INTERREG IVA
The Cross Border Territorial Co-operation Programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland.
The Cross Border Territorial Co-operation Programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland (known as INTERREG IV) was a European Union supported Structural Funds Programme which sought to address the economic and social problems which resulted from the existence of borders.
The INTERREG IV Programme aimed to support strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous cross border region and sought to improve access to services so as to enhance the quality of life for those living in the eligible area. In particular the Programme focused on developing a dynamic economy, supporting infrastructure and promoting innovative ways of addressing specific cross-border problems.
A distinctive aspect of the programme was the inclusion of Western Scotland, and the opportunity to promote co-operation between Scotland / Ireland / Northern Ireland, as well as continuing and enhancing the Northern Ireland / Ireland co-operation. The inclusion of Scotland gave an opportunity to build on the traditional cultural, economic and social links between Ireland/Scotland/Northern Ireland, and added an innovative new aspect to the Programme.
The Programme was delivered through two priorities:
Priority 1: Co-operation for a more prosperous region:
This priority had an indicative budget of €60m – €105m and aimed to diversify and develop the economy
- By encouraging innovation and competitiveness in enterprise and business development and
- By promoting tourism of the eligible region by encouraging innovation and competitiveness in enterprise and business development, and promoting tourism;
Priority 2: Co-operation for a sustainable cross-border region:
This priority had an indicative budget of €75m – €115m and aimed to support activities that
- Promote cross-border co-operation in policy development and
- Improve access to services so as to improve the quality for those living in the eligible area.
EBR were Lead Partner on 11 INTERREG IVA projects totalling approximately €15.5 million of INTERREG IVA funding: please click on the tabs for more information on each project:
IOTA
IOTA
Project Title: IOTA (Innovation, Opportunity, Training & Advice)
Project Partners: Local authorities of Ards, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Louth, Monaghan, Newry & Mourne and North Down.
Project Budget: £854,314.00
Project Aim:
The aim of the Partnership was to implement a Regional Cross Border Innovation Strategy to meet the different needs and capacities of individuals and SMEs in the region to encourage and support their progression along an innovation spectrum.
This strategy comprised a series of structured and inter-connected initiatives and activities to deliver 2 distinct innovation Strands namely:
Strand A – Innovation Awareness Raising and Pre-Incubation Support
Strand B – Innovation Awareness Raising and Support to Existing SMEs
The aim of the iOTA Programme was to have implemented by May 2015 a Regional Cross Border Innovation Strategy which targeted 360 SMEs, micro-enterprises and individuals to enhance their innovative capacity and thus contribute to the competitiveness of the East Border Region.
Its goal was to positively impact on those individuals, SMEs and micro-enterprises by a combination of appropriate assistance under the East Border Region iOTA Programme (estimated at 286 cases, made up of 110 new businesses assisted to come into existence under Strand A and 176 existing businesses assisted to overcome defined innovation challenges under Strand B). A further 74 businesses were referred to Enterprise Ireland, Invest NI, InterTradeIreland or other suitable support programmes.
Aspire
Aspire
Project Partners: Local authorities of Ards, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Louth, Monaghan, Meath, Newry & Mourne and North Down.
Project Budget: £2,073,344
Project Aim:
ASPIRE was an integrated cross-border small business and economic development programme which was designed to tackle some of the particular problems associated with the economic downturn. Its primary aim was to help 60 small businesses to develop by employing 60 graduates and harnessing graduate talent to create growing, strong, innovative businesses which contributed to a sustainable regional employment, forge cross border linkages and become involved in export markets.
Project Summary:
East Border Region delivered ASPIRE in partnership with the Further Education sector and one of the Programme’s aims was to improve the capability of Programme participants, so that some were able to move on and take part in other companies’ schemes like IntertradeIreland’s Acumen and Fusion programmes, which tend to involve larger, more-sophisticated businesses.
ASPIRE addressed gaps in current provision, complemented the work of other graduate-based programmes, was based on research and extensive consultation and had widespread support from economic development agencies and the further education sector.
ASPIRE had 3 unique elements:
- It was a cross-border, graduate based business development programme which was aimed specifically at micro businesses; this was very important as the vast majority of businesses in the East Border Region employ fewer than 10 people, lie outside the support network provided by Invest NI and Enterprise Ireland and do not have access to programmes provided by these agencies; in addition, it also filled a gap not currently occupied by the County Enterprise Boards in the Republic of Ireland and the Local Enterprise Agencies in Northern Ireland
- Graduate programmes traditionally have struggled to get the support of the Owner/Managers within the business; ASPIRE included a compulsory three part training series for Owner Managers; this gave the owner/manager an opportunity to understand what innovation could mean for their company, and in partnership with their Business Advisor, prepare a business improvement plan for their business
Traditionally programmes have struggled to support both technical and commercial business projects; ASPIRE, although technically-oriented, also looked at commercial opportunities.
Tourism Development Plan
Tourism Development Plan
Project Partners: Local authorities of Ards, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Louth, Monaghan, Meath, Newry & Mourne and North Down
Project Budget: £2,720,873
Project Aim:
The aim of the project was to support the development of tourism products that would attract domestic and overseas visitors and contribute towards improving the performance of the tourism industry in the eligible region. The partner Councils identified particular project opportunities, which exploited the natural and built environment of the cross border region. The partners also sought to build on the progress made by EBRTP in the recent past and collaborated to improve the tourism product overall. The Tourism products was supported on a cross border basis and was based on niche areas including culture/heritage, Christian heritage, natural resources, marine and water based tourism. In particular, focus was placed on encouraging and supporting projects which would develop tourism activities and broaden the tourism season. In addition support was provided to promote and enhance the visitor experience through improved visitor servicing in particular utilising new technologies.
The primary aims of the TDP were:
- To raise the profile of the region to international visitor markets.
- To encourage visitors to stay longer in the region.
- To focus on targeted product development and enhanced visitor servicing.
- To attract higher spend visitors and to maximise their contribution to the economy of the region.
- To exploit the tourism potential of the region by more effective cross border co-operation to maximise impact and reduce duplication.
Project Summary
The East Border Region Tourism Partnership (EBRTP) was a cross border partnership comprising of ten local authorities which straddle the border region.
The key objective of EBRTP was to identify cross border tourism priorities, which would advance the economic potential of tourism throughout the region as a whole. The East Border Region, despite its natural assets, is under performing as a tourism destination with the border being recognised as the main barrier.
A summary of the projects is outlined below:
Christian Heritage: product scoping, cluster development, restoration, interpretation and development of key sites and access routes on a regional basis
Marine, Water sports and Countryside Tourism: Integrated inland and coastal amenity/attraction development, quay enhancements, feasibility studies and activity tourism development
New Technology for Visitor Servicing: Integrated Cross Border Visitor Servicing Initiative including scoping study provision for new technologies, Tourist Information Centre Network enhancements; signage and visitor servicing manuals
Countryside Tourism: Development of cross border cycling and walking trails, together with enhancement arrangements for access to the countryside to facilitate participation.
Mourne Cooley Gullion
Mourne Cooley Gullion
Project Partners: Local authorities of Ards, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Louth, Monaghan, Meath, Newry & Mourne and North Down, Mourne Heritage Trust
Project Budget: £1,390,719
Project Aim:
To develop a competitive, internationally recognised tourism destination within the East Border Region taking advantage in particular, of the prized landscape and related cultural heritage of the Mourne-Cooley-Gullion area, while raising awareness of and protecting this natural resource, complemented by a suite of dispersed high quality natural resource based tourism attractions which would allow the wider region to take advantage of this core driver (the upland areas).
Project Summary:
This project sought to create a high quality visitor experience and identity based primarily on the internationally important geology at the heart of the region and related natural and cultural heritage. Firstly the coherent and high quality landscape of the Mourne, Cooley and Gullion uplands sought to be matched with coherent and high quality visitor infrastructure, servicing and marketing, allowing it to take advantage of its strategic location straddling the Belfast/Dublin road and rail routes (the Eastern Economic Corridor) as a hub for ‘geo-tourism’. Work included public education/consultation, access infrastructure, interpretation materials, events & tours, and targeted marketing initiatives. Specific complementary ‘satellite’ sites in other parts of the region, guided by development plans, were equipped to better cater for the natural resource based tourism attractions and thus both prolong stays and disperse benefits across the Ireland/Northern Ireland border region.
East Border Region
East Border Region
Project Partners: Local authorities of Ards, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Louth, Monaghan, Meath, Newry & Mourne and North Down
Project Budget: £700,000
Project Summary:
EBR Ltd has demonstrated that it is pivotal to cross border economic development in the East Border Region. No other organisation exists to co-ordinate and facilitate the Region’s cross border activity across a wide range of sectors. Thus the aim of the EBR INTERREG IVA project was:
- to build on the successes to date
- to further enhance existing cross border networks in respect of enterprise, tourism, environment and collaboration
- to facilitate the establishment of new cross border networks
- ultimately to strengthen the regional capacity for cross border cooperation
The EBR has a history of co-operation in cross border economic development for over 30 years focusing on areas such as agriculture, industry, commerce and tourism. The core activities of the EBR have been funded by the INTERREG Programme since 1991. INTERREG II funding enabled the EBR to set up a full time Secretariat in 1995, and consequently enabled the Committee to enhance and develop its cross border activities.
The key tasks which EBR Ltd undertook in the period 2009-2013 can be summarised under the following headings:
- Leading the cross border development in the EBR
- Representing the cross border region, advocating its needs and sharing best practice
- Managing the wider European Dimension including Transnational Programmes
- Managing the cross border development process.
Project Summary:
Since 1976 EBR has learned to think as a cross border region tackling joint problems together and taking opportunities together. The growth of EBR Ltd. from a co-operation between two cross border local authorities to a network of 10 local authorities serving over 800,000 people is evidence of the value placed on cross border co-operation. This growth has seen the inclusion in the cross border process of local authority areas which have not traditionally been concerned with cross border development and whose political traditions might not have disposed them to cooperation with local authorities in another jurisdiction. The common theme is the need for the EBR to sustain its economic development through processes which will embed the growth process in the cross border region and at the same time spread the growth in an equitable and balanced manner throughout the region, in other words the EBR is seeking to achieve balanced and sustainable development of the cross border region.
Action for Biodiversity
Action for Biodiversity
Project Partners: Local authorities of Ards, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Louth, Monaghan, Meath, Newry & Mourne and North Down
Project Budget: £815,455
Project Aim:
Action for Biodiversity aimed to deliver a coordinated approach to biodiversity on a regional and cross border basis. The working group devised the idea of developing a Regional Framework for Biodiversity after a considerable number of meetings, devising and refining the project vision and aims. It was considered flexible enough to meet the different needs for each local authority, while at the same time offering the security of targets and bench marks at regional and local level.
The overall aim of ACTION FOR BIODIVERSITY was to deliver a coordinated approach to biodiversity conservation and promotion on a cross border regional basis through the development and delivery of a regional biodiversity framework.
The project delivered on this aim by working on three key objectives:
- Building capacity
- Raising awareness
- Biodiversity conservation and enhancement
- Building Capacity
– Project staff assisted Local Authorities develop and implement a Regional Biodiversity Framework through a regional structure
– Targeted training
– Active engagement with NGOs and other stakeholders to deliver of local and regional actions.
-Local Authorities achieved at least three agreed step changes in the delivery of a biodiversity agenda in their jurisdiction.
- Raising Awareness:
– Survey to establish baseline awareness of biodiversity in the EBR
– Design and deliver targeted communication messages on “why biodiversity matters”
– 3 regional events to promote Biodiversity
– Develop a project website
- Biodiversity conservation and biodiversity enhancement:
– Deliver of 5 regional and minimum of 10 local projects identified in the Regional Biodiversity Framework
Energy Efficiency & Micro Generation Project
Energy Efficiency & Micro Generation Project
Project Partners: Local authorities of Ards, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Louth, Monaghan, Meath, Newry & Mourne and North Down, and Dundalk Institute of Technology
Project Budget: £778,814
Project Aim:
The overarching aim of the project was through partnership and cross border co-operation, to enhance the sustainability of Council buildings and demonstrate how it is possible to reduce the Regions reliance on fossil fuels and consequently deliver significant reductions in CO2 emissions; to supporting the emerging micro generation industry and encourage local enterprises to become more cost effective through independent research and the creation of six demonstration ‘exemplar projects’ embedded within the community.
Project Summary: This proposal, through cross border partnership, sought to empower ten Local Authorities to make significant reductions in their fossil fuel consumption, with corresponding reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from Council Buildings.
The project was a catalyst for the development of the emerging renewable energies through a number of ‘best practice’ exemplar projects, which gave credibility and showcased the various technologies. It aimed to establish, based on actual field testing, those technologies which are most effective when used in the climate in the North West of Europe.
The findings were then published in an easy to understand format for the benefit of citizens, SME’s and the Micro Generation Industry. Through seminars and conferences, the project explained to the business sector how their businesses can reduce costs and become more efficient through better energy management, using the Local Authorities ‘Exemplar projects’ as local case studies, which were made available for interested parties to visit. The project also included direct educational benefits, through its partnership with the research centre at Dundalk Institute of Technology.
PLATO Project
PLATO Project
Project Partners: Local authorities of Ards, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Louth, Monaghan, Meath, Newry & Mourne and North Down, Monaghan, Louth and Meath County Enterprise Boards
Project Budget: €664,525
Project Summary:
Through this project 16 Plato Groups involving 240 SMEs were formed. These Groups were facilitated by experienced senior managers from large parent companies. Each Plato Group was supported by a mentor to follow up Group discussions and priorities. Bespoke training modules were delivered to participant companies, a total of 44 training modules delivered to 600 participant SMEs, 48 facilitators and mentors received training in facilitation and mentoring skills, 80 SMEs were involved in 4 Plato Graduate Forums and a further 80 companies were involved in 4 cluster development initiatives. Each participant SME received an individual cluster action plan as part of the cluster development strategies developed. Annual cross border networking and trade development events were held attracting 225 participants over the 3 year Programme.
An extensive range of businesses across the 10 EBR Local Authority areas were engaged in a range of aspects of the PLATO EBR programme:
- 3,207 SMEs participated in training
- 13 Networks were established supported by 26 parent companies
- 884 SMEs attended cross border trade and network events Success:
- Four SMEs have secured new contracts as a direct result of being involved in the PLATO EBR Programme.
STEM Project
STEM Project
Project Partners: Local authorities of Ards, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Louth, Monaghan, Meath, Newry & Mourne, North Down, Dungannon and South Tyrone and Southern Group Environmental Health
Project Budget: €1,360,079
Project Summary:
The STEM project (Sustainable Together through Environmental Management) was led by Southern Group Environmental Health Committee (under the auspices of Armagh City and District Council) was awarded funding to work with businesses from across 11 Local Authority areas to help them save money, network and improve their environmental performance. Over 160 Businesses signed up to participate in the STEM project. These businesses were from a broad range of business sectors from quarrying to food manufacturing. The project primarily worked with businesses in the areas of energy, waste and water. In the field of energy, STEM identified a reduction in total energy consumption of 10,749,717 kWh, which equates to 5,150 tonnes of CO2 and a financial saving of £1,032,850 per year. In the area of waste management the project achieved financial savings in waste bills of approximately £128,200 in participating businesses.
A 17% reduction in waste to landfill was also identified and this equates to 258 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill. Through engagement with STEM, businesses achieved the greatest savings by reviewing their waste contracts and sourcing payment for their cardboard or plastic waste streams, whilst also decreasing landfill charges by increasing recycling levels. Businesses participating in the STEM project also achieved financial savings in their water bills of approximately £61,600, which equates to an estimated 40,300M3 of water.
A key objective throughout the project was to encourage and facilitate the uptake of EMS (Environmental Management Systems). This was a highly successful element of the project resulting in 150 businesses issued with an environmental policy and 52 achieved external certification from a recognised environmental standard (ISO 14001, BS 8555, Origin Green or NVIR-O-CERT).
The achievements of the STEM project are evidenced in the awards won by the STEM team:
- Green Apple Award (National Green Apple Awards, 2014)
- Leadership in Sustainable Development (Sustainable Ireland Awards, 2014)
- Silver Award for Environmental Project of the Year (Sustainable Ireland Awards, 2014)
Life Sciences Supply Chain Project
Life Sciences Supply Chain Project
Project Budget: : £526,355
Project Partners: Craigavon Borough Council, Banbridge District Council, Down District Council, Newry and Mourne District Council, and Louth, Meath County Councils and Bio Business Ltd
Project Summary:
The project initially focused on building a sustainable supply chain to centre principally around two major life sciences companies in the region. It is fully anticipated however that this supply chain will evolve in terms of both critical mass and expertise to the point where it will service the needs of the major life sciences manufacturing companies in both Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.
The primary aim of the project was to develop a cluster of smaller firms in the East Border Region that have the capacity, capability and confidence to service the needs of major life sciences companies. participant companies encompassed a range of sectors including; packaging and labelling, plastics and polymers, materials, test houses, logistics and software.
Given the nature of the project and the time commitment and duration required in order to realise sales to highly regulated multinational life sciences companies it is too early to witness the majority of success stories, however there are a number of notable success stories to date:
- A 2 person business established for just 1 year concluded a contract for the 5 year supply of services with an initial value of £500,000
- A 2 person business has made sales of £50,000 attributable to the programme and taken on 3 extra members of staff
- A 13 person manufacturing company has invested over £600,000 in new capital equipment, recruiting 1 additional staff member to meet the needs of life science companies and is confident of sales being achieved.
- A 2 person company has sub-contracted contracts of £20,000 to suppliers within the East Border Region
- A number of companies are investing £15,000 to assist and support regulatory accreditation for supply in to the life science sector.
The Smart Eco Hub
The Smart Eco Hub
Budget: € 1,281,130
Project Partners: Local authorities of Ards, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Louth, Monaghan, Meath, Newry & Mourne, North Down Dundalk Institute of Technology, Southern Regional College, South Eastern Regional College, COMET and the Centre for Competitiveness
Project Summary:
The vision of the Low Carbon Business Network was to form a network of innovating companies, both north and south of the border, to foster vibrant low carbon innovation so that it can become a key driver of sustainable economic development stimulating business growth and job creation. The model proposed was based on European best practice and is structured on an innovation model known as “triple helix” whereby state agencies, research and development organisations and the private sector work together to stimulate and drive organic growth.
The overarching aim of the project was to establish a vibrant cross border network of collaborating companies which are active in the sustainable energy arena. The project achieved this aim by stimulating business growth and greater collaboration and innovation among the participating companies through the network.
The Smart Eco Hub project exceeded many of its key targets, particularly in the areas of event management and networking. This included the level of provision for best practice visits, workshops and training sessions, market collaboration with members, the number of businesses attending events and workshops, and the editorial output of the organisation through magazines.
- 163 significant market and collaborative opportunities identified against a target of 75
- 36 workshops / seminars / training sessions held against a target of 12
- 356 businesses attended workshops / seminars / training sessions against a target of 125