1. INTERREG Atlantic Area Programme 2014-2020 Information Workshop Opening call for projects 19/04/2016

2. Presentation Overview Overview of Atlantic Area Programme 2014-2020 First Call for Proposals The Application Structure Eligible Expenditure & First Level Control Q & A

4. Interreg V - An Irish perspective Cross Border (Interreg VA) Ireland/ Wales Programme Ireland/N- Ireland/Scotland Programme €79m ERDF €240m ERDF Transnational (Interreg VB) Northern Periphery & Arctic (NPA) Atlantic Area Programme North West Europe Programme €56m ERDF €140m ERDF €396m ERDF Inter-regional (Interreg VC) INTERREG Europe Programme€359m ERDF TOTAL VALUE€1.27Bn

5. Role of Regional Assembly in INTERREG Host National Contact Point in Ireland - Provide Project Development Assistance to promoters - Advice on Application preparation - Host Seminars to announce calls for proposals - Partner Searches Programme Monitoring Committee member (PMC) First Level Control Body in Ireland. Promote North/South co-operation in projects.

6. Atlantic Area Programme 2014-2020 Adopted by EU Commission 18/11/2015

7. Atlantic Area 2014-2020 Eligible Area

8. Key Features of the Programme Area Uneven demographic distribution Innovation & competitiveness Gap between North & South Strong Maritime dimension Dominance of Rural areas over Urban centres Environmental Challenges/ Climate Change exposure Strong on Traditions – Tourism/heritage/Culture

9. Atlantic Area Thematic Priorities – 2014-2020 Priority Description 1 Stimulating Innovation & Competitiveness - Enhancing Innovation capacity to foster competitiveness - Strengthening transfer of Innovation results to facilitate emergence of new products, services & processes. 2 Fostering Resource Efficiency - Fostering renewable energies & energy efficiency - Fostering Green Growth, eco innovation & environmental efficiency 3Strengthening the Territory’s resilience to risks of natural, climate and human origin - Strengthening risk management systems 4 Enhancing Biodiversity and the Natural and Cultural Assets - Improving the protection of biodiversity & enhancing ecosystems services - Enhancing Natural and Cultural assets to stimulate economic development

10. Priority Axis 1 Stimulating Innovation and Competitiveness in the Atlantic Area SO 1.1 – Enhancing Innovation capacity to foster competitiveness Creating an Innovation friendly business environment Develop new ideas across all sectors & bring them to market Focusing on Regions’ Innovation strengths to address imbalances. Actions Supported : Joint Technology Transfer Initiatives/ NPD&D Business Incubation supports Enabling Research/Innovation Skills & capacity Innovation Partnerships & Networks across Atlantic regions Triple Helix Innovation Frameworks Social led Innovation Public Sector innovation

11. SO 1.2 Strengthening transfer of Innovation results to facilitate emergence of new products, services & processes - Open up new markets for innovative new products & services. - Helping to commercialise and market research & innovation results across all sectors of Atlantic economy Priority Axis 1 Stimulating Innovation and Competitiveness in the Atlantic Area Actions supported Export & Trade Development Internationalisation Public Procurement/E- Tendering Market Intelligence supports / Soft landing assistance New Forms of Finance Joint Marketing initiatives.

12. Priority Axis 2 Fostering Resource efficiency SO 2.1 Fostering renewable energies and energy efficiency Exploiting the huge potential of the Atlantic Renewable resources. Off shore wind, wave & tidal energies. On shore energies such as wood/biomass/energy crops Low Energy Public Buildings/ Smart metering/Retrofit exchange POLICY, TECHNOLOGY & AWARENESS RAISING SO 2.2 Fostering green growth, eco-innovation and environmental efficiency Supporting transnational networks to promote recyclability, eco efficiency and reduction in waste. Improved durability in goods & services – positively contributing to the Circular Economy

13. Actions supported Development of Green initaitives to promote Awareness Targeted at Business/ Local Authorities/ Community level Marine Recycling initiatives – Plastics for example Actions that promote reduction of resources in Industry – Water Educational Programmes at Local level (Reduce/Reuse/recycle) Balancing Economic with Environmental sustainability

14. Priority Axis 3 Strengthening the Territory’s resilience to risks of natural, climate and human origin SO 3.1 Strengthening Risk Management systems Addressing the threats posed to Atlantic regions by Climate change/ Natural and man made disasters. (e.g. Flooding, Coastal Erosion, oil spills, Forest Fires, Inland water pollution) Risk assessment, prevention & surveillance actions Planning Monitoring & Reporting Response mechanisms to threats Developing new risk management tools Awareness raising events for local communities Early detection & Mapping

15. Priority Axis 4 Enhancing biodiversity and the Natural & Cultural Assets SO 4.1 Improving the protection of biodiversity and enhancing ecosystems services Preserving & protecting Atlantic biodiversity including marine life, river basins & protected areas Examples Natura 2000 sites Upland heritage/ management Marine biodiversity/ Biotech Inland Fisheries Management /Conservation Migratory species Water quality

16. Priority Axis 4 Enhancing biodiversity and the Natural & Cultural Assets SO 4.2 Enhancing natural and cultural assets to stimulate economic development Enhancing the attractiveness of the Atlantic Area – Tourism/Culture Heritage co-operation Actions supported Atlantic Food Trails Maritime/ Island heritage/ Atlantic Traditions Atlantic Crafts development Rural Based Tourism products (Religious Tourism e.g.) Atlantic Branding initiatives

17. Programme Financing Priority Description EU BUDGET 1Stimulating Innovation & Competitiveness €47.1m 2Fostering Resource Efficiency€29.7m 3Strengthening the Territory’s resilience to risks of natural, climate and human origin €15.2m 4Enhancing Biodiversity and the Natural and Cultural Assets €39.4m 5Technical Assistance€8.4m TOTAL PROGRAMME ERDF BUDGET€140m PROGRAMME BUDGET 2014-2020 = €185.3M GRANT RATE TO PROJECTS = 75%

18. ELIGIBLE PARTNERS National, Regional & Local Authorities Government Departments State Agencies Public Utilities Universities & Higher Education Colleges Innovation & Research Centres Business Associations, networks & Support agencies Chambers of Commerce SMEs EEIGs NGOs & Not for profit organisations.

19. Lead Partner Must be either A Public Body or Not for Profit Organisation or University or Higher Education Institute. Takes full financial and legal responsibility for the implementation of the project.

20. Bodies Governed by Public Law – EU Definition Organisation is a Legal entity Established for the specific purpose of meeting needs in the general interest, not having industrial/commercial character. Financed for the most part by the state, regional or local authorities or by other bodies governed by public law or are subject to management supervision by those authorities/bodies or have an administrative, managerial or supervisory board more than half of whose members are appointed by the State, Regional or Local Authorities or by other bodies governed by public law

21. Management arrangements Managing Authority/JTSRegion of NORTE, Portugal (CCDR-Norte) National Contact Points Ireland Northern & Western Regional Assembly SpainMinistry of Finance, Madrid PortugalMinistry of Regional Development, Lisbon. United KingdomWelsh European Funding Office, Cardiff FrancePays de La Loire, Nantes

22. Role of the National Contact Point Advice - Project Development, partner identification Promotion – Calls for Proposals, National Events Support - Pre & Post project approval. Member StateNCPContact details FranceDavid Rousseaudavid.rousseau@pays-de-la-loire.pref.gouv.fr UKFilippo CompagniFilippo.Compagni@communities.gsi.gov.uk IrelandMichael O’ Brienmobrien@nwra.ie PortugalRaquel Rocharaquel.rocha@adcoesao.pt SpainMaria Teresa TelloMTTello@sepg.minhap.es

23. First Call for Proposals 2016 Application Process 2 stages – 1. Expression of Interest 2. Full Application

24. First Call for Proposals 2016 Stage 1 - EOI Opens : 26/04/2016 Closes: 31/5/2016 @ Noon

25. Terms of Reference Opening call for projects EOI – Key Features Two Stage Application Process Online Application – Expression of Interest Min Criteria 3 partners from 3 Atlantic Area MS All Four Programme Priorities open. Targeting shared transnational challenges Encourages multi-governance partnerships Encourages Balanced coverage of partners & budget distribution. No established financial envelope Each Application to one Programme Priority & one SO only One Call / annum (2017-2020) Application & Programme Documents available from http://www.atlanticarea.eu (Call for projects section)http://www.atlanticarea.eu Programme Helpdesk: atlantico.stc@ccdr-n.ptatlantico.stc@ccdr-n.pt

26. 2016 From 26 April to 31 May EOI Submission 5 weeks 2016 From 1 June to 7 June Eligibility Check 1 week From 8 June to 18 July 2016 JS assessment 6 weeks From 19 July to 29 July consolidation 2 weeks 2016 7 September MC decision Stage 1 EOI Time-Frame Decision : Accept or Reject EOI

27. From 16 September to 4 November 2016 AF Submission 7 weeks From 7 November to 11 November 2016 Eligibility Check 1 week From 14 November to 19 December 2016 (5 weeks) JS/MS assess From 20 December 2016 to 6 January 2017 (2.5 weeks) Consolidation 2017 31 January MC decision Stage 2 (Full Application) Timeframe

28. The Stage 1 EOI TEMPLATE Main components 1. Project Identification 2. Project Partnership 3. Brief Summary (x 500 characters in each programme language) 4.Project Description : (each sub-section x 1500 characters each) Overall objective Common Challenge Transnational Approach What is new? Partnership consistency Main outputs & results Long-Term effects Budget preparation (1000 characters) Application documents – see www.atlanticarea.euwww.atlanticarea.eu (Registration required )

29. Section 1 – Project Identification 1.1 Acronym ( 3 to 20 characters) 1.2 Title (Provided in 4 Programme Languages) (30-100 ch) 1.3 Project Duration (Start Date/End date/Number of months) 1.4 Indicative Budget and Explanation 1.5 Programme Priority & objective 1.6 Project Links (Past & Current programmes/projects which the proposal is linked to)

30. Section 2 Project Partnership 2.1 Partner Position (Lead/Partner/Associate) 2.2 Entity details: Tax ID/ organisation Acronym/type of organisation/Legal Status 2.2.2 Organisation name & Relevant Department 2.3 Location (Country, Region) 2.4 Role in Project 2.5 Contact Person, e-mail, phone number.

31. Section 3 Brief Summary Short Description with a max of 500 characters to be provided in the four programme Languages Identify the scope of the project the main objectives of the project the expected results relevant to Atlantic Area.

32. Section 4 Project Description 4.1 Overall objectiveDescribe the overall objective and the expected impact of the project to the current situation (1500 ch) 4.2 Common Challenge Of the Programme area to be tackled by the project (1500 Ch) 4.3 Transnational Approach Why is a transnational approach needed? How will it be set up? (1500 Ch) 4.4 What is new?What is new/original/innovative about the project (1500 Ch)

33. Section 4 Project Description 4.5 Partnership Consistency How relevant is the planned composition of the partnership to deliver the envisaged results (1500 Ch) 4.6 Main Outputs and Results What are the main outputs and results the project will produce and who will benefit from them (1500 Ch) 4.7 Long Term effects How will the project ensure long term effects? Describe the main elements of your strategy to disseminate & Capitalise results (1500 Ch) 4.8 Budget Preparation Describe the methodology used for the preparation of the budget ensuring VFM (1000 Ch)

34. Min Criteria : 3 partners from 3 regions of 3 MS of the Atlantic Area Remember each application can only apply to one single Programme Priority and one Specific objective only. Four Programme Languages required only for Title (section 1) and Brief Summary (Section 3). Otherwise English throughout. Recommended Duration 36 Months. (Programme allows 18 – 36 months & absolute max of 48 months) Drafting your EOI - some guidelines

35. Transnational Relevance & Regional transfer Balance important - Geographical coverage of Area - Budget Balance between partners - Balanced distribution of work according to partner expertise and experience. Recommended no of partners 6-8 Recommended Budget €2.5m to €3m Triple Helix & Cross Sectoral Partnerships encouraged Projects must go beyond Research Drafting your EOI - some guidelines

36. Robust Management & Monitoring Budget & Value for money Four Key Principles of Project Development Joint Development Joint Implementation Joint Staffing Joint Financing Geographical Flexibility (20% rule) Drafting your EOI - some guidelines

37. Flexibility allowed between Stages 1 & 2 – within reason! Subsequent Application Work Plan Organisation Max of 8 Work Packages allowed (Three Mandatory) – Project Management - Communication - Project sustainability A further 5 Thematic WPs allowed. Each WP can consist of up to 6 activities. Drafting your EOI - some guidelines

38. Signed Partner co-financing statements not required at stage 1 Detailed Results & Output indicators required at stage 2 Drafting your EOI - some guidelines

39. Key Reference Documents Atlantic Area Approved Co-Operation Programme Programme Manual & Applicants Guide Website User Registration Guide Action Plan for a Maritime Strategy in the Atlantic Area

40. EOI Eligibility and Assessment Criteria Eligibility criteria Stage 1 NºCriteriaYes/No 1 The application was submitted within the deadline set in the Call for Proposals announcement through Programme online submission system 2All sections of the EOI have been completed 3 The project involves at least 3 partners located in Atlantic Area regions and from 3 different Member- states 4The Lead partner is an organisation within the eligible Programme area 5 The Lead Partner is a public, not for profit or public-similar organisation 6 The lead partner and partners will cooperate in the development, implementation, staffing and financing 7 The Project has chosen a single Programme priority and specific objective open for funding within the call for proposals 8 The Project title and brief summary are provided in the 4 Programme languages. 9The brief summary is consistent with all four Programme languages versions and with Projects description details?

41. Quality Assessment Criteria CodeStage 1 – EOI Quality Assessment CriteriaScores C1 Clarity, consistency and relevance15 C2Transnationality15 C3Value for money15 C4Partnership consistency15 C5Relevance to Programme intervention logic15 C6Sustainability and results 25

42. Gerry Finn, Atlantic Area Programme Monitoring Committee member (IE) E- mail: gfinn@nwra.iegfinn@nwra.ie Michael O’ Brien, National Contact Point E-mail : mobrien@nwra.iemobrien@nwra.ie Brendan Mooney, First level Controller E-Mail: bmooney@nwra.iebmooney@nwra.ie Phone: 094-9862970 Web: www.nwra.iewww.nwra.ie www.atlanticarea.eu