NRW Objective 2-Competitions of Innovation Results, Experiences and Consequences Dr. Claudia Schulte, Objective 2 Secretariat/agiplan GmbH Brüssel, 22.09.2009 Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Objective 2 Secretariat Supporting the Managing Authority in programme implementation by: providing advice to all institutions involved in programme implementation coordinating the processes associated with programme implementation developing the management and control system developing and implementing a monitoring system as a steering instrument developing new funding instruments (e.g. revolving funds, JESSICA-fund) public relations, maintaining Objective 2 website designing and monitoring programme evaluations reporting training Bruessel, 22.09.2009

NRW Objective 2 Programme 2007- 2013 (ERDF) Strengthening the basis of business Innovation and knowledge- based economy Sustainable urban and regional development Providing financial support to SME and start-up companies Innovation, promotion of clusters and networks in industry Integrated development of areas of urban deprivation Offering advice to SME and start-ups Industry-oriented technology and research infrastructures Removal of developmental shortcomings esp. in industrial regions Innovative services Inter- and intraregional cooperation Sustainable development Equality between women and men and non-discrimination Bruessel, 22.09.2009

NRW Objective 2 Programme 2007- 2013 (ERDF) Strengthening the basis of business Innovation and knowledge- based economy Sustainable urban and regional development Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Implementation of the Objective 2-Programme The implementation of the Objective 2-Programme occurs as a matter of principle by competitions! Competitions are an efficient instrument to support creativity by new ideas and the attendance for experiments! Target of the competitions are furthermore, to support the one‘s own initiative of the players make the selection criteria and selection policy transparent get comparable project proposals strengthen the position of the state and its regions to use them efficiently The quality of the projects is the important point and not the location of the applicants. Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Implementation of the Competitions Competitions with stipulated Objective 2-Budgets Competitions to NRW-Cluster Regional-Competition Cluster and cluster capability Cross-sectional themes (e.g. tourism, foundations) Jury with extern experts Duration of the competitions not longer than 10 months Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Implementation of the competition proceeding Two-stage process competition proceeding Competition phase: Creativ phase and creation of the project draft Evaluation Appraisal and Jury meeting Application phase: Qualification and Application of the recommended project drafts Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Implementation of the competition proceedings Possible grant elements Pre-competition development Industrial research Consulting of SME Training for involved persons Market launch help (studies, equipment investment, introduction) Modernisation of technology infrastructure Networking e.g. for an increase collaboration along the chain of value added for a concrete project Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Cluster Policy Made in NRW NRW’s cluster control: 16 state clusters Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Implementation of the programme by competitions: Competitions of the 1st and 2nd round selected by primary markets Healthcare Med in.NRW (2008/2009) InnoMet.NRW (2009) Nutrition.NRW (2008) In-depth Knowledge Production and Services ICT.NRW (2008) Media.NRW (2008/2009) Create.NRW (2008/2009) KnowledgeSector.NRW (2008) Transport and Logistics Automotive.NRW (2008/2009) Production.NRW (2008/2009) Logistics.NRW (2008/2009) New Materials and Production Technologies CheK.NRW (2008/2009) NanoMicro+Materials.NRW (2008/2009) Bio.NRW (2009) Resource.NRW (2009) Energy Energy.NRW (2008/2009) EnergyResearch.NRW (2008/2009) Cross-sectional Themes Tourism.NRW (2008/2010) Foundation.NRW (2009) family@unternehmen.NRW (2008/2009) Transfer.NRW (2008/2009) CityCentreLocation.NRW RegioCluster.NRW (2008/2009) Hightech.NRW (2008/2009) Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Actual state of affairs of the NRW Objective 2-Competitions 2007- 2009 First competitions round finished with jury decision! There has been 10 competitions started yet in the second round, herefrom 6 have passed the application deadline and thereof already 3 jury decisions 422 projects of the 1st round and 26 projects in the 2nd round are already recommended from the jury for project grant Overall more than 1.700 project drafts were submitted Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Previous experiences with the competition proceedings Evaluation results of the 1st competition round Competition proceedings cause to a high activation of new project applicants, a mobilisation of the structural political players, and to a mobilisation of the specific regional skills Create a established basis for comparison for the decisions about the eligibility for assistance of a project and create hence a high transparency regarding jury decisions Mobilisation of „new“ project enrolees cause applicants with no experience and needs hence a high consultancy assistance „Competition of Innovations“ is often misunderstood by the regions as „Competition of the Regions“ Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Previous experiences with the competition proceedings Evaluation results of the 1st competition round Competition proceedings It exists an area of conflict concerning the project selection between extern experts and the safekeeping and continuation of a political corporate strategy Over 60% Cooperations: Competitions enhance the regional self-organisation by regional alliances, networks, institutions („get familiar with your neighbours…“) In all cluster competitions is a high part of energy and resource efficient innovation projects (so far ca. 25% for climate protection and energy security): Lisbon-strategy respond to new, global challenges All regions participate, if the basic conditions (basis infrastructure) are almost comparable: Balances- and Lisbon goals have not to be contradictionary! Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Results of the evaluation Strategic relevance and internal coherence In every projects remarkable target contribution Concentration of the ERDF money on the strength of NRW Strategic relevance is given Analysis of the internal coherence of the first competition round The internal coherence has room for improvements Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Results of the evaluation Implementation procedures of the competitions comparable with competitions of other institutions Specific feature: extensive and comprehensive implementation of the competitions High quantity and the heterogeneity of competitions caused inconsistence and implementation-problems Policy transparency as a key factor for acceptance Jurors has to be payed adequate High activation is achieved Scoring method lead to the desired results Competitions are more time intensive Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Recommendations of the evaluation Quantity of the competitions has to be reduces for the second round Integration of the horizontal themes (Tourism, Foundation, family, etc.) into the cluster-competitions Consolidation of competition which address the same branch Bruessel, 22.09.2009

Thank You For Your Attention Bruessel, 22.09.2009