowledge between all involved. One such company is The Mushroom Garden, which cultivates a variety of mushrooms such as shiitake, oyster, and chestnut. The BEACON team extracted a natural product from the company’s shiitake mushroom to explore the potential to create new co-products such as mushroom ketchup and stock cubes. Once commercialised, these new products will have a positive impact on the business, resulting in more sales, increased profit, and new green jobs.

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BEACON has developed biorefinery options based on a number of feedstocks that grow well on marginal land. It has also actively promoted a move to materials using plants and plant residues that will not compete with food crops. The members of the BEACON platform not only develop green solutions that reduce reliance on fossil-based resources such as oil and coal. They are also encouraged to optimise their operations by increasing productivity and reducing their energy consumption, and use of other resources.

Project Region Programme Duration of project Funding Website

BEACON’s regional partnerships have accelerated throughout 2012 and 2013. The project team has, for example, been active within Europe as part of the Climate-KIC consortium – described as a ‘European network of innovators’ – set up by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. In addition, international collaborations include those with the University of Georgia in the United States and the University of Windsor in Canada. In the longer term, BEACON wants to ensure that the Welsh economy has the intellectual property, infrastructure, and expertise to take the lead in producing bio-based fuels and biomass sources of bulk chemicals. It is also looking to attract significant long-term inward investment and develop skilled researchers in green biotechnology by offering PhD programmes.

BEACON West Wales and the Valleys, United Kingdom West Wales and the Valleys Convergence Operational Programme 2007–2013 12/2010 – 06/2015 EUR 22 987 000 of which EUR 11 917 000 is European funding (ERDF) www.beaconwales.org

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Sustainable growth • Green growth and jobs through Bio-economy

Securing North-West Europe’s biomass energy supply

ARBOR Regions and municipalities across North-West Europe are trying to find ways to meet the ever-increasing energy demands on our resources by producing biomass. However, greater coordination and commercial know-how are required. With partners in Benelux, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom, the ARBOR project is addressing the urgent supply and demand issues around this biological material. The ultimate goal is to make the EU a world-class centre for biomass production. European transnational cooperation is crucial as it could kick-start European, national, and local strategies for the sustainable production of biomass. ARBOR’s innovative transnational approach provides smart solutions to help address individual country supply and demand issues around biomass. Innovative pilot projects have informed implementation of biomass energy transformation solutions and the project significantly helps to reach the achievement of targets set in the National Renewable Energy Action Plans for renewable energy by 2020.

‘The ARBOR project is unique in that it is looking at the whole biomass energy supply chain – from manufacturing to energy production. It also intends to stimulate job creation in the biomass industry across Europe and correct regional disparities in its production.’ Dr Sacha Oberweis, Project Manager ARBOR

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ARBOR brings together key stakeholders involved in the various stages of the biomass supply-chain. These include academics who teach and research in biomass, local authorities actively piloting novel experimentation with biomass, and manufactures who assist in exploring new methods and processes. The consortium has realised the importance of transnational cooperation and has established a number of pilot projects aimed at sourcing and exploiting biomass materials across North-West Europe. One such project is taking place in Stoke-on-Trent in the UK, where waste-wood is being sourced from the management of parks and green areas. Another can be found in Saarland, Germany and involves the production of biomass from organic waste and sewage sludge. Meanwhile, in the Campine region of Belgium, the project team is exploring biomass production from soils that are unfit for agricultural use or during periods that are unsuitable for food crop production. Beyond pilot projects, various conversion technologies are also being used for demonstration purposes and include a biomass gasifier to produce combustible gases from wood. These demonstrations serve the purpose of presenting solutions to businesses and indeed municipalities looking to produce heat and power from waste. In fact, ARBOR has seen the

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Centre of Excellence for Biomass to Energy (CEBE) at Staffordshire University become a transnational focal point, uniting stakeholders wishing to learn at firsthand how to manage a biomass system. The ARBOR partnership is keen to establish itself as the most important network of biomass experts across North-West Europe. The team hopes this network will eventually be in a position to advise all potential investors across the region on how to create biomass supply chains. It will also continue to look at ways of exploiting sources of biomass previously considered unsuitable due to economic, political, or environmental reasons.

However, unlike previous projects on biomass that focused only on one element of biomass, ARBOR takes a ‘cradle-to-grave’ approach, covering all aspects of the supply chain. This will result in an effective methodology for greater biomass utilisation across the region that is essential for a healthy bio-economy and green growth. In the longer term, the consortium has devised an action plan to sustain the project’s results well into the future. Staffordshire University’s Centre of Excellence will play a key role in making this plan come to fruition. Several links between ARBOR and other European projects have been identified and a number of partners have already gone on to submit bids for funding support that will further capitalise on ARBOR’s impressive results.

Project ARBOR Region West Midlands, UK (leading); Prov. Oost-Vlaanderen, Prov. West-Vlaanderen, Belgium; Saarland, Germany; Dublin, Ireland; Luxembourg; Gelderland, Utrecht, Netherlands Programme INTERREG IV-B North West Europe 2007-2013 Duration of project 09/2009 – 03/2015 Funding EUR 7 362 000 of which EUR 3 717 000 is European funding (ERDF) Website www.arbornwe.eu

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Sustainable growth • Green growth and jobs through Bio-economy

The next generation of solar cells

ORGANEXT Exploiting organic nanomaterials such as ultra-thin solar cells has huge market potential. To reach this potential, ORGANEXT has united research institutes, companies and policy makers to develop sustainable applications in renewable energies and nanoelectronics. Including project partners from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, ORGANEXT has created jobs, reduced fossil fuel dependence, and improved both the economic and environmental sustainability of production processes in a wide array of products. And its goals are directly in line with the Europe 2020 strategy, which stresses the need for attaining economic growth in a sustainable manner.

The project combined the strengths of various regional research institutes to form a virtual Euregional Nanomaterials Analysis Lab, in which each partner had its specific competences. This was a cost-effective solution that stimulated the use of organic materials and a reduction in fossil fuel dependence. It also provided small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with access to state-of-the-art equipment and expertise.

Organic nanomaterials have the potential to offer intelligent and sustainable solutions in a number of industries. However, until recently, it was only the public research institutes that had the necessary expertise in this area. For the very first time, ORGANEXT provided a platform for companies to learn from these institutes so that they could develop and commercialise new products using cutting edge technology based on organic materials.

Under the project’s four-year lifespan, electro-optical applications like intelligent coatings, biosensors, electrical circuits, and solar cells were developed using low cost production techniques. These low cost production techniques have had a knock-on effect as they give SMEs the chance to compete and enter the market, creating green jobs and strengthening the bio-economy.

‘ORGANEXT clusters high-level research centres, companies and policy makers of Euregio Maas-Rhein towards the development of next-generation organic opto-electronics and solar cells for an intelligent and sustainable future.’ Prof. Dr. Jean V. Manca, Hasselt University and ORGANEXT Project Coordinator

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In addition, much less material was required to arrive at the same functionality, which has resulted in a more sustainable use of resources. Technological innovation – in both printable electronics and organic solar cells – has been a key feature of ORGANEXT. An exciting example is the organic photovoltaic window that can be integrated into the sustainable house of the future. Another is the printable solar cell that can be embedded in textiles and even curved surfaces. In fact, advances under ORGANEXT have been so impressive that experts are now predicting that the project could lead to the development of the next generation of solar cells.

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Another key feature of ORGANEXT has been education and training initiatives informing the business community about the potential of organic nanomaterials. Young researchers have also been targeted to further promote and develop the concept of bioeconomy across the EU. The results speak for themselves. Under ORGANEXT, more than 43 companies have set up product development and testing trajectories, while 1 670 individuals have been directly involved in cross-border cooperation projects. 76 initiatives to educate and inform business partners on the economic and ecological possibilities have been carried out, and overall, some 663 people have been trained, surpassing the original target of 270.

Project Region Programme Duration of project Funding Website

Information about the project’s impact has also been disseminated to a wide audience; for example, its results have been published in a total of 52 academic publications. These results all point to ORGANEXT having the potential to position Europe at the forefront of an important segment of the bio-economy. Due to the success of ORGANEXT, the project has already been presented as an example of good practice in an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) benchmark study on crossborder innovation policy.

ORGANEXT Prov. Liège (leading), Prov. Limburg, Belgium; Köln, Germany; Limburg, Netherlands INTERREG IV-A Euregio Meuse-Rhine 2007-2013 07/2009 – 06/2013 EUR 7 491 000 of which EUR 3 746 000 is European funding (ERDF) www.organext.org

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Inclusive growth • Creating jobs for the young generation

Tackling the scourge of youth unemployment

Einstiegszeit: All aboard for Young People in Brandenburg A highly successful youth employment programme aimed at the under 30s in the Brandenburg region of Germany succeeded in placing 2 231 skilled young people in employment between 2009 and 2012. During the same period more than 2 100 businesses were provided with support in the field of human resources and organisational development. Since the reunification of Germany, the federal state of Brandenburg has suffered from high levels of youth unemployment, particularly in the rural areas close to the border with Poland. Until 2010, less than half of all apprentices in the region were retained by the companies in which they had completed their training. This is in stark contrast to a retention rate around 10 % to 15 % higher in the western federal states of Germany.

‘The programme “Einstiegszeit” brings together qualified unemployed young people with small- and medium-sized enterprises who are facing skills shortages. Through personnel and organisational development in the light of shortages and at the same time skills shortages, success stories and future perspectives for young people in the region should be created.’ Peter Wölffling, Managing Director IHK-Projektgesellschaft mbH

IHK-Projektgesellschaft mbH OSTBRANDENBURG

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It was to combat this problem – and the fact that the longer young people remain outside the labour market the harder it generally becomes for them to find a job – that the Einstiegszeit programme was devised. The programme was originally piloted in five locations in eastern Brandenburg before being rolled out to 10 locations throughout the region. The programme works by targeting two groups: on the one hand, providing support to youths who have completed vocational education and training, and on the other hand, supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their recruitment planning. The project aims to enhance cooperation between regional actors in the labour market; it also seeks to better connect youth policies with bodies such as employment agencies, jobcentres, chambers of commerce, education providers, and state agencies. Part of the reasoning behind the twin target approach is that, while SMEs form the backbone of the region’s economy and employment, they are often unable to invest sufficiently in human resources and organisational development. As a result, fewer new jobs are created. Eingstiegszeit’s main strength is that both jobseekers and companies receive consultation services from a single source. Young people who have been given a placement as part of the programme are coached for a period of six months after taking up their jobs, in order to assist

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them in sustaining employment longer-term. The programme also helps young women in career planning. Furthermore, it offers a subsidy of around EUR 1 000 to provide hired skilled workers with additional qualifications. Around 45 % of the young people placed during the programme were women. Of the total of 2 231 placements made up to 2012, 75 % were for fulltime positions and the remaining 25 % were parttime. Over half of the workers placed in part-time jobs were able to work towards further qualifications in their remaining time. To date, 75 % of the hired workers have received permanent contracts upon programme completion and 95 % continue to work for the companies they were placed with. It is thought that a significant number of these skilled workers would not be employed without

Project Region Programme Duration of project Funding Website

the help of the Einstiegszeit programme. It is also likely that many SMEs in Brandenburg would otherwise have faced a skilled-worker shortage, as most SMEs do not have the resources necessary for staff planning and development. The programme therefore helped to safeguard the future of the companies involved. Project results show that a customised approach for the placement and support of young unemployed people has been effective in integrating people into the workforce at a reasonable cost. Einstiegszeit has also contributed to a reduction in the brain drain effect experienced by Brandenburg in recent years, whereby qualified young people left the region because of an inability to find work. In addition, the unemployment level has been reduced, the next generation of skilled workers has been ensured, and career opportunities for women have been improved.

Einstiegszeit für Jugendlichen in Brandenburg (All aboard for Young People in Brandenburg) Brandenburg, Germany ‘Brandenburg’ Operational Programme 2007-2013 01/2009 – 12/2013 EUR 13 337 000 of which EUR 9 836 000 is European funding (ESF) www.ez-brandenburg.de

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Inclusive growth • Creating jobs for the young generation

Motivating young people to explore new career opportunities

SAS – Springboard for the Active Guidance of Young Job-seekers Combating a sense of failure and hopelessness among young people who have been unemployed for long periods of time is one of the central purposes behind a highly successful programme part-funded by the European Social Fund in the central French region of Limousin. Around 70 % of young people who have participated in the programme found employment or enrolled in a vocational training programme within months of taking part. ’For young people in rural areas or underprivileged neighbourhoods, unemployment means social dropout and disintegration. Thanks to EU Cohesion Policy, the SAS project fosters their active inclusion through strong team-building and experiences in unfamiliar work environments. It raises young people from the position of victims of a difficult economic situation to the position of new opportunity players. Thus it empowers them to a dynamic re-launch of both professional and personal projects.’ Jean-Paul Denanot, President of the Limousin Region

Limousin is a predominantly rural region of France with high youth unemployment and a limited number of training opportunities for young people. Low family incomes add to mobility difficulties in travelling around the sparsely-populated region, often making periods of unemployment a particularly isolating experience for young people. The SAS project (Springboard for the Active Guidance of Young Job-seekers) specifically targets young people less than 26 years old who have been looking for a job for over a year. The aim is to tackle the loss of confidence that long-term unemployment has on the psyche of young people by engaging them in a three-month intensive programme of job-related activities. The programme creates a sense of group dynamics in which young people are motivated or re-motivated to expand their professional experience of the world of work. Above all, the project aims to instil a feeling of professional empowerment among young people which will give them the confidence and self-esteem to look for work independently. As part of the programme, each participant takes part in a group activity of their choice such as a theatrical performance or charity event, creating a website, a video-clip, a magazine or an exhibition. The aim is to push young people to overcome their isolation or

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shyness and to help them develop teamwork skills. Facilitators work alongside the young people, but their role is to help participants not to lead them. This approach stresses that facilitators do not dictate to young people what is best for them, but leave participants to discover this for themselves. Young people taking part in the programme are also given the opportunity to explore a variety of professional fields that might be unrelated to their background, experience or previous qualifications. Group activities aim to develop curiosity about new fields of work that participants may not previously have considered. They are encouraged to talk about their unfulfilled dreams about the world of work and to share their thoughts on why they are attracted to work in specific fields of employment. Included in the programme are opportunities to make contact with business enterprises and chambers of commerce, receive coaching and the provision of information on vocational training.

In line with the Europe 2020 strategy, the project aims to raise the employment rate of the region’s workforce from 69 % to at least 76 %. It also aims to reduce the share of early school leavers to 10 % from the current 15 % and to increase the share of the population aged 30-34 with tertiary education from 31 % to at least 40 %. The programme is held at ten sites around Limousin, with at least one session per quarter being organised at each of six main sites. So far over 500 companies, associations or local authorities have been involved in the project. In total, 71 sessions have been held or are planned and 738 people have participated. Around 75 % of participants surveyed found a ‘positive solution’ by the end of attending the programme, of which 30 % found jobs, 12.5 % found a vocational training opportunity adapted to their needs and interests, and 32 % said that they were very close to finding a job or training opportunity as a result of their participation.

The SAS programme provides each participant with a grant of EUR 340 per month for the duration of the three-month course. Participants also receive EUR 300 to pay for expenses.

Project Region Programme Duration of project Funding Website

SAS – Springboard for the Active Guidance of Young Job-seekers Limousin, France European Social Fund Regional Operational Programme 2007-2013 04/2011 – 12/2013 EUR 940 000 of which EUR 224 000 is European funding (ESF) http://www.belim.fr/Mon-avenir-professionnel/Sas-jeunes-Orientation-active-vers-l-emploi

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Inclusive growth • Creating jobs for the young generation

Mobility scheme aims to create new jobs in Umbria

Ideas! New Enterprises! A business support project in the Umbria region of Italy has been lending a helping hand to young entrepreneurs with fresh ideas for starting their own business, by providing grants for them to spend time in other EU countries in order to gain first-hand experience of doing business in an international environment. The Ideas! New Enterprises! project also provides young entrepreneurs with mentoring and professional business advice on marketing, communications and market analysis.

‘The strength of “Ideas! New Enterprises!” is to allow people with an innovative business idea to gain work experience in a European context as well as to build networks which may become an asset during their entrepreneurial path. In addition to giving the opportunity to learn how companies are working in Europe, the project offers financial assistance to start-ups in their first year of activity, a highly risky period when young entrepreneurs often find it difficult to obtain financial resources.’ Anna Ascani, Director, Umbria Research Agency

To take part in the scheme, entrepreneurs were required to live in Umbria, have a certificate of secondary education and to have a good knowledge of the English language. Candidates who met these requirements were then assessed on the basis of their motivation, reliability, the market potential of their business proposal, and its environmental and financial sustainability. A wide range of sectors were involved in the scheme, from pharmaceuticals to tourism. The candidates selected to participate displayed creativity, a high level of technological innovation, and an environmentally friendly business approach in their application. Of the 45 applications to take part in the scheme, 28 entrepreneurs under the age of 35 were selected to spend up to six months in companies and organisations in France, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, and Poland. The host organisations in other EU countries included a range of businesses, research institutes, science parks, and business incubators. During their traineeship, beneficiaries of the scheme received face-toface mentoring with other support services via the internet and conference calls. The programme organisers helped to match applicants with potential European host organisations that monitored the trainee while abroad, evaluated the project during its various phases, assessed progress, and compiled a final report.

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An example of such an exchange student is Luca Rufini, who spent time in the editorial offices of the London listings magazine Time Out. Luca’s aim is to publish a bilingual listings magazine covering events in Rome, Milan and Perugia. The opportunity to train with Time Out – one of the world’s leading listings magazines and a global brand – was invaluable, Luca said, as Italy lacks magazines that list cultural, social, and sporting events in its cities.

The programme was devised to address a high rate of youth unemployment in Umbria, which in 2010 was running at 21 %. The programme was also conceived, at least in part, to address a steady decline in the proportion of young people living in Umbria, caused by changing demographics. This has in recent years led to Umbria having a far higher proportion of older people than most other parts of Italy and a far higher rate than the EU average.

In addition to mobility grants to enable travel to other EU countries, the Ideas! New Enterprises! project also provided financial support to the young entrepreneurs after they had returned to Umbria, following their period abroad. This financial support helped with the cost of drawing up business plans and other start-up costs, including the purchase or leasing of equipment, machinery, or tools required for new production plants.

The project achieved its primary goal of contributing to job creation in the region by boosting competitiveness and innovation. In total, nine new enterprises were successfully created at the end of the project, and all of these are financially sustainable.

Project Region Programme Duration of project Funding Website

Ideas! New Enterprises! Umbria, Italy European Social Fund Regional Operational Programme Umbria 2007-2013 12/2008 – 12/2013 EUR 550 000 of which EUR 236 000 is European funding (ESF) www.aur-umbria.it/progetti_home.htm

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Inclusive growth • Creating jobs for the young generation

Inspiring young people to transform their lives

Fifteen Cornwall Apprenticeship Programme A restaurant in one of England’s most economically disadvantaged areas is giving young people the chance to train as chefs. Inspired by the celebrity TV chef Jamie Oliver, the Fifteen Cornwall restaurant is part of a public-private social enterprise with a mission to empower those who need a second or third chance to turn their lives around. The county of Cornwall in south-west England is the only region of England to qualify for EU Convergence funding and unemployment is a fact of life for many disadvantaged young people. Since 2006, a Jamie Oliver-branded restaurant in Newquay has been giving troubled 16 to 24 year olds in the region the opportunity to train as chefs within

‘More than a training restaurant, Jamie Oliver’s inspired Fifteen Cornwall restaurant has created over one hundred new jobs and invests one million pounds a year into local sourcing. Developed through the ERDF, the social enterprise reinvests profits alongside mainstream funds and the ESF to transform young people’s lives.’ Matthew Thomson, Chief Executive Officer of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall restaurant and the Cornwall Foundation of Promise.

a nationally-recognised 15-month intensive apprenticeship programme. All trainees were previously unemployed and many are dealing with serious challenges such as suspended prison sentences, criminal records, substance misuse, mental illness, disability or domestic abuse, as well as a lack of education and training. The apprenticeship programme has an annual intake of around 20 trainees who work in the restaurant’s kitchen for a year and gain the skills needed to make it as professional chefs. Before starting their twelve months of training at the restaurant, trainees spend three months in full-time training at Cornwall College and also gain work experience at other restaurants. After completing their apprenticeships, further work placements are organised at some of the country’s top restaurants, often leading to long-term jobs. The critically-acclaimed restaurant was built with financial backing from the European Regional Development Fund and is owned by the Cornwall Foundation of Promise, a charity specifically set up to run the training programme at Fifteen Cornwall. Profits from the restaurant have risen year on year and are reinvested in the programme, thereby reducing the reliance on European Social Fund support for participants. Key to the programme’s success is a unique welfare support system that helps young people access the programme, stay on board and overcome any personal or family-related barriers that hold them back.

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The welfare element of the programme helps trainees to overcome these and other social problems though intensive coaching and psycho-therapeutic techniques. This pastoral aspect of the programme has had significant positive benefits and transformative effects for the individuals concerned as well as the wider community, with only 10 % of the 45 offenders to pass through the programme so far re-offending. Over 90 % of former Fifteen Cornwall apprentices are still in employment after leaving the programme. In seven years, almost 130 young people have passed through the kitchen doors and 89 have graduated as chefs with professional qualifications. Of these, 80 % still have full-time jobs in the restaurant industry as a result of the programme and some are now working as head chefs.

The restaurant invests around one million pounds a year back into the local economy through a local produce sourcing policy, creating around 15 jobs in the restaurant’s supply chain. Together with the 75 year-round jobs in the restaurant and charity, the project has created 90 new jobs in addition to the 89 apprenticeships so far completed. A recent survey of 2 400 tourism-related businesses in the region concluded that vacancies for chefs are amongst the hardest to fill. The programme has therefore helped to meet the region’s needs for highlytrained staff in a key growth sector.

Project Fifteen Cornwall Apprenticeship Programme Region Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom Programme England and Gibraltar Convergence, Competitiveness and Employment Operational Programme 2007-2013 Duration of project 05/2006 – 04/2015 Funding EUR 5 882 000 of which EUR 2 537 000 is European funding (ERDF/ESF) Website http://www.fifteencornwall.co.uk/cornwallfoundationofpromise.php

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Inclusive growth • Creating jobs for the young generation

Encouraging entrepreneurship among young people

Mini Europe A programme to encourage youth entrepreneurship in Sweden has been successfully transplanted to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands as part of the cross-border Mini Europe project. The Summer Entrepreneur training programme for start-ups held in central Sweden was identified as an example of best practice that should be replicated in other regions. Under the Summer Entrepreneur programme, students aged between 14 and 20 gathered together to discuss and receive training on setting up their own micro-enterprises. The three-year Mini Europe project initially involved similar workshops being held in the Dutch province of Flevoland, before being rolled out to the northwest of England (UK), as well as other municipalities in the Netherlands.

‘Mini Europe really stimulated innovation and entrepreneurship in regions from new and old Member States. The international spreading of “Summer Entrepreneur”, a programme to stimulate business creation by young people, is a great example. It was very inspiring to contribute to European economic development and cohesion by participating in this project.’ Jan Nico Appelman, Deputy King’s Commissioner, Province of Flevoland

The programme is widely credited with raising awareness about entrepreneurship not only among the youth of Sweden, the Netherlands, and England but also among politicians and policy-makers. The programme has encouraged the implementation of entrepreneur-friendly policies that have been welcomed by vocational training schools, entrepreneurial networks, regional development agencies, universities, banks, municipalities, and entrepreneurs themselves. In 2010 in Flevoland, 47 young people applied to attend the training programme of which 35 were selected and subsequently attended five-days of training on setting up their own businesses. Following the summer vacation, 16 of the 35 young people successfully continued and registered their businesses with the local chamber of commerce. The areas of business activity were varied: from the design of new websites, to the construction of garden benches from old chicken sheds, to the launch of an agency for organising events. In 2013, two years after the formal end of the Mini Europe project, 65 young people had attended the training programme. The main achievements of the Mini Europe project include the exchange and improvement of regional policies, in eight European regions, on the development of small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In particular, the project addressed issues such as the need for greater involvement in entrepreneurship

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from under-represented groups, such as minorities, disabled people, women, and young people. By encouraging inter-regional networking and the bringing together of experts, stakeholders, and practitioners from eight EU Member States, the project has successfully promoted entrepreneurship through the exchange of experience and good practice between the partner regions. The success of Mini Europe in encouraging entrepreneurship as well as in creating jobs and economic growth has led to the creation of a new INTERREG IVC project called Smart Europe which has continued the work of Mini Europe from 2012 onwards. Aside from bringing a version of the Summer Entrepreneur programme to the Netherlands and northwest England, Mini Europe was also involved in the

transfer of inter-regional good practice in the fields of financial engineering tools for SMEs, internationalisation, and cluster development. In addition to the partnerships in the UK and Sweden, Mini Europe also created inter-regional partnerships with programmes in Spain, Hungary, Romania, Greece, and Italy. Cooperation and exchange of best practice between north-west England and Észak Alföld in Hungary led to clusters in Hungary helping to write a handbook on the internationalisation of clusters. Meanwhile, another example of a good practice programme – which aims to bolster creativity within companies with no experience of design – was successfully transferred from central Sweden to the UK. The Summer Design Office project involves placing design students within companies, thereby giving the students the opportunity to gain interesting and substantial work experience.

Project Mini Europe Region Flevoland, Netherlands (leading); Dytiki Ellada, Greece; Észak-Alföld, Hungary; Veneto, Italy; Maramureş, Romania; Comunidad Valenciana, Spain; Mellersta Norrland, Sweden; North West England, United Kingdom Programme INTERREG IVC Programme 2007-2013 Duration of project 09/2008 – 11/2011 Funding EUR 1 992 000 of which EUR 1 555 000 is European funding (ERDF) Website http://interreg-minieurope.com

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CityStar • Investment projects in sustainable urban public transport

Major upgrade for Gdynia’s trolleybus system

Development of pro-ecological public transport in tri-city metropolitan area A major upgrade to the Gdynia trolleybus system has increased passenger numbers and reduced travel times significantly, benefiting the environment, residents and the local economy of the Tricity area – Gdynia, Gdańsk and Sopot – in the Pomorskie region of northern Poland. By addressing the network infrastructure and the trolleybus fleet, the project aims to improve quality of service and make the environmentally-friendly public transport more competitive in relation to private transport. The improvements have, in turn, rebuilt the image of public transport in Gdynia. The investment has enabled the purchase of 28 new low-floor trolleybuses, equipped with state of the art features, and which constitutes a much needed fleet of modern, high-quality and eco-friendly transport. The main technical works saw the entire traction network being rebuilt along the streets of Al. Zwycięstwa in Gdynia and Al. Niepodległości in Sopot together with the trolleybus loop in Reja Street. This mammoth task involved replacing or upgrading all traction posts,

‘The project supports a low-carbon economy. Less pollution is good news for the sustainable development of the Pomorskie region and its economy.’ Mieczyslaw Struk, Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship

network poles and installing the entire overhead wire system from scratch. Four new substations were built and five existing substations upgraded, which has improved the power supply system to the overall network. The construction of a high-tech Remote Control Centre, which uses Internet and mobile connections to control all the substations, has greatly improved the flow of trolleybus traffic. These major investments in both infrastructure and trolleybuses have generated time and cost savings for operators and travellers alike, and substantially revived the image of public transport in the city. This has resulted in more people using the services on a regular basis. In fact, it has been estimated that some 500 000 extra passengers will be using the system by 2014. With more people using public transport, comes a decrease in CO2 emissions from private transport and estimates are already showing that pollution from cars has dropped. A marked decrease in traffic congestion and indeed accidents has also been recorded. Overall, less pollution and a reduction in the number of accidents has brought about tangible benefits to the economy. The modern fleet of trolleybuses has brought a sense of comfort and security for passengers in Gdynia. Today, the new low-floor fleet is accessible to people with disabilities, elderly people and passengers travelling with children in prams.

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The new trolleybus traction and the greater, more reliable power supply have reduced the number of delays and breakdowns. The trolleybuses also travel faster, reducing travel times. It is estimated that quicker travel times will translate into economic benefits of some 49.92 million PLN (approximately EUR 11.79 million) per year.

Initial results indicate that the project is already making a significant contribution to the regional transport and development strategies for the Pomorskie region by popularising public transport, improving public transport management and improving safety. Indeed the project symbolises the renaissance of the trolleybus in Europe.

Overall, the project has contributed to the urban and metropolitan development of the Tricity area by establishing a sustainable, efficient and environmentally-friendly public transport system that provides both accessibility and a high quality of service. This in turn will add to inward investment and boost tourism to the region.

A public awareness campaign carried out in parallel by the Public Transport Authority in Gdynia has shown the changing attitudes and habits of young people in particular regarding their transport behaviour: today, more people are using public transport.

Project City Programme Duration of project Funding Website

Development of pro-ecological public transport in Tricity metropolitan area Gdynia, Poland Regional Operational Programme for Pomorskie Voivodeship 2007-2013 01/2010 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 06/2013 EUR 24 424 000 of which EUR 13 428 000 is European funding (ERDF) www.pktgdynia.pl

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CityStar • Investment projects in sustainable urban public transport

New transport system brings new opportunities

Ecological transport Kielce is a city in Eastern Poland that has traditionally suffered from a lack of investment in its transport system. The area has also seen intensive growth in its automotive industry. The largest infrastructure project the city has ever known is improving the situation while enhancing quality of life for its residents. The ‘Transport in Kielce’ project has taken a combined approach to urban transport innovation, with investment in public transport infrastructure, a new vehicle fleet and improved traveller information. The quality, safety and image of the public transport system have vastly increased, as has the level of infrastructure and traffic flows. The project has already brought economic and social benefits to Kielce, with the city now seen as a better place to live, work, visit and crucially, invest in.

‘Transport in Kielce is based on complete solutions that involve both unblocking roads and improving the safety and comfort of passengers on public transport. Its implementation gives our city a real opportunity for successful and sustainable development.’ Wojciech Lubawski, Mayor of Kielce

This transformation is brought about by the 40 modern and ecologically-friendly buses being added to the city’s fleet, and new technology such as electronic display boards and ticket systems both on board buses and in stations. The project has also seen the construction of new roads, junctions, bus bays, termini and underground pedestrian passages across the city, which are easing travel and improving road infrastructure. With the improved transport systems comes a marked improvement in the quality of life of Kielce’s citizens. In fact, more people look set to use the transport system due to the increase in the number of bus lines both in the Kielce metropolitan area and its suburbs. There are now better communication links with neighbouring municipalities, as well as within the city centre. The city’s residents feel safer and more comfortable using public transport – this is due to shorter travel times, increased vehicle safety and less accidents occurring. Overall, the expansion and modernisation of the city’s transport infrastructure will add to the mobility of its citizens, offering up a whole new set of work and study opportunities. In the long term, better jobs will benefit the economy in Kielce and surrounding areas. The project is taking the needs of disabled persons seriously as can be seen in the acoustic voice system

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enabling blind and partially sighted users to access vital information such as timetables and routes. The innovative features of the IT system are all interconnected, offering the passenger a far superior service than previously. For example, the electronic information monitors are connected to the passenger information system, enabling travellers to see the exact arrival time of buses at every stop. A website has also been launched complete with a search engine that allows commuters to access useful arrival and departure information by entering a specific line number or bus stop. In addition, information monitors are installed on bus stops and hubs on busy routes. An innovative android application is available for download, where passengers can check arrival and departure times in real time.

Project City Programme Duration of project Funding Website

The realisation of the project will strengthen the development potential and opportunities for the City of Kielce and its metropolitan area. The project has also significantly contributed to national and regional transport and development objectives. The works complement several other EU-funded projects in the region. In fact, Kielce is in the process of completing a number of other infrastructure projects like overpasses and road junctions worth a total of 670 million PLN (approximately EUR 157 million) bringing further improvements and benefits to the city’s transport system.

Transport in Kielce Kielce, Poland ‘Development of Eastern Poland’ Operational Programme 2007-2013 04/2007 – 12/2013 EUR 69 630 000 of which EUR 53 620 000 is European funding (ERDF) www.projektkomunikacyjny.kielce.eu www.kielce.eu

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CityStar • Investment projects in sustainable urban public transport

Modern public transport hub for Swansea city centre

Swansea City Bus Station The new Swansea City Bus Station, which was formally opened to the public in December 2010, is clean, safe, light and airy with modern facilities including direct and convenient access to the adjacent Quadrant Shopping Centre. Surveys carried out since its opening indicate that passenger numbers have risen, as have feelings of personal security. Thousands of passengers a day are now enjoying a bus station which is clean and safe with all the modern conveniences one would expect. These include a separate arrival and departure lounge for coach passengers and easy access to a new taxi rank. Accessibility for disabled passengers is a vital component of the bus station’s design.

contrasted floor tiling and the provision of a tactile strip in the floor assist blind and partially sighted users, and these are complemented by the RNIB React system of audible messaging and a tactile map of the bus station. Twenty bus bays are now provided for commuters and shoppers, and there are an additional three coach bays.

New technological features include electronic information and touch screen displays at each departure bay, overhead information screens, a travel information office and automatic doors which open only when buses pull onto the departure bay. Colour

Footfall in the local area was fully restored in the first year of the bus station’s opening. In fact, it has already grown by 28 % for the link into the adjacent shopping centre. Passenger figures have also increased – by approximately 5 % to 9.19 million per year. This rise complements a 10 % increase reported on the metro service following its opening in 2009.

‘Swansea City Bus Station is an excellent transport interchange facility, which acts as a gateway to South West Wales. Its inclusive design provides a range of high quality features which promote accessibility for all users.’ Chris Vinestock, Head of Transportation, City and County of Swansea

In order to gauge the passengers’ view, various surveys have been carried out since the bus station opened. Formerly, in 2006, 60 % of respondents felt that the old bus station’s appearance was ‘very or fairly poor’. In 2011, the picture was very different with 93 % of those surveyed saying that the new bus station was ‘very or fairly good’. Perceptions of public safety have also risen with 93 % of respondents saying that they now feel safe while using the bus station during evening hours. This high figure is also down to the fact that bus station rangers or security staff are available day and night to guide visitors and ensure they are safe. Previously, public transport interchange in Swansea was spread to locations around the city centre. The renovation of the bus station has consolidated the

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provision of public transport bus services, park and ride, long-distance coach services and the Swansea Metro to a single site. The project was also one of the prominent schemes in the Regional Transport Plan for South West Wales.

solar panels, natural ventilation and tinted glass to reduce thermal gain within the concourse. The bus station has been awarded a BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) rating of ‘very good’ for these efforts.

A high proportion of people travelling into Swansea city centre for shopping purposes do so by public transport (40 % use buses at least one a month to travel to the city centre). This is a figure much higher than the national average and highlights the importance of the bus station to the city centre’s redevelopment.

The bus station is a self-financing facility funded through a combination of income from departure charges to the public transport operators, advertising revenue and rental income from office space.

A number of innovative features help the station reduce its environmental impact and enhance its sustainability. They include rain water harvesting,

Project City Programme Duration of project Funding Website

Interestingly, the bus station also created three new retail units from which the current tenants provide grocery sales and a range of light food and beverage services. These units have proved to be extremely popular, with one winning a regional trading award as a result.

Swansea City Bus Station Swansea, United Kingdom West Wales and the Valleys Convergence Programme 2007-2013 06/2009 – 03/2012 EUR 12 823 000 of which EUR 6 971 000 is European funding (ERDF) http://www.swanseacitycentre.com/visit/bus-station/

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ETC

CityStar • Investment projects in sustainable urban public transport

Five public transport companies, one goal

Ticket to Kyoto Five major European public transport companies have united to reduce CO2 emissions through more environmentally friendly behaviour and changes in infrastructure. They want to set low CO2 emissions as the new standard for public transport providers. Transport is the second biggest source of CO2 emissions in the European Union, accounting for 24 % of all emissions. Road transport is the main culprit, accounting for 70 % of all the transport emissions. MoBiel (Bielefeld), RATP (Paris), RET (Rotterdam), STIB (Brussels) and TFGM (Manchester) have joined forces in a transnational initiative called ‘Ticket to Kyoto’ or T2K. Together, they are exchanging, innovating, and experimenting with practical solutions for reducing CO2 emissions from public transport. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the European objectives of the Kyoto Protocol in 2020.

‘Ticket to Kyoto contributes to making public transport more sustainable thanks to innovative, energy efficient solutions for infrastructure and long-term CO2 reduction strategies. Joining forces and experiences enable the partners to move faster and better.’ Patricia Remacle, CSR and Ticket to Kyoto Coordinator, STIB

Specifically, the five partners have already developed energy saving measures called ‘quick wins’ – that are easy to achieve in the short term without large investments. They have also been busy investing in infrastructure like energy recovery from tram and metro braking. Together, the five companies have also been developing a long term strategy for CO2 and energy reduction by 2020. For longer term sustainability, they have been identifying effective solutions to improve policies and regulations. Finally, the consortium has been mobilising both the public and industry to take action through public campaigns. Since 2010, more than 30 Ticket to Kyoto projects have been launched. Activities include ‘Energy Week’ awareness raising campaigns targeted at transport company employees, contests to reduce energy consumption in transport office buildings and eco-driving courses for bus, metro and tram drivers. Efforts have also been made to reduce unnecessary transport system lighting as well as installing energy efficient lighting solutions and control systems. The long-term impact of T2K will be the reduction of CO2 emissions from public transport. Continued investments in new technologies and renewable energies will help the partners reach this goal. For example, it is predicted that STIB’s new cogeneration system will save up to 165 tons of CO2 each year. In addition, the partners’ carbon balance and common CO2 indicators will help them build their own

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carbon strategy which will be integrated into each company’s management plan. The coordination of 5 major public transport operators is unprecedented and has reduced the costs of planning by enlarging the number of possible suppliers, organising eventual joint tenders and identifying the conditions for optimal implementation. Up until now, many actions concerning CO2 reduction involved isolated and fragmented measures. T2K adopts a new strategy for CO2 emissions reduction, which encompasses any area of the company and results in a targeted plan for longer term action. This approach is directly replicable to other industries.

T2K not only tests pilots for energy saving measures, but insists on their mainstreaming into the normal activities of the companies involved. For example, RATP will replicate STIB’s cogeneration system on its network and STIB will extend its energy recovery from braking investment and apply it to its entire network. The approach taken by the T2K partners demonstrates that it is commercially attractive to contribute to reducing the climate impact of urban transport, and the scheme serves as an effective showcase to other public transport operators.

Project Ticket to Kyoto (T2K) City Bruxelles-Capitale / Brussel-Hoofdstad, Belgium (leading); Bielefeld, Germany; Manchester, United Kingdom; Paris, France; Rotterdam, Netherlands Programme INTERREG IVB North West Europe Programme 2007-2013 Duration of project 03/2010 – 12/2014 Funding EUR 12 012 000 of which EUR 6 006 000 is European funding (ERDF) Website www.tickettokyoto.eu

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Regiostars awards 2014 RegioStars is an annual event to recognise good practice in regional development and to highlight original and inspiring projects – supported by EU Regional Funds – which could prove a model for other regions. The Awards have been organised by the European Commission since 2008. This year the award categories which reflect the priorities of the Europe2020 Growth Agenda are: ‘Smart Growth – SME Innovation’, ‘Sustainable Growth – Green growth and jobs through bio-economy’ and ‘Inclusive Growth – Creating jobs for the younger generation’. One additional award is linked to ‘CityStar: Investment projects in sustainable urban public transport’. The RegioStars Awards 2014 Jury singled out 19 finalists from 80 applicant projects on the basis of four key criteria: innovation, impact, sustainability and partnership. Finalists were invited to showcase their projects in October 2013 before the jury during the annual European Week of Regions and Cities – OPEN DAYS 2013. The Award Ceremony will take place in Brussels on 31st March 2014. More details on these projects can be found on the Inforegio website:

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm

doi:10.2776/84369