1. Adam Tyson, European Commission DG HE, Dublin, 22 April 2013
European Structural and Investment Funds : Support to higher education
Adam Tyson, European Commission
DG HE, Dublin, 22 April 2013

2. Overview
The new Structural and Investment Funds: key elements of the new package
Support for innovation: European Regional Development Fund
Support for education: European Social Fund
Timeline going forward

3. "Structural and Investment Funds" 2014-2020 - a package of funds
A single package comprising:
European Social Fund (ESF)
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
European Agricultural and Development Fund (EARDF)
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)
Cohesion Fund (CF)

4. "Structural and Investment Funds" 2014-2020 – shared management
EU level
EU LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE (Regulations)
ERDF, ESF, CF, EAFRD, EMFF
National level
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
ERDF, ESF, CF, EAFRD, EMFF
Operational Programmes for ERDF
Rural development programmes (EAFRD)
Operational Programmes for (EMFF)
Operational Programmes for ESF
National or regional level
Operational Programmes for CF
Multifund Operational Programmes for ERDF, ESF, CF

5. "Structural and Investment Funds" 2014-2020 – key principles
Principles guiding design of new funds:
Align EU cohesion policy more closely to the Europe 2020 strategy
Geographical concentration in less developed regions (as now)
Increased thematic concentration in individual programmes on limited number of priorities
Investments part of broader, well-founded strategies (ex-ante conditionality)
Simplify implementation and improve links with other EU programmes

6. "Structural and Investment Funds" 2014-2020 – where?
Less developed regions (GDP per capita < 75% of EU average)
Transition regions (GDP per capita between 75% and 90%)
More developed regions (GDP per capita > 90%)

7. Budget
Initial Commission Proposal (billion EUR)
Revised Commission breakdown (billion EUR) – April 2013
Less developed regions
162.6
164.3
Transition regions
39.0
31.7
More developed regions
53.1
49.5
Territorial Cooperation
11.7
8.95
Cohesion Fund
68.7
66.4
Extra allocation for outermost and northern regions
0.9
1.39
Youth Employment Initiative (Top-up) - 3
TOTAL
336.0
325.2

8. 11 Thematic Objectives (with links to Europe 2020)
Research & innovation
Information and communication technologies (ICT)
Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Shift towards a low-carbon economy
Climate change adaptation & risk prevention and management
Environmental protection & resource efficiency
Sustainable transport & removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures
Employment & supporting labour mobility
Social inclusion & combating poverty
Education, skills & lifelong learning
Institutional capacity building & efficient public administrations 
R&D target
Climate change/energy target
Employment target  
Poverty target
Education target 

9. Thematic Objective on innovation (1)
Enhancing research and innovation infrastructure and capacities to develop R&I excellence and promoting centres of competence, in particular those of European interest.
Promoting business R&I investment, product and service development, technology transfer, social innovation and public service application, demand simulation, networking, clusters and open innovation through "smart specialisation".
Supporting technological and applied research, pilot lines, early product validation actions, advanced manufacturing capabilities and first production in Key Enabling Technologies and diffusion of general purpose technologies.

10. Thematic Objective on innovation (2)
Example activities with HEI involvement:
Building / upgrading infrastructures & equipment
R&I projects for turning knowledge into new products, processes and services (e.g. incubators)
Participation to networks and clusters
Services provided to HEIs: advice IPR (patenting)
Services provided by HEIs: training, consultancy,
Incoming & outgoing mobility fellowship schemes, inside / outside the region
Placement of HE graduates in businesses

11. Thematic Objective Education, skills and lifelong learning (1)
Specific Investment priority on HE:
"Improving the quality, efficiency and openness of tertiary and equivalent education with a view to increasing participation and attainment levels" (ESF)
Investment in education infrastructure (ERDF)

12. Thematic Objective Education, skills and lifelong learning (2)
Example activities with HEI involvement:
Measures to increase participation from under-represented groups
Measures aimed at improving the quality and relevance of higher education provision and graduates' transition to the labour market
Infrastructure necessary for the above…
Possibility for actions to complement Erasmus for All: in particular roll-out of Key Action 2 projects

13. Youth Employment Initiative
Supports measures set out in the Youth Employment Package: in particular the Youth Guarantee
Builds on Youth Opportunities Initiative
EUR 6 billion for open to NUTS2 regions with levels of youth unemployment above 25% in 2012
Can be used to support graduate employment schemes

14. Timeline going forward
What?
When?
Informal discussions on priorities (draft Partnership Agreements)
On-going now
Final adoption of EU-level legislative package (Common Provisions Regulation + fund Regulations)
September 2013
Member States submit Partnership Agreements
October 2013
Member States submit Operational Programmes
November 2013
Final adoption of Partnership Agreements (Commission Decision on relevant parts)
End 2013
Final adoption of Operational Programmes (Commission Decision on relevant parts)
First half 2014