1. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department Innovation and Good Practice in Nitra Region - Networking Opportunities

2. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department 1. Overview 2. Introduction and background 3. Major issues 4. Conclusions Structure of presentation:

3. -Transition& conversion from typically agricultural region into dynamically developing industrial region by innovation mechanisms -The formations of regional clusters as the key to the successful promotions of research, technological development and innovations -Partnership for growth and jobs – innovation policy contribute to the common objective of creating jobs -The transfer of good practices through inter-regional partnerships -projects respecting differences while achieving synergies 1. Overview Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department

4. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department 2. Introduction and background Nitra Self-Governing Region – is the region of long history, but also of the most modern presence, in the region of cultural sights and natural beauties, but also the region of good wine and thermal springs. For those who do not know I would like to remind that in its territory bordering with the Trnava, Trenčín and Banská Bystrica Regions, but also with the Hungarian Republic in the south. More than seven hundred thousand people live here and the region is divided into seven districts. Each of the districts is typical not only within the region, but within the whole Slovakia. General information about Nitra region

5. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department BASIC DATA Population Number of population: 708 498 people 342 412 of whom are men and 366 086 are women Nationality structure of the population Slovak: 70.94% Hungarian: 27.50% Czech, Moravian: 0.70% Romany: 0.68% Polish: 0.06% Ukrainian: 0.05% German: 0.04% Russian: 0.03% Seat city of the region: Nitra The biggest seats according to the number of population Nitra 85 172 Nové Zámky 41 320 Komárno 36 596 Levice 36 190 Topoľčany 28 691 Šaľa 24 438 Zlaté Moravce 13 476

6. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department International and national transport infrastructure The nearest international airports Bratislava – Ivánka: 80 km Wien – Schwechat: 120 km Budapest – Ferihegy: 160 km Local airports: Nitra - Janíkovce International road corridors On the route east – west: Fast highway R1 Wien - Bratislava – Nitra – Banská Bystrica – Košice with the border checkpoints to the Hungarian Republic or to the Ukraine Economic structure on the basis of the number of the people employed in the particular sectors: Industry: 30.8 % Public services: 23.5 % Business and services: 18 % Agricultural sectors: 8 % Building industries: 6.5 % Transport: 5.8 % Market with realties and other business activities: 5.8 % Others: 1.6 %

7. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department The perspective of future development of the Nitra Self-Governing Region is established not only by six dynamically developing industrial parks, but also by the international regional cooperation based on a dozen of bilateral contracts at present, or a number of international projects. ICS Industrial Cables Slovakia, l.t.d. high voltage cables production Ernst Keller Slovakia, l.t.d. machine engineering production SONY Slovakia, l.t.d. consumer electronics production and repair VISTEON Slovakia, l.t.d. automotive components producer Giesecke&Devrient Slovakia, l.t.d. plastic chip cards producer

8. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department The largest industrial park of the six ones is Nitra „North“ located at the area of 210 ha. Examples of successful companies: Fraguell Nitra, l.t.d. metal frameworks for LCD TV producer Ryoka Global Europe, l.t.d. subcontractor for SONY Daidong Slovakia, l.t.d. plastic frameworks producer for SONY GU Slovensko, l.t.d. window and door metal parts producer Carnitech/Marel, l.t.d. reparation and production of machines for food processing Steep Plast Slovakia, l.t.d. production, assembly and maintenance of plastic products Promens Nitra, l.t.d. plastic parts for automotive industry

9. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department Coordination and preparation of Hungary – Slovakia Cross-Boarder cooperation Programme 2007-2013 Coordination and preparation of Hungary – Slovakia Cross-Boarder cooperation Programme 2007-2013 European Territorial Cooperation – INTERREG IVC, IVB European Territorial Cooperation – INTERREG IVC, IVB Coordination of cooperation with foreign partners of Nitra region- preparation of bilateral agreements Coordination of cooperation with foreign partners of Nitra region- preparation of bilateral agreements Administrative and technical assistance for implementation of Hungary – Slovakia Cross- Boarder cooperation Programme 2007-2013 Regional Info Point Office Administrative and technical assistance for implementation of Hungary – Slovakia Cross- Boarder cooperation Programme 2007-2013 Regional Info Point Office Coordination of Tourism in the region Coordination of Tourism in the region Provision of Tourism promotion at the regional, national and international level including participation in Tourism fairs and exhibitions Provision of Tourism promotion at the regional, national and international level including participation in Tourism fairs and exhibitions

10. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department 3. Major issues - Examples of partnerships in Nitra region: Slovak Plastic Cluster Project Saint Cyril & Methodius Route INTERREG IV.C Hungary – Slovakia Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2007 – 2013

11. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department Slovak Plastic Cluster Slovak Plastic Industry review/needs/solution Slovak plastic industry was completely rescheduled during last 15 years. Slovak plastic industry was completely rescheduled during last 15 years. Leader companies from past reoriented their strategy or disappeared. Leader companies from past reoriented their strategy or disappeared. Conversion is more and more oriented to next specific sectors: Conversion is more and more oriented to next specific sectors: - Car production - PSA, VW, KIA - Electronic and electric industry - Molex, WHIRPOOL - Building-up the one of most expanding sector - Packaging

12. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department CAR PRODUCERS IN SLOVAKIA Volkswagen : Devinska Nova Ves (cars), 300 000 cars/year Devinska Nova Ves (cars), 300 000 cars/year Martin (gear boxes) Martin (gear boxes) Nitra (cabling) Nitra (cabling) 12 000 employees PSA Peugeot Citroën : Trnava 300 000 cars/year Trnava 300 000 cars/year (450 000 exception in 2008/2009) (450 000 exception in 2008/2009) 3 500 employees KIA : Žilina 300 000 cars / year Žilina 300 000 cars / year 3 500 employees

13. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department CAR PRODUCERS IN SLOVAKIA Žilina Trnava Bratislava

14. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department 1 st and 2 nd range car suppliers

15. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department  Superior further education in plastic sector  Background for R&D processes  A platform as a partner in EU frame projects in plastic processing sector  A platform for know-how transfer, education projects, small multi companies R&D project, ……  Collect information about sector to show its significance in Slovak industry  official strong representative in a legislation process  real power to lead primary education process according sector`s needs ........ What SK Plastic sector needs?

16. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department Slovak Plastic Cluster Sectional platforms Blow moulding Composites Compression Compounding Film extrusion Thermoforming Injection Plates Profiles extrusion PS foams and expanding Raw material and compounding Recycling Tool production and design Services Further education Support multicompany R&D processes Know - how transfers General EU/GOV projects Multicompany EU/GOV projects Plastic sector marketing Primary education process inspiring …………………..

17. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department Owner VÚC/SO Board of directors General secretary Platforms office Slovak Plastic Education Centre Office Know – how transfers office Marketing office EU/GOV Projects office R&D office Slovak Plastic Cluster Structure

18. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department Project Saint Cyril & Methodius Route ERDF 2007-2013, Objective 3. European Territorial Cooperation Interregional Cooperation Programme:INTERREG IV C Priority 2:Environment and Risk Prevention Sub-theme:Cultural Heritage and Landscape Exchange of experiences and knowledge, transfer and further development of policies dedicated to: - Protecting and enhancing of cultural heritage and landscapes - Promoting cultural assets as potential for the economic development of the regions Project Title:Saints Cyril & Methodius Route Regional Initiative Project

19. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department Brief Project Description: The main purpose of the project is to promote the cultural heritage of Saints Cyril and Methodius and apply methodologies for sustainable maintenance and renewal of historical sights, by sharing and transfer of good practices into regional policies and into EU structural Funds mainstream programme. Knowledge and good practices will contribute in achieving improvement of the effectiveness of regional development policies. The main purpose of the project is to promote the cultural heritage of Saints Cyril and Methodius and apply methodologies for sustainable maintenance and renewal of historical sights, by sharing and transfer of good practices into regional policies and into EU structural Funds mainstream programme. Knowledge and good practices will contribute in achieving improvement of the effectiveness of regional development policies. The project aims to establish the network - cluster of countries sharing common heritage and facing similar problems of nowadays and at the same time point out uniqueness and singularity of the heritage of each partner country. Project promotes a sustainable maintenance and development of an extraordinary heritage in terms of culture, history and traditions. The project aims to establish the network - cluster of countries sharing common heritage and facing similar problems of nowadays and at the same time point out uniqueness and singularity of the heritage of each partner country. Project promotes a sustainable maintenance and development of an extraordinary heritage in terms of culture, history and traditions. Expected output of the project in all partner regions is in a mutual benefit from the knowledge, qualitative improvement of the tourist offer of regions based on sustainable development and implementation of the best practice. Expected output of the project in all partner regions is in a mutual benefit from the knowledge, qualitative improvement of the tourist offer of regions based on sustainable development and implementation of the best practice.

20. Project Leader: Nitra The Self Governing Region (Nitriansky samosprávny kraj) EU Member Project partners: GREECE - City of Thessaloniki EU Member BULGARIA - Vratza RegionEU Member HUNGARY - Komárom-Esztergom EU Member POLAND - Województwo LubuskieEU Member SERBIA - Region Zlatibor Non EU Member Activities: Preparation workshop/meetingPreparation workshop/meeting Organizing joints training sessionsOrganizing joints training sessions Marking out localities - Map studiesMarking out localities - Map studies Expert studies – expert reference studies from the perspective of history, archeology and geography, comparative case studiesExpert studies – expert reference studies from the perspective of history, archeology and geography, comparative case studies Organization of common thematic workshops and seminars, study tours, staff exchanges, conferences for publicOrganization of common thematic workshops and seminars, study tours, staff exchanges, conferences for public Publicity an information – press release, brochures, leafletsPublicity an information – press release, brochures, leaflets Organizing press conferencesOrganizing press conferences Setting up web pageSetting up web page Development of common conceptual and methodological frameworkDevelopment of common conceptual and methodological framework Pilot project of Nitra The Self Governing Region - methodology transfer to the other regionsPilot project of Nitra The Self Governing Region - methodology transfer to the other regions Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department

21. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department Hungary – Slovakia Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2007 – 2013

22. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department

23. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department

24. 4. Conclusions Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department Main expected outputs: CM Route Publishing common publication – disseminating knowledge about CM RoutePublishing common publication – disseminating knowledge about CM Route Publishing studies, issuing mapsPublishing studies, issuing maps Care of image of the historical sights as a part of the landscapeCare of image of the historical sights as a part of the landscape Training materials and workshops for participating partners to establish financial management, communication and audit trail processTraining materials and workshops for participating partners to establish financial management, communication and audit trail process International conferences to promote the CM route and indexInternational conferences to promote the CM route and index Reports/publications and case studies on CM route (in collaboration wit project partners)Reports/publications and case studies on CM route (in collaboration wit project partners) Development and increase of cultural, tourist, commercial, artisan and professional activities and servicesDevelopment and increase of cultural, tourist, commercial, artisan and professional activities and services Drafting of Guidelines that can be adopted by the single European region as a strategic pragmatic documentDrafting of Guidelines that can be adopted by the single European region as a strategic pragmatic document Dissemination of best practiceDissemination of best practice Establishment of EGTC Office in Nitra – (European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation)

25. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department Prepared & submitted projects by Foreign Relations & Tourism Department of Nitra Self-Governing Region : Regional Info Point – Project of Technical Assistence Hungary – Slovakia Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2007 – 2013 Project Saint Cyril & Methodius Route INTERREG IV C - Environment and Risk Prevention -Cultural Heritage and Landscape Project Capacity building of human capital and transfer of knowledge - INTERREG IV C Project Human Tourism - INTERREG IV B Project Regeneration Old Historical Urban Centres - INTERREG IV B Project Capacity Building of the Regional Self - Government - INTERREG IV B Technical Assistance for Regional Government – establishment of EGTC office – INTERACT II

26. Nitra the Self-Governing Region Foreign Relations & Tourism Department Miloslava Baraníková Head of Foreign Relations & Tourism Department Nitra the Self-Governing Region Štefánikova trieda 69 949 01 Nitra Slovak Republic Thank you for your attention Phone: +421 37 6969 7071 Fax: +421 37 6344 363 Mobile: +421 911 772 757 E-mail: baranikova@unsk.sk www.unsk.sk