1. MEGA Metropolitan European Growth Areas – the Baltic Sea Area

2. Global integration zones (ESPON 2006) MEGA areas

4. Why? Large common resources Approximately 25 million inhabitants High-class universities Global competitive enterprises within all sectors Strong public sector and citizen welfare Through cooperation within the MEGA region, the project establish further possibilities for increased growth and citizen well-being.

5. Focusing Increased business possibilities Strengthening networks of knowledge Strengthening networks and contacts within the public sector Increase infrastructure

6. Objectives Creating knowledge based Baltic Sea region trough triple helix interregional cooperation between Metropolitan regions in the Baltic Sea area Pool resources of metropolitan regions in order to enhance the Baltic Sea Region’s competitiveness and cohesion within energy management and spatial planning

7. Sustainable energy sources Spatial efficiency Economic growth Attractive and Competitive BSR Cities and Regions CO2-reduction Attractiveness Global competitiveness CO2-reduction Attractiveness Global competitiveness Pilot Test

8. Sustainable energy sources CO2 - reduction Attractive and Competitive BSR Cities and Regions Sustainable energy sources HousingTransport Renewable s Gothenburg Lisbon Economic and social benefits in the BSR NextPractice Pilot Test

9. Communication and spatial efficiency Attractiveness Attractive and Competitive BSR Cities and Regions Spatial efficiency Interurban transport Urban transport Logistics Spatial planning Urban management Gothenburg Lisbon Economic and social benefits in the BSR NextPractice Pilot Test

10. Economic growth Global competitiveness Attractive and Competitive BSR Cities and Regions Economic growth Business opportunities Private Public Partnership Innovation Gothenburg Lisbon Economic and social benefits in the BSR NextPractice Pilot Test

11. MEGA Project outline CO2-reduction Attractiveness Global competitiveness Energy Efficiency Attractive and Competitive BSR Cities and Regions Sustainable energy sources Spatial efficiency Economic growth Housing TransportRenewables Interurban transport Urban transport Logistics Spatial planning Urban management Business opportunities Private Public Partnership Innovation Gothenburg Lisbon Economic and social benefits in the BSR NextPractice Pilot Test

12. Expected results - reduction of fossil fuels use - increased waste management - establishment of sustainable energy sources - transport time efficiency - efficient urban and interurban transport systems - increased know how on urban management TRIPLE HELIX PARTNER- SHIP Gothenburg criteria’sLisbon criteria’s

13. Contacts Estonia Association of Municipalities of Estonia Association of Estonian cities City of Tallinn Latvia Latvian association of local and regional governments Riga Planning Region Lithuania Vilnius City Municipal Government Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania St Petersburg St Petersburg Government Committee for external relations Committee for transit transport policy Russian Economic Developers Association Leontief Centre

14. Contacts Finland Varsinais-Suomen liitto Pan-European Institute Centrum Baltikum Norway Eastern Norwegian County Network City of Oslo Denmark Region NorthDenmark Sweden NUTEK – the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth SIDA – Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency SWECO – Combined expertise in consulting engineering, environmental technology and architecture Region Örebro and other regional organisations from West to East of Sweden

15. Objective To make the Baltic Sea Region an attractive place to invest, work and live in. Baltic Sea Region Program

16. Priorities Fostering innovations Better internal and external accessibility Effective management of Baltic Sea resources Making the BSR and its cities and regions more competitive & attractive

17. Co-financing rates from the program Up to 75 % for project partners from Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Finland Up to 85 % for partners from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland Up to 50 % for partners from Norway Up to 90 % for partners from Russia and Belarus

18. Timetable March – July 2008 Discussions about the Project with partners August – October Örebro Regional Development Council to circulate draft proposal 17 – 18 November Meeting of partners in Örebrp to examine and finalize bid November - December Budget agreed with partners, letters of commitment and final Action Plans submitted to Örebro January 2009 Bid finalized and submitted August 2009 The Project starts

19. Mail: Regionförbundet Örebro S- 701 83 Örebro, SWEDEN Visit: NetCity, Forskarvägen 1 S- 701 83 Örebro Berndt Arvidsson berndt.arvidsson@regionorebro.se berndt.arvidsson@regionorebro.se Ph 0046 70 6215543 Contact Ph 0046 19 602 63 00 Fax 0046 19 18 98 29 www.regionorebro.se