Project goal

The project’s overarching goal is to increase SME competitiveness through improvements to 6 local development policies and strategies dealing with SME support. The policy improvements will target removing administrative obstacles relative to access to information, public services, and finance.

Project summary

Administrative barriers can keep SMEs from gaining full benefits of EU funding opportunities intended to help elevate their competitiveness, so city and regional authorities must improve their governance and regulatory framework to reduce barriers, improve messaging and increase the visibility of support and EU funding opportunities. These actions will bennet SMEs and the reputation of institutions delivering the services and support programs. Recent global events (COVID-19, War in Ukraine, etc.) have made it even more crucial to support SMEs’ development and competitiveness.

European cities and regions can respond by making funding more accessible, so businesses can expand or innovate, export within and beyond the single market, undertake energy-saving upgrades, hire from traditionally disadvantaged groups, increase digitalization, etc. Communication of these opportunities must be better targeted, digitally accessible, interactive, equally distributed, and clearly presented, reducing bureaucratic jargon as much as possible.

Building on existing practices and informed by interregional learning, InnoCom will improve local policy instruments to introduce innovative models, digital tools, and services, reduce obstacles, and make other changes for better and more user-friendly interaction with businesses. In follow-up, it will monitor the expected outcome: SMEs empowered to raise their game through access to public services, and other support.

Partners from a balanced mix of regions and cities in Italy, Romania, France, Latvia, Slovenia, and Ireland will work together with the University of Latvia (Advisory partner) to identify weaknesses, seek solutions, and exchange good practices and ideas through the interregional learning process.

Stakeholders will have an active role providing feedback, co-designing, and participating in interregional learning. The expected results are 6 improved regional policies, reduced barriers, and increased visibility of EU funding.

Partners

The project involves a total of 8 partners from 6 countries/regions: Lead Partner Sviluppumbria (IT), Advisory Partner University of Latvia (LV), Project Partner Bucharest Ilfov Regional Development Agency (RO), Project Partner Municipality of Grosuplje (SI), Project Partner Hauts de France Regional Council (FR), Project Partner Carlow County Council (IE), Project Partner Zemgale Planning Region (LV), Associated Policy Authority UmbriaRegion (IT).

Project duration

March 2023 – February 2027

Funding

The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. Total funding of the project: 1,511,394 EUR (European Regional Development Fund 1,209,115.20 EUR and funds invested by partners 302,278.80 EUR).

Overall objective

The project’s overarching goal is to increase SME competitiveness through improvements to 6 local development policies and strategies dealing with SME support. The policy improvements will target removing administrative obstacles relative to access to information, public services and finance.

Project objectives

• Improve the definition and the application of the policy instruments addressing the urban dimension and its cultural heritage, pressing them towards a better understanding of the complexity of the urban phenomena and a stronger use of the innovative technologies;
• Keep the concepts of sustainability and participatory processes at the centre of urban policies;
• Improve the destinations of public funds and their management;
• Improve the vision of cities and towns and their historical heritage not only as a factor of tourism attraction, but also as a cultural and identity attractor for the citizens themselves, who live there.

INNOVATING COMMUNICATION TARGETED TO SMEs | Interreg Europe - Sharing solutions for better policy