Northern Periphery Programme Preparatory Project EPRC Northern Periphery Programme Preparatory Project Regional Collaboration in the High North Kuopio, 30 September 2015

Rationale Regional & territorial development actors face dynamic & complex challenges in a demanding strategic context Desirability of complementary collaboration on operational challenges of implementing regional development programmes across the High North & Arctic Number of events, institutions, programmes concerned with Arctic regional development Extent, number & range of interests & issues combined with the pace of change Regional & local economic development benefits from wider, regionally-based cooperation, collaboration and consultation Overlapping/complementary geographies, goals, priorities and stakeholders Regional and territorial development actors face dynamic and complex challenges in a demanding strategic context yet on the ground there is often a lack of critical mass to develop and deliver projects compounded by weakly coordinated range of intervention Desirability of complementary collaboration on operational challenges of implementing regional development programmes across the Arctic and near Arctic EPRC

EPRC

Principles Flexible & responsive Results Facilitate Inclusive Complement Facilitate Results flexible – given the uncertainties involved in economic and social development trends inclusive – crossing public/private, sectoral, thematic and geographical boundaries outward facing – linking Arctic countries and regions to neighbouring areas and wider interests unbureaucratic – avoiding the creation of new institutions or administrative processes EPRC

Aims Links - deepen existing links and encourage new forms of cooperation Dialogue – greater strategic policy dialogue on areas of joint interest Synergy – boost geographic & policy reach through synergies Innovation – new and better interventions EPRC

Function Functions Stakeholders Strategic foresight Knowledge exchange Project & programme brokerage Stakeholders National government representatives Programme managers Relevant area organisations European Commission Contact points Project partners EPRC

Facilitation Foresight meeting Areas for collaboration Strategic collaboration Project collaborations Community & Project Knowledge Facilitation EPRC

Facilitation Mgmt group Steering group Structure EPRC

Evolving role Build trust, interest and relationships Demonstrate role & results Initially, work on a specific theme Grow and evolve over time Pilot project (3 years) Foresight – policy paper, proposals for collaboration post 2020 Knowledge exchange – Organisational and nodal links, conference/event Brokerage – cluster of project stakeholders Evaluation EPRC

Results Strategic collaboration Embedded knowledge exchange & learning Better, innovative projects New partnerships Efficiency savings Maximising, widening and deepening results EPRC

EPRC