"Innoweek" - the week of Innovation, Science and Technology in Novi Sad, is a project financed by the Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia and coordinated by Informest, whose aim is to represent in a serie of events and meetings in Vojvodina's main city, the Friuli Venezia Giulia 's regional system of scientific research, innovation and technological development.

The general objective of the project is to favor and consolidate the cooperation between the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina in a number of key sectors of the technological development already identified, establishing permanent relations among scientific institutions and local actors of the territorial development, promoting common projects and intensifying bilateral exchange programmes.

The Protocol Agreement in force between the Region FVG and the Province of Vojvodina since June 13^th, 2007, and updated on January 30^th, 2009, with the signature of a joint declaration from the two Presidents Renzo Tondo and Bojan Pajtic, contains a working map to enhance the cooperation between the two regions. In particular, strengthening the so-called 'Regional Innovation System' (i.e. the cluster of research centers, academy, local institutions and innovative enterprises in the region) has been identified as a priority in the partnership building process, considered the excellence of the 'Friuli Venezia Giulia model' at European level and the receptiveness of the innovation network in Vojvodina.

The 'Innovation Week' that is going to be organized in Novi Sad by Informest and the two project partners on 21-23 September 2010, will allow some of the actors of the Friuli Venezia Giulia innovation system to present themselves to potential partners in Vojvodina and activate a knowledge exchange path capable of rising a long-term strategic partnership between the two geographical areas.

It is foreseen the creation of several bilateral Working Tables that will gather research centers, enterprises and institutions to debate around the following priorities:

• Biotechnologies applied to agrofood and medical / health care sectors
• Energy efficiency and new energy sources
• ICT for personal and collective mobility.

Project objectives:

In the framework of a wider and long-lasting cooperation between the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Montenegro, the main objective of the Maricoltura project was the analysis of the water conditions in the Bay of Kotor for the implementation of an experimental oyster farm aiming at enhancing and modernizing the Montenegrin aquaculture and traditional fishing sectors, diversifying production, introducing new technologies and innovative knowledge tools and allowing the adoption of sustainable production methods meeting the European standards.

By increasing the economic incidence of aquaculture and fostering fish-based nutrition attitudes, the project has thus strengthened the scientific, economic, social and institutional cooperation between Friuli Venezia Giulia and Montenegro to support the maritime identity of Montenegro and develop its productive, economic and social potential.

Project activities:

• Mapping of the Bay of Kotor to set the ground for oyster farming;
• Implementation of an experimental oyster farm in one of the areas granted to the Institute of Marine Biology of Kotor;
• Implementation of the project website.

Project results:

• Identification of the sea areas suitable for oyster farming;
• Introduction of innovative technologies and know-how;
• Sustainable exploitation of the Bay of Kotor;
• Improvement of the aquaculture sector for the economic development of the country.

Project objectives:

The objective of the initiative i sto increase knowledges and skills related to access and use of EU funds: target groups are young people of the Gorizia and Isonzo area interested in starting a professional career as EU project manager and EU policies experts.

Project activities:

Concept and implementation of a training course addressed to young people (24 to 30 years old) living in Gorizia and Isonzo area aimed at deepen issues related to Eu programmes promoting an approach both theoretical and practical with the scope of providing young people with operative tools to work in the field of cooperation project, both transnational and crossborder. The course will be structured in 2 modules: one focused on EU insititutions & programmes and on shaped as "laboratory" for EU project managers. It is foreseen to organize 8 workshops for a total of 24 hours of training with a final project work on a specific call for proposals.

Expected results:

• Implementation of a training course of 24 horus for 15 participants.
• Selection of 2 participants for a traineeship in Informest.

Project objectives:

The project aimed at implementing an active communication, mainly targeted at regional enterprises, in order to spread the contents of the monitoring activity carried out by Informest analysts on rigorous scientific grounds since the beginning of 2009, about the real trends of the economic situation and the effects of the anti-crisis measures adopted in 12 Eastern countries. Because of their relevance to the economic relations of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, these countries will play a key role in the future growth trends of the region. Thus, the monitoring activity focused on the most important perspectives in the short and medium run, as well as on the new opportunities arising from the post-crisis environment, with the aim of orienting the business and investment operations of the regional enterprises looking for diversified markets.

Project activities:

The Observatory offered a differentiated analysis of the economic perspectives in the target countries, presenting their situation in three different fields: the progress of reforms; the impact of the crisis and the measures adopted to overcome it. The dissemination of the monitoring activities, already experimentally started, has benefited from the realisation of a dedicated website featuring multimedia and interactive contents, from the publication of printed and electronic-format materials and from the organisation of dissemination events in the regional territory (seminars, etc.).

Expected results:

• Dissemination of the acquired knowledge and promotion of the economic culture in the entrepreneurial environment, through the supply of original knowledge on the factors influencing the development of the emerging markets and on the competitiveness of the Eastern markets, and through the strengthening of the strategic programming capacity rooted in the use of up-to-dated and verified economic data by the local economic actors;
• The dissemination activities, consistin in both traditional means (public events and seminars, printed materials, Cds) and the dedicated internet website, are meant to benefit the local territory as for: the number of participants to public events and seminars, the dissemination of the documents elaborated, the use of the internet website, the direct answer to the requests of information/in-depth analysis of enterprises and institutions.

Project objectives: to encourage new commercial partnerships in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro in the sectors of equipments and products for ice cream.

Project activities:

• Identification of participating Italian companies;
• Identification, for each Italian company, of the foreign company belonging to the same sector and located in the target countries;
• Creation of a website to promote the project and the italian companies in the target countries. The web-site, realized in Italian, Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian and Montenegrin language, is part of the International Ice Cream Exhibition web-site organized by Longarone Fair;
• Research of companies (distributors, buyers, foreign importers ,...) interested in starting a business collaboration with Italian companies;
• Organization of a B2B event in the conference hall of Longarone Fair;
• Follow-up activity.

Project objectives:

The project aimed at organising an Ideas Competition to identify and design an international multicultural and multifunctional Youth Centre, likely to be built in the Northern area of the City earlier occupied by the Civil Hospital, and at drafting a feasibility plan for the renovation/requalification of the target area.

Project activities:

• Identification of the permanent Steering Committee;
• Management and technical coordination of the project;
• Publication of the European call for the ideas competition;
• Evaluation of the project proposals;
• Fund raising to implement the renovation activities;
• Promotion activities.

Expected results:

• Identification of the Evaluation Committee;
• Draft and publication of the call;
• Collection and evaluation of the submitted proposals;
• Identification of the financing opportunities;
• Seminars with the stakeholders;
• Release of a publication and organisation of an exhibition to present the project and the winning ideas;
• Organisation of cross-border seminars to launch the renovation process.

SeeNet Programme is based on a network of local authorities from Italy and South-East Europe that cooperate in order to strengthen the governance skills of involved territories, promote sustainable local development and enhance the EU integration process of SEE countries.  In order to achieve the Programme objectives, there are foreseen two types of Actions: Horizontal Actions that will involve the whole partnership and Vertical Actions that will involve each italian partner in a specific thematic to be implemented in specific SEE territories. The Horizontal actions are so divided: Action A - Institutional Building; Action B - Information and dissemination; Action C - Research; Action D - Partnerships between South East Europe Local Authorities. While the Programme will implement nine vertical actions that can be grouped in four thematics: 1 - Valorisation of cultural tourism; 2 - Valorisation of rural areas and natural environment; 3 - SME support and cross-border entrepreneurial cooperation; 4 - Territorial planning and social services.

Obiettivi perseguiti:

On the 8th of November 2007, a Cooperation Agreement was signed between the Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia and Alba Iulia County Council, establishing bilateral cooperation in commercial-economic, technical, scientific and cultural fields.

The themes and sectors envisaged by the Agreement have been object of meetings and technical discussions among the representatives of the two regions. Alba Iulia County Council expressed it's interest in focusing a first phase of cooperation on rural tourism development by combining the characteristics of its territory with the expertise of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region in the creation and management of the "albergo diffuso". Starting from such specific interest, the collaboration between the two public authorities and Informest's technical assistance has been addressed mainly to the development of projects and individuation of financing opportunities supporting local development policies, especially in the tourist sector.

The collaboration context has therefore led to the presentation of a joined project called ACT - Territorial Cooperation Activities, for the realisation of specific actions aiming at supporting local development strategies programming process and management, for the tourist sector, rural development, transports and enterprise services.

Attività progettuali:

• Training of local administrations (County Communes and County Council staff) on local development issues: rural development and LEADER, tourism, transport services, project cycle management, etc.;
• Management of local development participated processes (meetings among the local public administrations and the County Council aimed at the creation of shared development strategies);
• Strategic planning; the activity foresees the realisation of a feasibility study for tourism transport sector and a feasibility study for the creation of a common information and assistance structure to the public and private sector;
• Start-up of a pilot project through the creation of the local development offices; such offices shall support the County Council, the local administrations and the private sector in the individuation of financing opportunities, in the presentation and implementation of projects, in supplying technical assistance for the development of local development strategies and the realisation of information and awareness actions addressed to the socio - economic sector.

Risultati attesi

• Improvement of coordination actions at local level for the realisation of shared projects and strategies, coherent with a better integrated context and resources;
• Increase of key actors participation into public decision - making processes through the creation of stable and balanced partnerships;
• Elaboration of local development strategies envisaging rural development issues by combining tourism, agriculture, handcrafts and services;
• Increase in the local and transnational cooperation of the public sector - local administrations - and private sector - enterprises, associations, other key players.

Project Objectives:

The project consists in the supply of technical assistance to the implementation of the Axis V of the Veneto ROP ESF for 2007-2013 - Interregionality and Transnationality.

Project Activities:

Technical assistance in the implementation of the projects financed under the Axis V - Interregionality and Transnationality, approved by the Regional Law no. 4124 from 30/12/2008:

• Information and promotion activities towards the Member States Managing Authorities aiming at stimulating interest and generating possible collaboration in the publication of joint calls;
• Identification and support to strategic projects.

Technical assistance in the programming process:

• Strengthening the regional presence through small territorial twinning, transnational and/or interregional agreements;
• Supporting monitoring activities in the framework of the Veneto ROP "Regional Competitiveness and Employment" financed by the ESF - Interregionality and Transnationality and other European Funds and Programmes to enhance the complementarities and synergies of projects;
• Identification of project opportunities to be presented in the calls financed by the European Commission and by Structural Funds;
• Organisation of events and communication activities. Technical support to the organisation and realisation of mainstreaming events in order to consolidate the links between the territory (socio-economic partnership, potential stakeholders) and the regional administration.
• Supporting the management of the ESF Transnational Contact Point in Veneto. Management of the relations with the National Contact Point at the Ministry for Employment and with the Regional Contact Point at the Regions Technical Coordination Office.

Expected results:

• High-quality partnerships and really transnational and interregional activities for funds absorption;
• Identification of common needs and implementation of projects really pursuing common needs in the fields of training and education, active employment policies, social inclusion;
• Development of complementarities with other Funds by supporting complementarities and synergies among projects.

Objective of the project

Improving the economic cooperation between italian and SEE local systems and productive sectors, in order to promote the internationalization of the local italian systems and the use of the new tools of the european cooperation.

Activities

In Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina and Serbia, the project acts on 3 prioritary subsectors: economic cooperation between local productive systems; rural development; decentralization of the services to promote the employment.

Activities are: common events for the exchange of experiences and strengthening the partnership; identification of the potentials for the business cooperation and promotion of the opportunities at Italian level; decentralization of services for the SMEs; editing of a business guide for the Italian investments in the involved areas.

Results 

Economic and institutional partnerships between Italian and Balkan areas.

Project objectives:

The purpose of the project is to increase the level of information and public awareness about the European Union in the Republic of Albania as well as about the accession process through the establishment and management of an EUIC. In particular the specific objectives are:

• To increase knowledge of EU policies, objectives, priorities, institutions and perspectives;
• To increase knowledge on the relations between the European Union and Albania and better understanding of the impact of the pre-accession process on one's own life and expectations;
• To increase knowledge about the implementation of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) in the country;
• To increase information on the EU resulting from networking with multipliers and other interested parties.

Project activities:

Various information and communication activities with the aim of building public support for the accession process based on well informed and realistic expectations, such as: running of an EU Information Centre, creation and implementation of strategies and information campaigns, press and media relations, events and visits management, web page development and update, networking, update of databases, research issues, production of publications and other necessary activities in the information and communication domain.

Expected results:

• Support to the EC Delegation for the implementation of information and communication activities in Albania insured;
• An EU Information Center established in the Capital of Albania, Tirana;
• An EU Information Center well managed;
• Information on the development of relations between the European Union and Albania provided to maximum key target groups ;
• Tailor made information on the implementation of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) in the country provided to maximum key target groups;
• Synergies with multipliers and other interested parties on provision of EU information established.
• EU information products (print, audiovisual and electronic ones) delivered;
• Events on EU related actions organised.

Objective of the project

The project aimed at dealing with the internationally recognized issue of the effects of climate change on alpine tourism, winter tourism and winter sports in some areas of the Alps and all-season tourism in other areas, providing:

• appropriate strategies to ensure a balanced development of alpine tourism
• the preparation of appropriate adaptation policies at the national, regional and local level
• assessment of the economic and social effects of climate change on tourism  

Project activities:

• Analysis on the impacts of climate change on Alpine tourism;
• Creation of an executive overview of the tourist areas;
• Analysis on adaptation and management strategies in the Alpine region;
• Selection of a set of parameters and identification of common trends in order to develop a strategy;
• Creation of an electronic tool for stakeholders;
• Development of strategies in the pilot areas with a direct involvement of local authorities, stakeholders and the public.

Expected results:

• Overview and assessment of possible impacts of climate change;
• Identification of possible adaptation strategies;
• Development of an electronic web-based tool;
• Information, education and communication activities.

Informest as the "Technical Secretariat" of the Region of Veneto, was appointed for project writing, co-ordination and management of the whole project.

Project objectives:

The general objective of the project is to strengthen the territorial marketing of the Adriatic - Danubian compound in the global market for the purpose of developing local economies and their endogenous resources by creating sectoral networks relationship suitable for making more of the more competitive transnational value chains and fostering FDI attractiveness, and for reducing regional disparities.

Specific objectives are:

• Identification of more important transnational value chains ant their suitable and accessible location;
• Growth of vertical ties among companies of the Adriatic - Danubian compound for the full exploitation of the sectoral opportunities on transnational basis.

Project activities:

Identification of transnational value chains, set up of local help desk for partnership promotion, development of territorial marketing capacities, provision of ICT advanced tools for collaborative entrepreneurship.

Expected results:

• 1 transnational context analysis for the identification of strategic economic sectors;
• 1 transnational marketing strategy;
• 4 transnational partnership agreements;
• 1 Feasibility study for the implementation of a DBE model;
• 1 Catalogue of product and service of the Adriatic-Danubian compound published;
• 1 standing trans-national working group established;
• 1 concept for the governance of trans-national productive chains outlined;
• 5 local desk established;
• 1 single territorial brand designed and delivered.

General objectives

1) To augment the level of economic integration of the two national production systems through the increase of commercial inter-change and direct investments on Italian businesses in the Balkans.

2) To support Italy's role as the logistic platform of Mediterranean and Balkan countries on the East-West and North-South corridors.

3) To improve Italian regions' capacity in the management of international cooperation programmes on transport and logistics as well as in the initiatives for supporting regional entrepreneurship in the field of services abroad.

Expected Results

1) The implementation of a network composed of institutional bodies and Italian and Balkan public and private economic operators in the sectors of transport and logistics, so as to ensure the constant inter-change of information, the emergence of joint projects between the two areas and the coordination of cooperation initiatives

2) The definition of at least 3 hypotheses (one per country) for new maritime and/or air-lines between ports and airports in Albania, Montenegro and Serbia

3) The emergence of shared business initiatives realized by public and private bodies from Italy and the beneficiary countries aimed at augmenting and enhancing the level and quality of transport and logistics services, at encouraging harmonization of operational and management standards on the crossing corridors in the countries involved as well as at leading the operators towards the use of intermodal techniques and solutions

Project Structure

Sub-project 1
Acquisition and data analysis and information on issues of logistics and freight transport on routes Italy-Balkans.

Sub-project 2
Analysis of technical and economic feasibility of new air and shipping routes between Italy and the Balkan countries.

Country Sub-projects 3 to 4
Development of relations in logistics and freight transport with: Albania, Serbia and Montenegro.

Project objectives :

FVG Home in Vojvodina had the general objective to create a common meeting place where to develop business and institutional cooperation activities, with the aim of strengthening collaboration among the two territories.

Project activities:

• Sectorial context analysis of Vojvodina, within the agro-food, construction and automotive sectors;
• Promotion of opportunities in the FVG territory, through the institutional association system and identification of interested companies;
• Creation and transfer of a road map on the innovation system in Friuli Venezia Giulia;
• Enhancement of the economic and institutional system for the development of bilateral relations and collaborations;
• Promotional activities.

Expected results:

• Economic context analysis;
• Institutional and economic mission in Vojvodina;
• Transfer of competences and know-how on the innovation system;
• Project website;
• Press release.

Objectives:

• Contribute to the creation of a trans-national system of innovation
• Develop the role of development agencies in the innovation regional systems enforcement
• Diffuse and capitalize the lessons of the EU Regional Plans for Innovation (RPIAs)

 Activities:

• Creation and consolidation of the local and trans-national network;
• Knowledge sharing on themes relative to innovation;
• Implementation of staff exchange and training packages;
• Improvement and specialization of Development Agencies staff
• Pilot activities to test the innovative services for SMEs and their associations;
• Thematic workshops with the participation of policy makers and of the key actors of innovation;
• Elaboration of a Memorandum of Understanding / Central Agreement of the Development Agencies together with the Communitarian Policy makers participating in the program management 2013-2020;

Results:

new ICT tools for the management of innovation knowledge; adoption of the new training tools to enforce the management of knowledge and to develop the innovation process; constitution of regional networks for innovation and for innovation policies; create a trans-national network for the management of services and development policies

Project objective:

•  Promote an urban sustainable requalification providing local administrations with 1. tools to manage the entire process of conversion, from the negotiation with the central government to the participation of private investors and 2. programming future investments;
• Favour entrepreneurship and competitiveness of the territory throughout the process of restructure of the abandoned military areas into enterprises support centres with the definition of regional strategies and measures to support SMEs and start ups
• "test" the measures and tools defined in the project on 8 specific cases of abandoned military areas.

 Project activities:

• Definition of a common methodology for the valuation of abandoned areas;
• Analysis on the economic and entrepreneurial context with particular attention to the impact of the conversion into enterprises support centres on the economic system;
• Mapping and valuation of the ex military areas;
• Definition and application of tools/measure for the management of the transfer of property and conversion of military areas;
• Definition of measures to promote entrepreneurship
• Pilot actions (Feasibility study, planning, operative plans and investments for the conversion of the areas in Service Centres/incubators);
• Results diffusion

Expected results:

Transfer of methodologies and knowledge; adoption of 9 plans (or recommendations) for the conversion of the abandoned military areas; 8 urban plans for the creation of service centres/incubators; adoption of a common strategy to promote entrepreneurship.

Project objectives:

The project aimed at evaluating the good practices and the sustainable forest planning in the area of the Adriatic European region, with particular reference to the area of the High Adriatic (Veneto Region, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Emilia Romagna Region and the Croatian Counties of Istria and Rijeka), in order to draft a strategic action plan for the forest sector according to the European policies and to identify the relevant opportunities in the European programming and international cooperation.

Project activities:

• Analysis of good practices in forest management in the target areas;
• Drafting of the strategic action plan according to the European policies and identification of the instruments to support implementation;
• Activities to share the achieved results;

Expected results:

• A document containing the analysis of the good practices in forest management in the High Adriatic area and identification of the strategic guide lines for a sustainable forest planning according to the European policies;
• Final workshop to present the achieved results.

POLYINVEST aimed at improving the conditions for investments in the marginal areas of SEE space, favouring the entry onto the market of a broad offer of unused public real estates, with a consequent income and saving on the maintenance and management of the public assets. Starting from the previous experiences of the partners and of a strengthened best practice, the objective of the project is to develop an active approach to the market by the public administrations, favouring the definition and the implementation of complete territorial offer packages; these packages will include information about the real estates which can be alienated and information on the conditions which could favour the realization of investments from private investors.

To achieve the abovementioned objectives, the following activities were performed

• Þ Transnational project management and coordination
• Þ Communication and Dissemination
• Þ Market analysis, definition of themes and census
• Þ Legislative and administrative procedures
• Þ Platform construction and data input
• Þ Sustainability: Promotion, marketing and scouting
• Þ Pilot Actions

The project POLYNVEST carried out the following results

• Þ Improvement of the public properties capitalisation and widespread diffusion of the potentialities of public real estate;
• Þ Alienation and procedural facilitations for potential investors to invest in the target areas;
• Þ International networking between different public actors, real estate managers and private investors,
• Þ Improvement of the overall economic development and requalification of the target areas;

Dissemination, awareness campaign follow-up plan defined

Project objectives:

The overall project objective is the establishment and implementation of an effective and coordinated SETA framework, promoting and fostering the institutional cooperation between PEC structures and member states in order to reach the EU's objectives of (i) transparency and information reliability; (ii) develop of an harmonised and efficient institutional framework and (iii) rapid implementation of the transport priority projects. This overall objective could be reached by the implementation of a specific WP1 in compliance with EU recommendations (in particular HLG Report, 2005-2007, EC Comprehensive Monitoring Reports and COM (2008) 125 final). PECs have similar problems above all regarding administration and exchange of information. SEETAC will enable this exchange, in coordination with EC SFC 2007-Electronic Data Exchange project, the identification of common problems and solutions in order to attain the common mobility (good, capitals and people) standards for the whole EU territory.

Project activities:

• Istitutional coordination to build an effective SETA framework and network in compliance with recent EU transport policies (i.e. HLG Report and COM(2008) 125 final);
• Establishment of an institutional and transparent communication system;
• Implementation of a coordinated database management system;
• Definition of multi-modal traffic scenarios and common mobility standards and environmental (EIA & SEA) guidelines;
• Identification of necessary financial resources and financing mechanisms;
• Finalisation of SEE Spatial Planning.

Expected results:

• Established transnational transport framework and regular SETA organisational/administrative reports (Operational Manual, Audit / Administrative / Progress / WP Reports);
• Information management system including communication plan and tools; regular meetings of Ministers of Transport, PEC bodies, EC and Donors;
• Electronic database management system including traffic, social, environmental and economic data;
• Multi-modal traffic scenario study identifying good practices and recommendations;
• Common multimodal transport standards and EIA/SEA guidelines;
• Priority project fiches & application documents to be submitted to donors for financing and financial report;
• SEE Spatial Plan / SETA Strategy compatible with the SEETO Action Plan.

These results could be easily transferred to other EU Transport Axis, in particular to Central Axis, where another coincidence of CE Programme eligible area exists.

Project objectives:

The SEPA project aimed at transferring, through feasibility studies and investment attraction, the experience gained by the Prato industrial area (IT), creating infrastructures and centralised services to improve the environmental, economic and social performances of the target areas (rational water use, management of induced mobility, clean energy production and waste management), according to EMS/EMAS standards.

Project activities:

• Implementation of regional stakeholders networks for the socio-economic and environmental reconversion of industrial areas;
• Development of a transnational model for the sustainable management of productive areas with a low environmental, economic and social impact;
• Identification and selection of the active or under-construction industrial areas where the pilot model of sustainable economic development could be implemented;
• Feasibility study aimed at defining the model of development/reconversion of the pilot areas and intervention planning;
• Investment attraction in the target areas with the organisation of a transnational conference/seminar.

Expected results:

• To achieve and share methodologies and procedures needed to realise and manage industrial areas in an socio-economically and environmentally sustainable way;
• To development of a new model for sustainable production areas;
• To improve the abilities to plan and organise industrial sites and in particular to project and realise production areas according to new sustainability parameters and indicators;
• To create a transnational network of pilot areas in order to transfer and guide the transformation process of the production sites at the international level.

Project Objectives:

The project aimed at enhancing the diversification of the agrofood industry in Moldova through the adoption of agro-energetic cultivations which are more environmentally sustainable and allow for the self-production of energy. In particular, the project aimed at fostering trade between the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Republic of Moldova, enhancing the bilateral partnerships at the institutional/university level as well as between entrepreneurs.

Project activities:

• Feasibility study from an economic and logistic point of view, focused on the implementation of a biofuel chain and, in particular, on the cultivation of vegetable oil to be transformed in biodiesel;
• Technical assistance and best-practice exchanges;
• Organisation of study tours in Italy and Moldova;
• Dissemination of results.

Expected Results:

• Partnerships between regional/Italian and Moldovan enterprises in the biodiesel sector for the supply of raw materials, by-products and semi-finished goods, technologies and instruments, knowledge;
• A better-organised production, diversified and improved agriculture products, increased qualitative standards.

Project objectives:

The project had the objective to consolidate and develop the network created among local municipalities, institutions and agencies located. In the territories of Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro with the institutional and economic system of Friuli Venezia Giulia, with the aim to boost local development and assist local administrations in the acquis communautaire processes.

Project activities:

• Realization of a training programme to transfer information and competences necessary to plan and implement local development and cooperation initiatives, in the frame of the Acquis Communautaire processes;
• Activation of a Friuli Venezia Giulia Infopoint in Kragujevac for the promotion of both economic and institutional opportunities;
• Organization of focus group in Friuli Venezia Giulia with companies and institutions to present the economic and institutional system of the Balkan territories;
• Technical assistance and support to B2B meetings among FVG and local companies.

Expected results:

• Involvement of at least 40 regional enterprises;
• Presentation of project proposals for local development;
• Organization of 4 focus groups.

The project, defined in the framework of a national initiative lauched by a structure of the Presidence of the Council of Ministers (in cooperation with the Italian Minitry of Regional Relations), named Progetto Opportunità delle Regioni in Europa (P.O.R.E.), consisted in the creation and management of a grant system to enhance the project generation capacity of the territory, realized by means of an on-line operational platform and a project database.

The regional subjects proposing projects in the framework of a pre-defined list of European Programmes may request for a contribution from the regional budget through the website, within given time-frames, supplying the requested documentation. Prizes are given also to projects that haven't obtained a European co-financing due to the limited budget available in the Programme. Subjects requiring contributions may receive assistance from an help-desk. The projects includes the development of promotional activities.

The Adriatic Euroregion was founded on June 30, 2006 in Pula, Region of Istria, Croatia. It represents a model of co-operation that includes trans-national and inter-regional co-operation between regions of the Adriatic coastline. The Adriatic Euroregion is the institutional framework for jointly defining and solving important issues in the Adriatic area. It consists of 23 members - Regional and local governments from Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania. The aims of the AE are the fallowing: (i) Forming an area of peace, stability and co-operation, (ii) Protection of the cultural heritage; (iii) Protection of the environment, (iv) Sustainable economic development in particular of tourism, fishery and agriculture; (v) Solution of transport and other infrastructure issues. The objective of this project is to provide Veneto region with technical assistance to strengthen its role and to support the newborn Adriatic Euroregion.

The following activities have been carried out:

• Þ Support to the activities of Veneto Region - International Relations department in the institutional bodies of the Adriatic Euroregion;
• Þ Support to the operative coordination of the participation of Veneto Region in the Adriatic Euroregion Commission;
• Þ Favouring a strategic regional action with regard to all the initiatives and projects activated in the Adriatic Euroregion to monitor the ongoing activities;

Support to the communication activities

Project objectives:

To improve the overall absorption capacities at national and regional levels, thus ensuring a correct utilization of ERDF, European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument, Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, and ESF.

Project activities:

• To reinforce the skills of final beneficiaries in preparing good project proposals that correctly match the priorities of the National Development Plan and would lead to a proper project pipeline for financing from the Structural Funds' type of intervention;
• To strengthen the capacity of the Training Units within MEI and RDAs to efficiently coordinate and manage the training delivered both at national and regional levels, within the framework of the Human Resources development policy;
• To strengthen the capacity of ROP Final Beneficiaries in terms of Organizational structure, partnership etc., as well as regards critical issues to be observed in the process of application to SF financing opportunities.

Expected results:

• Enhancing the preparation, information, management, control, evaluation and other tasks of the Managing Authorities established within the Ministry of European Integration for the Regional Operational Programme and European Territorial Cooperation Operational Programmes, and of their respective Intermediate Bodies;
• Strengthening the capacity of potential beneficiaries to develop and implement operations to be financed under the above-mentioned Operational Programmes.

Project objectives:

• Maintenance and enhancement of the information network created in the framework of the Project "Balcani on line";
• Development of the on line editorial office in order to manage and improve the information services provided;
• Development of new information services;
• Technical management of the on line editorial office and of the website.

Project activities:

On the basis of the activities and outputs of the Project "Balcani on line", the project consisted in:

• The creation of a more efficient on line editorial office: through an on line platform, Informest editorial staff daily collected coordinated and edited on the website the news provided by 7 ICE Offices operating in the beneficiaries Countries and by Informest itself.  The news were targeted at Italian SMEs and investors interested in the Balkan region. In addition, a staff of six persons monitored and translated to Italian the most interesting news published on local online newspapers in the beneficiary countries. Informest editorial staff selected and edited this press review;
• The development of more efficient information retrieval tools on the website www.balcanionline.it;
• The collection and uploading of documents and news about events interesting for Italian SMES;
• The drafting of articles promoting special initiatives and presenting interesting projects;
• The creation of an innovative database of all the projects implemented thanks to the Italian Law 84/01: the online database has a search engine and an interactive map showing the areas involved in the searched projects initiatives;
• The organization of an international event involving up to 150 participants from Italy and the project beneficiary countries. The event focused on IPA Adriatic Cross-Border cooperation programme and South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme. The participants were from public entities and institutions, development agencies, chambers of commerce, NGOs, universities and research centres, eligible projects promoters/partners in the framework of the above mentioned programmes. The participants were grouped in order to work on specific thematic working tables moderated by Informest staff.

Project objectives:

The project aimed at providing technical assistance to the National Association of Small and Family Hotels in order to increase the professional skills of the personnel, to re- qualify the facilities and services, to create a unique market image, to develop the co-operation with the Italian and European tourism market.

Project activities:

• Analysis of the Association’s status, management tools, marketing policy and offer, analysis of the market diversification, facilities and services level, and the professional skills of the Association’s members;
• Implementation of the membership criteria in product clubs;
• Definition and realization a of a training course for the Association’s members;
• Internship of the Association’s members in Italian hotels and associations;
• Definition and realization of promotional and marketing initiatives on the European tourist market;
• Final conference for the dissemination of the project results.

Expected results:

• Definition of quality standard indicators for each target club;
• Increasing of the professional skills and boosting of the marketing policies on the European tourist market;
• Successful positioning of the Association’s members on the tourist market;
• Proposals for the review of the marketing plan.

Project objectives:

PRO.COOP. general objectives were: the provision of assistance and promotion services to cooperative associations and associations’ members in the Balkan countries (Montenegro, Croatia and Bulgaria), the improvement of the local environment in which the cooperatives work and the increasing of their economic potential. From the Italian side, the project aimed at a more developed internationalization of the cooperative system.

Project activities:

• Realization of an analysis on legal, juridical and organisational issues of the cooperative systems in the beneficiaries countries, finding out weak points and opportunities offered by the systems and trying to harmonize them with the Italian and European model;
• Technical assistance initiatives, aimed at strengthening Balkan cooperative associations and at spreading the opportunities offered by Italian associations for the Balkan co-operatives. The initiatives included the realization of management tools (a Vademecum), two internships in Italy for employees of the Croatian and Montenegrin Associations; two on-job-trainings in Croatia and Montenegro;
• Realization of three seminars in Croatia and Montenegro for the promotion of the project at local level;
• Implementation of a pilot civil action in Montenegro, aimed at giving a practical example of civil economy through the creation of a new entrepreneurial activity, which helps disadvantaged people to re-enter in the labour market, according to the model of Italian social cooperatives;
• Establishment of a desk dedicated to the development of the opportunities between Italian and Balkan co-operatives and creation of a database of the business opportunities;
• Realization of two business initiatives (B2B) in Croatia and Montenegro for Italian and Balkan co-operatives;
• Participation of the partners in a trade fair on social cooperation;
• Promotional and dissemination initiatives, carried out during all the project implementation phases.

Expected results:

• Analysis of the juridical status of the co-operative system in the beneficiaries’ countries and definition of legislative proposals;
• Promotion of the Italian and European cooperative systems and models in the beneficiaries’ countries;
• Introduction of technology, methods and product innovation tools for the cooperatives of the Balkan area;
• Improvement of professional skills of the cooperatives’ associations personnel and development of modern and innovative services rendered to Italian enterprises;
• Increasing of business relations between Italian and Balkan cooperatives;
• Improvement of the cooperative's image in the Balkan countries, thank to the information spread about similar experiences in other countries;
• Reinforcement of the Italian productive system in the Balkan area, by developing existing entrepreneurial relations and creating new development opportunities for Italian enterprises;
• Strengthening of the relations between Croatia, Montenegro and the European Union, favouring their juridical and economic integration in the single market.

Project objectives:

The overall objective of the project was to develop the capacity for an integrated governance between public and private sectors in areas affected by business clusters in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, sharing experiences with the central and provincial authorities.

Project activities:

• Development of methodology for the identification of possible emerging clusters such district;
• Business meetings with Serbian cluster manager to verify the structure of cluster chain relationships and their openness to the market;
• Development of knowledge sharing between Italian districts and Vojvodina and Serbian clusters, with the aim to develop business cooperation among companies;
• Training activities and a study in Friuli Venezia Giulia Region among productive districts;
• Organization a final conference for the presentation of clusters and for match making activities;
• Promotion of a paper on Serbian clusters activities, in order to improve the accessibility by Italian entrepreneurs.

Expected results:

• Analysis of supply chain relationships and of their degree of openness to the market;
• Development of two training seminars for cluster managers and business supporting organizations and a study tour to Friuli Venezia Giulia districts for 15 public officials and Serbian cluster manager;
• Preparation of a document analysis of Serbian cluster types;
• Elaboration of a Serbian model for the institutional support to the growth of the district;
• Organization and promotion of the final conference;
• Creation an electronic paper containing the activities of the 18 Serbian clusters interviewed.

Project Objectives:

The general objective of the project was to provide EU technical assistance to the Asian tourist sector for its sustainable and responsible growth on international markets, in order to attain the socio-economic benefits of an efficient management and the exportation of sustainable tourist products. The project thus aimed at:

• Enhancing the Asian countries skills and strategies to export sustainable and high quality tourism on the international market;
• Developing an integrated and permanent cooperation between the EU and Asian actors of the tourist sector at different levels;
• Growing the awareness of the economic impact of tourism in the socio-economic framework of the Asian countries partners.

Project activities:

• Collecting the market facts and figures;
• Design and management of the project web portal;
• Organization and realization of training courses in Nepal, Mongolia and Italy;
• Organisation of a seminar in Italy about tourist opportunities in Asia;
• Organisation of a 5 day mission in Nepal and Mongolia;
• Selection of interns and mission participants.

Expected Results:

• Enhancing the Asian tourism sector skills in planning, managing and exporting diversified sustainable tourist products;
• New business and cooperation contracts between Asian and European tourist operators;
• New investments in the Asian tourist sector;
• Improvement of the living standards of the local communities.

Project objectives:

The project had the general objective to guarantee the participation of the regional economic system at the development of Kosovo in his present historic phase of legal and economic consolidation, enhancing the relations between Friuli Venezia Giulia and Kosovo, both at the economic and institutional level, and creating collaboration opportunities for Italian and Kosovo enterprises. In particular, it aimed at developing and fostering the relations with the Italian Embassy in Kosovo, ICE Pristina, the Ministry for Trade and Industry and the Ministry for Energy and Mining, the Investment Promotion Agency – IPAK and the Association of road construction enterprises; as well as, in the regional framework, with ANCE FVG, Federlegno, CIA , the University of Udine, the Carnia Mountain Community and Lega Coop FVG.

Project activities:

• Institutional and economic monitoring among the main institutions and organizations of Kosovo;
• Activities of consolidation of the sub-project on renewable energies, started with the previous DKFVG project during 2007;
• Assistance to the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce to obtain ISO certification and to support ICT enterprises;
• Development of activities and interventions in the dairy sector in the Mitrovica region;
• Analysis and monitoring of opportunities arising from the infrastructure sector, with particular reference to road construction;
• Promotion of an economic mission in the wood sector during the Pristina wood fair;
• Implementation of the web site and of the Kosovo Business Guide. 

Expected results:

• Mission in Kosovo to participate at Natyura Fair 2009 and B2B meetings among enterprises; 
• Economic mission in Kosovo and realization of B2B with Kosovan companies working on the ICT sector;
• New mission to verify the opportunities arising from hydroelectric energy plants and assistance to potential investors of Friuli Venezia Giulia to participate at tenders for concession;
• Analysis on the dairy sector, study visit in Friuli Venezia Giulia of Kosovan dairy sector representatives and training activities; 
• On the field analysis of the dairy sector and construction of a local technical table;
• ISO certification for the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce;
• Updating of the business guide and of the website;
• Creation and training activities for the maintainance of SHE-ERA website.

As a part of the Enterprise Europe Network, the Friend Europe Consortium intended to deliver integrated services to SMEs covering North-East Italy area. Friend Europe worked to support business and innovation, to enhance their competitiveness, improve their innovation potential and promote the exploitation of opportunities arising from the enlarged internal market. This was implemented while playing a proactive role in the information and support of a wider target of local stakeholders for the development of policies and instruments coherent and complementary with the European strategy for SMEs, as outlined in the Competitive and Innovation Programme 2007-2013 and other Community actions, programmes and initiatives. The services planned by the Consortium under this proposal were therefore fully in line with local policy and tried to maximize the impact of the CIP on the target area by proactively integrating and complementing the services and initiatives already in place (private support services, regional and national policies and instruments) and intermediaries acting in Triveneto.

The main activities were:

Information and Promotion activities aimed to:

• provide first assistance, information and guidance to companies and to signpost for specialised services and assistance to the most appropriate partner or other local expert organizations;
• proactively promote the different EU initiatives and programmes;
• provide main stakeholders an up-to-date overview of EU policies, programmes, initiatives;
• act for the integration of the European dimension into the local context.

Stimulation and Participation service level was meant on one side to stimulate the participation of SMEs in EU consultations since they need edto understand their fundamental role in the EU decision making process and on the other side to stimulate the cross border cooperation and to facilitate the partners search. The Consortium Partners intended also to directly help the Commission, by providing impact assessments on EU legislation and programs, becoming in this way a link between Europe and the Triveneto area.

Assistance and Diagnosis services provided direct specialised support to SMEs, and particular attention was devoted to companies that have never participated or benefited from EU Single Market.

Project objectives:

The Montenegro Legno project aimed at fostering the wood sector growth and the regional economic development in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and Montenegro, through the creation of new investment opportunities and the transfer of good practices among the target economic actors. In particular, the project contributed to the increase of collaboration opportunities between Italian and Montenegrin SMEs, enhancing investment inflows in technology and production and the wood sector growth according to European standards.

Project activities:

• Analysis of the structural features and trade opportunities available in the Montenegrin wood sector;
• Training activities targeted at the sector enterprises;
• Organisation of study visits and B2B meetings between Montenegrin and FVG enterprises;
• Technical assistance for the granting of the forest certification;
• Promotion activities and dissemination of results.

Expected results:

• Identification and promotion of new opportunities for collaboration between FVG and Montenegrin SMEs;
• Transfer of technologies and good practices for the development of the wood sector in Montenegro;
• Forest certification and environmental-friendly management of forests;
• Increase of skilled workers able to use the transferred technologies.

Project objectives:

The project had the general objective to guarantee the presence of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region in Vojvodina as a strategic choice for positioning its regional system in Europe. In particular, the project activities aimed at strengthening the economic relations between the two realities and the institutional relations between the main regional institutions and organisations, in order to implement the bilateral agreement signed by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina in June 2007.

Project activities:

• Development of the permanent Office for Cooperation and Liaison of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region in Vojvodina;
• Enhancing of the benefits produced for the all system by the activities implemented;
• Development of common initiatives and projects;
• Promotion of investments and productive collaborations between the two realities; 
• Implementation and improvement of the project website.

Expected results: 

• Maintainance of institutional and economical relations between the two realities and enlargment of the partnership with other institutions and organisations;
• Participation of FVG and Vojvodina partners at common Euroepan projects;
• Economic mission in the building sector.

Objective of the project:

The STARNETregio project has been conceived to increase the overall capacity of regional players in the regions Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy), Slovenia and the County of Rijeka (Croatia) to invest in RTD and carry out research activities concerning the marine industry, in specific the shipbuilding and port equipments, intended to strengthen and develop the sector's scientific and technological basis and ultimately the economic growth of the regions. The project will support the performance of "regional research-driven clusters", associating universities and research centres (RTD), enterprises (industry cluster) and public regional authorities (PA), and will enhance coordination and cooperation among these regions.

Project activities:

• Establishment of an institutional cluster framework and mapping of regional development plans and RTD key actors;
• Cross regional analysis of regional development plans and RTD actors;
• Knowledge transfer through mutual learning processes and mentoring activities;
• Development of a joint Action Plan for improving the integration process.

Expected results:

• Regional reports on RTD policies, RTD financing and private and public RTD key actors and SWOT analysis;
• Regional research agendas;
• Report on maritime and shipbuilding relevant target players;
• Shared Transnational Agenda;
• Workshop and training activies;
• Joint Action Plan.

Project objectives:

The project aimed at supporting the Sarajevo Canton in its harmonisation process towards the EU standards required for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and in particular for the enhancement of the local environment and natural resources. Specific objectives of the project were:

• To strengthen the relations between the Autonomous Region of FVG and the Sarajevo Canton;
• To propose a new model for urban management in a target area of the Sarajevo Canton;
• To transfer new competencies to local civil servants in the environment, public service and EU programming sectors, and in particular about waste management, developing the guidelines for the context analysis and the communication campaign of the recycling project;
• To strengthen the knowledge about the opportunities and risks of the target territory for the implementation of a recycling system, with a context analysis;
• To evaluate the economic and technical feasibility of the pilot project for recycling in the target area;
• To increase the awareness of the population and local stakeholders about environmental protection and waste management.

Project activities:

• Organisation of a project launching seminar in Gorizia;
• Training activities in Sarajevo;
• Research study about a target area of the Sarajevo Canton and context analysis;
• Drafting of a recycling plan and the relative communication campaign;
• Final seminar in Sarajevo to increase the awareness of the population;
• Design and publication of a DVD about the project activities.

Expected results:

• To strengthen the administrative capacity of the Sarajevo Canton;
• To improve the quality of the urban management in a target area of the Sarajevo Canton.
• To draft and implement a pilot project for recycling in a target area of the Sarajevo Canton.

The aim of the PORTUS Project was to define a common development strategy for improving competitiveness of the Adriatic maritime system, developing the connections between the main regional ports and the Trans-European Network of Transport (TEN-T). The direct target groups included ministries, regional administrations, municipal institutions, port authorities, which cooperated in the implementation of the priority scenarios identified for improving the transport and logistics of the Adriatic maritime system. The main activities of the Project included:

• fostering dialogue and cooperation for the definition of a common Adriatic policy involving transport network planning, infrastructure investments and spatial development;
• identifying and setting in motion the actions necessary to improve port competitiveness;
• defining a Road Map for the realisation of the selected priority development scenarios;
• developing an institutional framework for future cooperation on cross-border and interregional policy issues, necessary for an efficient and competitive Adriatic maritime system.

The long-term aims of PORTUS were: promoting the competitiveness of the Adriatic maritime transport system and improving the access to new global markets. This was accomplished through the development of a truly intermodal maritime transport sector. From a socio-economic point of view, PORTUS regarded the prospective of developing the intermodal transport network, as a trigger of regional vitality. Furthermore, the transport systems advocated by PORTUS will have beneficial effects for the environment due to the strong focus placed on low-impact modes, such as sea and inland water-way transport.

The project aimed at fostering the development of agricultural economy in the area, by acting on the skills of the involved people, on the infrastructure of the region, and on the organisation and rationalisation of the production.

This has been achieved through the following tools:

• A technical assistance to the regional development agencies and to the producers that will be gathered in the cluster. The focus of the technical assistance was the promotion and certification of local products
• The investment in a small fruit processing plant, which is one of the infrastructures which are necessary on a region-wide level
• The creation of a cluster of fruit (apple) producers, with a recognisable commercial brand and the realization of a marketing plan to promote the initiative all over the target territory

The following activities were performed:

• management and organization, horizontal for all the project duration.
• Needs assessment and identification of instruments in order to identify the priorities and involve specific experts and partners.
• Technical assistance to increase the competences of local institutional actors, farmers and other stakeholders in the management of the economy, aimed at implementing the development and competitiveness of the local area.
• Institution of a small processing unit to provide a concrete support to agricultural production and Incentive for future farmers' investments
• Institution of an agricultural cluster and commercial brand
• Dissemination of results

The following results were achieved:

• Acquisition of know- how in the procedures to get certification for local products and to constitute associations and joint- ventures; acquisition of skills in developing marketing strategies;
• Realization of a pilot action consisting in the establishment of a cluster in the agro food sector among local (Croatian) agricultural operators and the acquisition and promotion of a commercial brand;
• Creation of a network among the operators involved in the project and reinforcement of the existing networks

Project Objectives:

The project aimed at fostering technological and business collaboration among SMEs from EU and Asian countries in the sector of food processing and food packing technologies. The project thus aimed at:

• Enhancing the sector development in the Asian partner countries which need technological support to grow in the European market and development aid in their own regions;
• Fostering the development of the food technology industry clusters in the EU partner countries, in order to create business opportunities in the related sectors of the Asian partner countries.

Project activities:

• Collecting the market facts and figures;
• Design of the project web portal;
• Organisation of two matchmaking events in Europe and Asia;
• Organisation of two workshops concerning food safety in China and intellectual property rights in Italy;
• Realisation of B2B meetings.

Expected results:

• Improving the competitiveness of the Asian SMEs thanks to the adoption of international standards, know-how and best practices exchange;
• Increasing the international business exchanges in the sector considered;
• Contributing to the improvement of the quality and safety of final products in the sector considered for the sake of consumers.

Project objectives:

The objective of this project was to increase domestic and foreign direct investment (FDI) through the further institutional development of the Investment Promotion Agency and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Project activities:

• Institutional and capacity building of the Investment Promotion Agency; 
• Establishment of a twinning agreement between the MTI/IPA and two EU economic development agencies; 
• Policy development to support domestic and international investment; 
• Planning and implementation of activities that attract FDI and promote Kosovo exports.

Expected results:

• Training activities;
• At least 2 twinning agreements between the MTI/IPA and two EU economic development agencies;
• Two international events in Kosovo or the EU to enhance the country’s participation.

Project objectives:

The project aimed at developing cross-border cooperation, through the analysis and the feasibility study concerning the implementation of a joint-ventured operative structure in charge of investment promotion in North-Eastern Croatia. This innovative body shall support and provide high value-added services to the economic actors and enterprises of the agro-food and logistic sectors. The project contributed to the setting up of new highly innovative enterprises in the agro-food sector, providing services for innovation and internationalisation processes in Croatia.

Project activities:

• Analysis and study of the territory;
• Research of models for enterprises in the agro-food sector and the advanced technology distribution;
• Activities for the creation of the enterprise supporting system;
• Common services and process to transfer know-how;
• Workshops and research activities for local enterprises;
• Partnership for the setting up of a joint-venture in the county;
• Drafting of a plan for financial/fiscal incentives targeted at the Italian and Croatian production systems and in particular at SMEs to foster the industrial development of the target area.

Expected results:

The project allowed for the single entrepreneurial ideas collected during the dissemination activities to become real investments for the economic development of the Vukovar County and its agro-food sector in particular, also due to the analysis of the technical and economic structure of the County, of the available financial opportunities in national, European and international resources, in the agreed framework of the incentives for enterprises.

Project objectives:

AMAMO aimes at enhancing economic growth generated from rural tourism by making more of endogenous resources of the territory in maritime and mountainous rural areas and the increasing capacity for operational programming of local actors.

AMAMO's specific objectives are:

• To strengthen and diversify entrepreneurial activity in the primary sector and its chain of transformation and commercialisation;
• To safeguard and promote existing natural and cultural heritage, also with measures of rehabilitation and social management;
• To establish a transnational network in order to guarantee to partners and relevant final beneficiaries a permanent access to the innovation of their governance techniques;
• To promote productive cooperation among NUTS III and NUTS IV territories of the IARs and of EAC Counties.

Project activities:

• Establishment of the Transnational Secretariat, project management and networking of the implementing units;
• Definition of selection criteria for the experiences of integrated operative programming (IOP) and of rural tourism projects implemented in such frame;
• Definition of benchmarks for the validation of good practices;
• Editing of a catalogue containing 20 experiences of integrated operative programming (IOP) and implemented projects of similar approach in the partner realms;
• Hospitality of one relevant officer from each EAC partner by a IAR partner organization for a two-week internship for deepening of IOP techniques;
• Strategies and methods for the design of Operational Programmes and project generation with local impact;
• Local SWOT analysis of the results achieved with experiences of integrated operative programming (IOP) and rural tourism projects implemented in this frame for overcoming of weaknesses and making more of success factors;
• Short term detachment of IAR experts at the premises of each 5 EAC partners for the implementation of IOP methodologies;
• Local activity of partners for overcoming IOP weaknesses and/or starting of new programming / new projects generation;
• IAR experts, relevant to the enhancement of endogenous resources pivotal in the Croatian single territorial areas, will implement short term cross-border missions;
• Relevant Croatian officers and selected entrepreneurs will participate to study visits in IAR realms;
• IAR experts, skilled in the institution building of PPP bodies, will implement 10 short term cross-border missions in the Croatian single territorial areas;
• Cross-border demonstrative pilot actions in the frame of the new rural tourism strategy.

Expected results:

• Public actors experience new working forms allowing them to acquire new competencies and new co-operative relationships, letting them mutually integrate in a permanent co-operation logic;
• Private actors will have the opportunity to experience new forms of organisation and co-ordination with public subjects (PPP) and to promote their products and services;
• Long term: Institutional beneficiaries will have experienced new and more structured working forms (strategic planning, implementation, execution and evaluation of results) turning out to be substantially important for the new community planning in the period 2007-2013 (in Italy) and in view of adhesion and related funds (in Croatia);
• Companies will take advantage of a wider, articulated and permanent network of relations throughout the Adriatic and therefore of a stronger capability of access and management of the related markets, even through the establishment of strategic alliances.

Project objectives:

The project has the overall aim of supporting the expansion process of the socio-economic structure of the target areas, developing the capacity building of the Agencies for the Local Economic Development to encourage cross-border cooperation and integrating the small and medium enterprises and their syndicates.

Project activities:

• Coordination, administrative-financial management, monitoring and evaluation;
• Analysis/identification of the existing Agencies for Economic Development on the regional territory;
• Analysis of the socioeconomic impact of the Agencies for Economic Development on the SMEs systems;
• Cross-border Network of the Agencies for Economic Development;
• Training on the Job;
• Socioeconomic animation;
• Pilot Actions - Activities BtoB;
• Dissemination activities.

Expected results:

• To facilitate the process of internationalization and metabolisation of external know-how and resources on their own territory;
• To animate the local economic tissue using specific information about the marketing channels;
• Awareness of the existing marketing cooperation opportunities, the modality used for their implementation and the tools available for financial and organizational support;
• Consolidation of the existing marketing relations and the activation of new relations;
• Internationalization and cooperation strategies to increase their competitiveness in the sector;
• The capacity of governance and the regulation of the local socio-economical system.

Project objectives:

The main objective of the SEAWAYS project was to create a model for an integrated and sustainable development of the tourist sector, strengthening the cooperation and integration of the cross-border regions in the Adriatic area. In particular, the project aimed at:

• promoting policies for economic development, supporting SMEs and the creation of new jobs in the tourist sector;
• increasing mutual knowledge of the Adriatic economic and social situation;
• consolidating the exchange of skills concerning business internationalisation processes.

Project activities:

• Study on the seaways and commercial routes in the Adriatic basin to promote this common historical and cultural heritage as a common ground for enhanced transnational cooperation activities;
• Organisation of workshops and seminars, exchange of good practices and training activities targeted at local stakeholders;
• Development of trans-national pilot actions for the elaboration of innovative tourist offer packages.

Expected results:

• Elaboration of a model for an integrated and sustainable development of the tourist sector;
• Study and rediscovery of the historical and cultural heritage of the commercial seaways and seafaring tradition in the Adriatic;
• Improvement of the professional competences concerning innovation, management and planning in the tourist sector.
• Development of a marketing plan, improvement of the quality of the tourist offer and promotion of the economic growth in the target areas.

Project objectives:

The project general objective was to assure the participation of the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional economic system to the development of Kosovo in the current transitional phase. The specific objective is to give institutional and operational support to the carrying out of the Cooperation Agreement, signed in Prishtina on 4 April 2006 between the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (KCC), Informest and four Friuli Venezia Giulia Chambers of Commerce.

Project activities:

• Monitoring and providing news, events and investment opportunities, among which the monitoring of international tenders for works and supplies in Kosovo and their promotion among Friuli Venezia Giulia companies;
• Kosovo market analysis and strengthening of the interest of Friuli Venezia Giulia companies for the opportunities in Kosovo;
• Development of a sub-project in the sector of renewable energy in Kosovo, in particular for the hydro-electric production;
• Arrangement and accompaniment of two business missions (one in Kosovo and one in FVG);
• Support to the participation of FVG companies to auctions for the privatization of collective companies in Kosovo;
• Creation of the Business Guide Kosovo according to the pattern patented by Informest, including the training of the Kosovo staff.

Expected results: 

• At least fifty news, events and opportunities, including international tenders for works and supplies in Kosovo, monitored and fostered among Friuli Venezia Giulia companies;
• At least fifteen entrepreneurial meetings for the promotion of Kosovo organized for Friuli Venezia Giulia companies;
• At least two entrepreneurial missions on sectoral basis, one from Friuli Venezia Giulia and one from Kosovo, with partnership meetings;
• A defined and implemented sub-project in renewable energy sector, aimed at transferring FVG know-how and at evaluating possible FVG investments in Kosovo in that field;
• At least four FVG companies that show interest in participating to privatization auctions in Kosovo;
• Drafting of the new Business Guide Kosovo on the basis of Informest standard, prepared and made available to public.

Project objectives:

The project general objectives consisted in:

1. A deeper understanding and implementation capacity of EU principles and standards on sustainable local development by the target groups and final beneficiaries;
2. More added value for the productive sector of the Koprivnica-Kri�evci County by matching EU market driving principles and local civil society standards and expectations.

Specific objectives were the following:

1. To establish in Koprivnica-Kri�evci County a public-private board involving local administration, relevant stakeholders of the SME sector and NGOs of the civil society, in order to address current weaknesses in the awareness and implementation of the European culture on quality standards within the local entrepreneurial environment;
2. To support the competitive upgrading of local businesses in line with the principles of the European Charter for SMEs by the design of innovative approaches to entrepreneurial development.

Project activities:

• Mobilization of the Italian Project leader (IPL) and establishment of a regional working group PPP for the generation of new guidelines and innovative projects on local sustainable development;
• Promotion and management of 3 PPP-based focus groups;
• Organisation of 3 thematic workshops;
• Design and issue of communication tools relevant to the workshops;
• A final public conference;
• Networking on EU information and capacity building experience with other Croatian Counties on European Charter for SMEs.

Expected results:

• A standing innovation capacity of the consultative board based on public-private partnership about sustainable development programming harmonised with EU acquis in place;
• The know-how achievement for the implementation of the European Charter for SME at the regional level enhanced a pro-active participation to the pre-accession process at decentralised level, better qualifying of the County attractiveness for foreign investors and the absorbing capacity of new EU funds;
• The establishment of a long lasting network for the dialogue between the Koprivnica-Kri�evci and Friuli Venezia Giulia societies has further bridged the information gap, contributed to a better mutual knowledge and brought the players of the political and economic systems closer in view of further enlargement of European Union to Croatia.

Project objectives:

In the framework of the International Desk South East Europe, the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia promoted the organisation of the congress "Scenarios of development in the Adriatic-Balcanic Area", held in Gorizia (Italy) the 8 and 9^th March 2010. The aim of the congress was to start a multiannual collaboration between the target countries for the elaboration of a common development strategy in the Adriatic-Balkanic area. Informest, as a partner of the Region, was thus charged of the technical organisation of the congress: a two-day event, structured in three thematic tables (energy, transports and financial insurance sector) with the participation of 250 guests and institutional representatives of high level from the target countries (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, FYM of Macedonia, Albania, Romania, Greece and Turkey).

Project activities:

• Organisation and technical supervision of the congress;
• Secretariat activities, logistics, transports and realisation of promotional materials;
• Coordination of the involved actors (institutions, public security authorities, suppliers and partners);
• Coordination and supervision of the event;
• Follow-up.

Expected results:

Organisation and realisation of a permanent Forum aimed at define the intervention priorities for the development of the Adriatic-Balkanic Area.

Project objectives:

The project objective was to put into effect the cooperation agreement between the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Perm Region, fostering the development of trade exchanges (in particular in the timber, mechanical and agro-industrial sector). The feasibility study investigatesdthe opportunity and convenience of modernizing and improving the Port of Perm in sight of the development of the waterways between the Perm Region and the ports of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Project activities:

• Analysis of the resources potentiality available in the Perm Region, which could be interesting for the regional economy of Friuli Venezia Giulia;
• Realization of the feasibility study;
• Realization of seminars for the promotion of the Perm Region in Friuli Venezia Giulia and the results of the feasibility study;
• Organization of two missions in Perm (a start-up mission and a final mission with the participation of entrepreneurs of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region);
• Organization of a mission of the Russian partners’ representatives in Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Expected results:

• A feasibility study on the potentiality of the business relationships between the Perm Region and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region on waterways;
• Increasing of the business relationships between Russian and Italian enterprises;
• Boosting of the institutional relationships between the administrations of the Perm Region and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.

Project objectives:

The project general objective was to give institutional and structural continuity to the results achieved by the implementation of ISSER Project - Socio-economic regional development initiatives - and to strengthen bilateral relations between the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.

The project had also the following specific objectives:

• To promote an integrated approach of the Friuli Venezia Giulia intervention in Vojvodina;
• To strengthen the project design of new bilateral projects among institutions, agencies and companies of both Regions;
• To strengthen investment promotion and economic co-operation between companies from Friuli Venezia Giulia and Vojvodina by monitoring the last phase of the privatization process and the opportunities erasing from work and supply tenders in Serbia.

Project activities:

The implemented actions concerned the following areas:

• Start-up and functioning of the permanent Cooperation and Liaison Office in Novi Sad;
• Organisation of two seminars aimed at illustrating legal, technical and financial aspects related to ongoing and future bilateral projects and aimed at generating new project initiatives between subjects of both Regions;
• Organisation of meetings to put in contact potential partners;
• Assistance to the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, other Regional bodies interested in the project, the Chambers of Commerce, entrepreneurial associations, companies consortia and other public, private and mixed bodies and companies in accessing investment opportunities in Vojvodina and support economic collaboration between both Regions;
• Design, implementation and updating of the Vojvodina Database (VD);
• Set up of a project web site with access to VD within the Informest portal www.informest.it. The website has been updated with quarterly reports about Vojvodina (Focus on Vojvodina) and with a monthly Newsletter published by Informest on the Internet.

Expected results:

• Organisation of seminars, meetings; assistance to companies and institutions that aim to start up and develop co-operation with Vojvodina;
• Three partnership events between companies, promoted by public authorities or by other Vojvodina’s development actors;
• Vojvodina Data Base design and updating.

Project objectives:

The project objective consisted in the diffusion of information and a better acknowledgement about IPA Adriatic Cross Border Cooperation Programme, through the organization and realization of five working tables, one for each thematic priorities of the programme, with a previous and a following plenary session of work. The participant countries at the event are the ones belonging to the IPA Adriatic Cross Border Cooperation Programme area: Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Serbia.

Project activities:

• Definition of the event beneficiaries on a national and international level;
• Definition and realization of promotional and advertising material about the event;
• Promotion of the event on a national and international level;
• Organization of the necessaries logistic services (interpreting, audio-video recording, rooms setting-up, billboards, catering);
• Management of orders and contacts with suppliers;
• Organizational secretariat of the event;
• Follow-up.

Results:

• 254 participants (Regional political Authorities, Regional Bodies and Agencies, Universities, NGOs, Ministerial officers);
• 78 project proposals presented;
• Realization of 5 working tables;
• Realization of a press conference.

The main objective of the project was to give assistance to the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Directorate for International Relations and Local Government Autonomies in the fields of territorial cooperation and EU structural funds, in order to enhance the Region FVG staff in the elaboration of the Operative Programmes. In particular the assistance provided concerned:

• cross-border cooperation;
• transnational cooperation;
• interregional cooperation.

Informest activities were aimed also to spread up within the target groups the knowledge of the Structural Funds regulation 2007-2013, objective and instruments, trough the organisation of seminars, events, conferences and training courses.

Project objectives:

Due to the great potentialities offered by the relationships between the SMEs of the two border areas, the project aimed at improve the relations between the two entrepreneurial systems, through different activities involving the institutional and economic players from both the territories. In particular, the project aimed at increase knowledge, competitiveness and innovation at the local level fostering institutional and economic cooperation.

Project activities:

• Economic animation and creation of institutional networks;
• Activities to strengthen cross-border cooperation between SMEs;
• Activities to support technological cooperation between SMEs in the cross-border area.

Expected results:

• Economic animation and creation of institutional networks to last after the conclusion of the project;
• Enhanced economic cooperation between SMEs;
• Information activities and support to the internationalisation process and technological development of enterprises, increasing their awareness and orientation towards innovation and the opportunities to set up new enterprises with benefits for the employment in the area;
• Further integration and harmonisation of the two areas, considering their potential economic-productive sector characterised by the presence of a considerable number of SMEs that can be positively affected by joint and complementary activities.

Project Objectives:

In the framework of the Observatory on Productive clusters, Informest has implemented a Market Intelligence Project concerning Eastern European countries and markets (New EU MS, Balkan countries and Western countries of the former Soviet Union), aiming at enhancing and leading the internationalization process of the SMEs of the Veneto Region, increasing the knowledge, the evaluation of existing business and productive opportunities and the access to these markets who make the object of a growing economic and geopolitical interest. The project thus met the need of the single enterprises as well as the whole industrial clusters to get reliable and precise information on possible local partners, consumption behaviours and the economic situation in the target countries. The project particularly aimed at:

• Fostering the growth of enterprises, identifying the best available opportunities for business and productive collaboration;
• Defining new development policies at the cluster level.

Project activities:

• Realisation of 19 country reports to analyse the structural, legal and industrial characteristics of each country;
• Realisation of 15 country reports focused on specific production sections or productive clusters, such as fashion, housing, agro-food, sport and leisure sectors.

Expected results:

The Marketing Intelligence project and the realisation of the country reports improved the competitiveness of the Veneto productive system, enhancing the transfer of products, services, technologies and training opportunities towards the target countries.

In the long run, the country reports, updated on a yearly basis, allowed a constant monitoring activity on the business cycles and trends in the target countries and economic sectors (weaknesses and strengths, threats and opportunities), representing a reliable and precise data base for Veneto enterprises to develop their marketing strategies.

The analysis was focused on a new phenomenon recently intensifying, that is the development of economic cooperation between P.R. of China and some Eastern European countries. The study, following an initial phase of data collection, aimed at underlining the typology of trade exchange, as if involving intermediate or final goods, whether the trade development flow interest mainly demand related to domestic consumption or some productive delocalisation phases, and at individuating the main trade patterns. The analytic evaluations were prevailingly focused on imports of some East European countries from China. The four relevant EE countries considered were: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia and Albania. The aim of these case-studies was the individuation of the analytic structure of trade patterns with China and of the eventual other forms of bilateral cooperation. Moreover, for this four countries, a special attention has been given to the growing exports to China, an issue destined to assume a greater importance in the medium term. The identification of the economic relations between EE countries (and specificately the four mentioned) and China was to be related with a reference framework that could be useful to Italian enterprises that are interested to penetrate Chinese market.

Project objectives:

The project aimed at contributing to the setting up of a new governance instrument in the territory of the Alpe-Adria-Pannonia, through the management of the new cross-border, transnational and interregional programmes established at the European level.

Project activities:

• Analysis of statistical and qualitative data about the socio-economic situation of the area;
• Identification of a common strategy and shared policy goals for the setting up of a formal cooperation framework;
• Setting up and coordination of four thematic working tables (Transport Infrastructure and Location Development, Spatial Planning and Development; Socio-Economic development and co-operation; Co-operation among urban centres and municipalities)
• Dissemination of results.

In particular, Informest has been charged by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region of the organization of the First Political Conference, held in Trieste on 24 January 2007, with the participation of the highest institutional representatives of the target countries, the technical experts and the project partners. Informest was also responsible for the organization of the meetings between the representatives and experts of the partners involved, as well as for the preparation of the analysis and the technical documents required for the project implementation.

Expected results:

• Improved understanding of the present situation and future trends in key areas for spatial development;
• Proposal of an institutional structure for cooperation at political and administrative levels
• Clear definition of the relations with the Alps Adriatic Community and EUROREGIOs (established or planned)
• Setting up of networks at the administrative and experts level
• Joint strategies in key areas influencing spatial development
• Pipe-line of projects to be elaborated jointly

The Project was aimed at carrying a study on the features of the local autonomies in the New Member Countries of Central Eastern Europe as in the countries of South-Eastern Europe (candidates or not). The analysis focused on the presentation of a general framework of the process of regionalization in the region, with special reference to topics as deconcentration, delegation and devolution of powers. For each considered country was predisposed a specific report, comprehensive of the legal framework in force and the perspectives of its implementation, a political comment on the process of regionalization pursued, a description of the sub-national structures and bodies close to the regional level, the procedures of local elections, a record of powers (legislative, executive) and of the competences detained. Eventually, the study containes a list of the principal contacts and addresses in loco. A final chapter of the study foresaw a mapping of existing assemblies with legislative power in the considered area related to the deconcentration/delegation/devolution taxonomy.

Project objectives:

The project objective consisted in pinpointing integrated cross border methods, systems and tools of sustainable management of agricultural and forest resources in the CADSES area, towards a shared carbon balance, taking into account the fundamental function of forests in absorbing and retaining carbon and implementing existing environmental policies according to the State commitments towards the Kyoto Protocol. The project allowed to provide concrete tools for the assessment and improvement of the capability of the grand agricultural and forest resources of  the CADSES area, to play a primary role in the global market of the carbon shares, following the application of the Kyoto Protocol.

Project activities:

• Transnational data collection and identification of CADSES cross-border territorial areas of intensive monitoring in order to determine the balance of carbon;
• Analysis of the cross border gaps and support to the description of the carbon cycle in the target areas, in order to improve the analysis of the regional agricultural and forestry resources management;
• Carbon cycle evaluation and definition of targets in order to improve management of resources in the cross border CADSES areas and increase carbon credits;
• Pilot actions for the application of transnational sustainable management principles of agricultural and forest resources, aimed at supporting the government bodies in the application of the transnational Action Plan delivered in the previous actions;
• Dissemination and exploitation for the improvement of agricultural and forestry resources management in the CADSES area.

Expected results:

• Creation of a database on agricultural and forest systems and setting up of models for the public administration to allow a better management of forest and agricultural areas;
• New strategies and technologies to improve the management of agricultural and forest systems in order to obtain the best environmental and economic results and promote sustainable development;
• Common monitoring activities at the transnational level in cross border areas to determine the balance of carbon within an integrated methodology;
• Actions to support the integration process of spatial and rural development at the regional level;
• Best practice exchange concerning the management of closed carbon cycles, which could later be implemented in other EU regions.

Project objectives:

The ACIND project aimed at enhancing the exchange of knowledge and good practices on sustainable industrial development between the two shores of the Adriatic Sea and promoting common approaches and methodologies in order to involve local actors on local development and investment attraction issues. In particular, the project focused on innovation, energy management and environmental management in industrial sites. The project also aimed at increasing the planning skills of the involved territories to realize suitable infrastructures and thus contribute to their harmonious development and the reinforcement of local cohesion, as well as to create the right conditions for the identification and planning of infrastructures for local and SMEs development.

Project activities:

• Setting up of thematic working tables and local working groups;
• Development of an "assessment toolkit" on industrial sites and SMEs, SWOT analyses about local specificities;
• Identification of good practices and their classification in Best Practise Providers (the territory where the good practice can be found) and Best Practices Recipients (actors interested in solving a specific issue);
• Implementation of pilot projects on innovation, sustainable environmental management and energy efficiency to develop industrial clusters.

Expected Results:

• Elaboration and sharing of methodologies and planning processes in order to start initiatives aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the industrial sectors and fostering bottom up approaches in setting up local development policies;
• Evolution to a new model of production, environmentally sustainable and focused on knowledge economy assets, skills and quality of productive and managerial processes, energy saving and efficiency;
• Increase of the skills in planning industrial sites and, in particular, of the capacity to plan and realize technologically advanced industrial sites, with ecological and innovative equipments and spaces and services for new business, as business incubators and technological parks.

The IDEA (Interactive Database for Enterprises and Associations) project is conceived as one of the promotion and assistance activities addressed to companies, in the framework of art. 5 of the Italian Law 84/01 regulating the Italian participation to the stabilisation, reconstruction and development process in the Balkan Area.

The Project objective, in accordance with the priorities defined by the resolution of the Italian Council of Ministries on 20/11/2003, was to facilitate the availability and the circulation of the information essential for companies development in the beneficiaries Countries, and for the attraction of foreign investments. In particular, the Initiative aimed at: 

• Monitoring, region by region, the existent supporting tools for companies arranged both by Central and by Local Authorities (at regional, county and municipal level), also pointing out if such tools are available for Italian companies and Mixed Capital Companies as well, or only for purposely established joint ventures between Italian and local enterprises;
• Monitoring, at regional and sub-regional level, the public and private organizations providing business supporting services (Service Providers), in particular to SMEs, in the beneficiaries Countries;
• Implementing, on the basis of the just mentioned monitoring activities, an interactive multilingual database, available through the Internet, containing organized information about all the private and public entities that provide services to enterprises at regional and local level in the beneficiaries Countries. In addition, the database contained information concerning the provided services and their accessibility;
• Creating a technological support system to facilitate the networking among the local development agencies, the business supporting organizations, and the companies final beneficiaries as well. The final network increased such the subjects' capacities in providing good-quality services tailoring local and foreign companies needs, especially those Italians. Thanks to the networking, the companies shall interact amongst each others and with the supporting organisations.

Project objectives:

The project aimed at training 30 young Russian professionals coming from Perm and Kaliningrad regions, through training courses, internships and study tours. The project was tailored on the needs expressed by entrepreneurs of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, who work on a regular basis in the Russian Federation and have ascertained the lack of professionalism in certain specific sectors. Managers of the following sectors participated in the initiative: furniture and wood processing, light industry, machine building.

Project activities:

• Launching of the call for applicants;
• Selection interviews for applicants in Russia;
• Organisation of the practical training in Italy: refreshment courses realised for young executives of Kaliningrad and Perm region in the following sectors: furniture and wood processing, training of trainers;
• Organisation of the internships and study tours in Italy;
• Tutoring of participants before, during and after their permanence in Italy.

The general project objective was to promote the growth of the agricultural sector in Vojvodina through technical co-operation provided by Informest and the Union of Drainage and Irrigation Consortia of the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia. The experience held by the Union, which is particularly skilled in the field of programming and construction of facilities and has relevant competence in administrative aspects and procedures when dealing with different public and private bodies located in our Region, has been of great interest to the Executive Council of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and to Vojvodina's public company in charge of irrigating and drainage water management. The co-operation with Vojvodina's Provincial Secretariat of Agriculture, the Executive Council of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the public company Vode Vojvodine within this project thus allowed to meet the following specific project objectives:

• The development of Vojvodina's programming capacities in the field of water management, considering also that this region had been hit by disastrous floodings;
• The international benchmarking with Friuli Venezia Giulia's experience and skills in the field of drainage and irrigation, especially with regard to the classification criteria of the territory;
• Cartographic innovation aimed at a better management of the water system in general and of irrigation waters in particular;
• Identification of needed facilities in the fields of agricultural redevelopment and irrigation, with emphasis on different facility typologies, different financial sources, costs, criteria for allocating resources to the beneficiary areas;
• Strengthening of the capacity to acquire funds, also on the basis of partnership agreements between public and private investors;
• The capacity to manage with flexibility the programming instruments aimed at innovating Vojvodina's agriculture and at the harmonization of its production standards to the EU regulations.

In order to achieve these objectives, Informest implemented the following activities:

• Inception and inspection mission;
• 3 Technical assistance missions to the Executive Council of the AP Vojvodina and to the Company Vode Vojvodine;
• Internship for 3 technicians from Vojvodina at the Drainage Consortia of Friuli Venezia Giulia, members of the Union;
• Final Project Conference in Vojvodina.

Project objectives:

The objective of the project was to organize and carry out 3 seminars aimed at transferring competences and techniques for drafting Regional Operative Programmes (ROPs) to 3 Croatian partner Counties of the Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia within the framework of the future EU 2007-2013 programming. The need for strengthening these competences within the Croatian partner Counties was evident also with respect to the current pre-adhesion policy of the Croatian Government.

Project activities:

• 3 technical seminars of one day each organized and carried out in 3 Croatian Counties, i.e. in the County Primorsko-goranska, in the County of Istria and in the County Koprivnicko-krizevacka (Koprivnica-Krizevci);
• Deployment of short-term experts and competent FVG regional managers in the field of ROP drafting and implementation from FVG;
• General coordination of project activities, monitoring, operational and financial management.

Expected results: 

3 Croatian Counties, partners of the Autonomous Region of FVG, have acquired best practices and technical capacity for regional development programming according to EU standards and for the planning of trans-national partnerships for the implementation of the future EU cohesion policy Objective 3 for the period 2007-2013.

Project objectives:

The project aimed at favouring the transfer of best European practices in the field of development programming and entrepreneurial support as they are implemented in the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia by tje public administration and other relevant bodies. Moreover, the project supported the development of new twinning initiatives between public organisations and bodies from Friuli Venezia Giulia and Vojvodina, where the acquired experiences and best practices owned by Friuli Venezia Giulia are of primary importance for the benefeciary organisations in Vojvodina.

Project activities:

• Organisation of a study tour in Friuli Venezia Giulia for officials from the administration of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and other public organisations and bodies in charge of local development;
• Organisation of internships in Friuli Venezia Giulia for officials and executives from the administration of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and other public organisations and bodies in charge of local development;
• Drafting of new twinning initiatives between relevant FVG and Vojvodina public organisations and bodies with the technical assistance and support of their FVG counterparts;
• General co-ordination activity of the afore-mentioned iniatives and monitoring over the creation and development of new twinning programmes.

Expected results:

• Institutional co-operation between Friuli Venezia Giulia and Vojvodina stregthened thanks to a better mutual knowledge and the creation of new partnerships between public administration and other bodies in charge of local development from both Regions;
• New twinning initiatives between public organisations and bodies involved from both Regions to boost also new commercial and economic co-operation between companies;
• Generation on new local development projects for Vojvodina and strengthening of Vojvodina's competences to access international financing.

Project Objectives:

The project aimed at certifying the quality of at least 30 private SMEs from Kosovo and at supporting them in the process of accessing EU markets, especially as regards the economic co-operation with Italian enterprises from Friuli Venezia Giulia. The project also aimed at spreading in Friuli Venezia Giulia a better and more objective knowledge of the business and investment opportunities avalaible in Kosovo.

Project Activities:

• Deployment in Kosovo and in Italy of an Italian senior expert in charge of identifying at least 30 Kosovan privately owned SMEs with the support of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and other relevant Kosovan institutions;
• Identification of a relevant number of Kosovan privately owned SMEs and selection of at least 30 of them to be involved in the project; 
• Presentation of the selected Kosovan SMEs to the enterprises of Friuli Venezia Giulia through specific events and conferences to be organised in the Region FVG;
• Organisation of one partnership event in Kosovo between selected Kosovan SMEs and Italian companies from FVG interested in building new commercial and investment partnerships with their Kosovan counterparts.

Expected results:

• Identification of at least 30 Kosovan privately owned SMEs and their quality certification;
• Support to the access of Kosovan identified SMEs to the EU market, support to the extension of commercial co-operation between Kosovan SMEs and Italian companies from Friuli Venezia Giulia;
• Spread of objective information and opportunities offered by Kosovo among Italian enterprises from Friuli Venezia Giulia through seminars, informative events and company match-making.

Project objectives:

The aim of the project was to support local economic development, rural diversification and use of alternative sources of energy in Falesti district, by introducing and experimenting agrarian crops to be used for energy purposes, through the set up of an agro-industrial process aimed at producing alternative energy from oleaginous crops (sunflower and canola).

Project activities:

• Experimental cultivation of oleaginous crops;
• Processing of oleaginous biomass and esterification of bio-diesel;
• Utilisation for motor-traction and electric power generation in demonstrative farms;
• Analysis of project results;
• Economic missions of Italian and Romanian entrepreneurs in Moldova;
• Study visits of Moldavian delegations in Italy and Romania;
• Dissemination of project outcomes.

Expected results:

Enhancement of the multifunctional role of agriculture and diversification of economy. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, especially CO2, and improvement of the environmental quality standards. Stimulation to the creation of new income sources and new jobs thanks to the introduction of experimental cultivation.

Given that, in the framework of the 2005 Italian Promotional Program for foreign trade, the Russian Federation had been chosen as the priority Country, the Project Russia of Regions was conceived in order to finally facilitate Italian economic actors and those companies interested in the Russian market, to know more about its huge regional dimension, so that the Italian investment initiatives could seize also, and even more, the opportunities deriving from these territories and their emerging economies.

The project finally led to the implementation of the First Italian Official Web Portal Focused on the Different Russian Regions supported by a database in Italian containing information about the different Russian regional markets: not only statistics and macroeconomic indicators, but also some useful services such as business opportunities and data on the most attractive factors of the single Russian Regions. The Portal Russia of Regions represented, at the same time, a real opportunity also for all the 86 Russian regions, who could promote themselves and open new collaboration and trading channels with an increasing number of Italian economic operators and Regional Administrations.

On behalf of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Informest was assigned to the project focused on the realization and publication of a review (EUROREGIO) as a mean of discussion in view of the creation of an Euroregion in the Alps-Adriatic area. The review, published in three editions (Italian, Slovenian and German), each bilingual (Italian/English, Slovenian/English, German/English), to be issued in 4 numbers, is conceived as distinct essays: the first one focused on research and innovation; the topic dealt with in the second number was the experience of cross-border cooperation in this area and the new EU institutional framework for reciprocal cooperation; the other considered themes were transports, healthcare, culture, tourism. The purpose of this review was to promote cooperation among the regions situated in an enlarged area from North Adriatic to Danube, diffusing the concept of Euro-Region.

The SEA-Bridge (Adriatic port facilities as a bridge for trans-European network) was aimed at developing and strengthening the sea transport networks linking the Region of Abruzzo (Central Italy) to the most important pan-European networks such as Corridor V and Corridor VIII. The Project aimed, in fact, at helping to increase the co-operation between the two versants of the Adriatic sea, to say Adriatic Italian regions and EACs, and at the same time, to favour and strengthen the cross-border exchanges of both people and goods, optimising their flows. Specifically, Abruzzo region's ports could become a junction point for traffic flaws originating from Lazio region and the capital area and directed to EACs. The Project's specific objectives were the realisation of two infrastructure interventions in the sea ports of Pescara and of Ortona and the realisation of a feasibility study.

The feasibility study was composed by three sections:

• Evaluation of the traffic between Italy and the Balkan countries by mode of transport;
• Role of the maritime transports in the relationship between the Italian "Mezzogiorno" and the Balkans;
• Market scenarios: external trade, economic cooperation, foreign direct investments.

Project objectives:

The action aimed at promoting integrated project approach in the implementation of Structural Funds. Its contribution to the objective was the production of innovative tools of governance and institutional models for planning and management of integrated projects.

Project activities:

The operation promoted and financed subprojects for trans-national partnerships, for the creation and testing of innovative practices in subprojects, exchange of expertise, production of methodologies for territorial subprojects, thematic projects, public private partnerships The output of GRIP_IT were subprojects, presentation of good practices, international conferences and workshops involving social and economic actors.

Informest as the mandated body of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia managed the whole deployment of civil (4) and non-civil (4) servants originated by Friuli Venezia Giulia.

In this position Informest experts dealt with activities related to all specific objectives of the programme:

• Strengthening institutional structures at central level in order to achieve, upon accession, sound and efficient management of EU Structural and Cohesion Funds;
• Preparing the Bulgarian regional authorities for effective implementation of regional development programs, thus ensuring more transparent involvement of the regions in programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EC assistance in line with the partnership principle;
• Developing sound and effective co-ordination between central and regional institutions in order to facilitate the absorption of the future funding under EU Structural and Cohesion Funds.

Moreover one Study Tour in FVG Region was organised for relevant Bulgarian officers on the issues of the organisation of expenditures certification and payment processes in particular.

Project objectives:

• The implementation of initiatives that will favour riconversion and development of the manufacturing and industrial sectors through targeted actions on several sectors of interest for the local industry and for eventual co-operation with Italian enterprises;
• Development of trade relationship and creation of opportuntities between Bulgarian and Italian small and medium-sized enterprises in the most perspective sectors of the economic and trade relations between Bulgaria and Italy;
• Training and capacity building of 80 Bulgarian entrepreneurs;
• One-to-one tutoring of entrepreneurs and realization of 80 business plans;
• Meetings, development of contacts and trade opportunities between 80 Bulgarian and 30 Italian companies.

Project activities:

• Project promotion in Italy and in Bulgaria, collection of participation forms coming from Bulgarian companies;
• Selection of suitable Bulgarian companies that will be included in the training activity;
• Implementation of the training activity through workshops;
• Evaluation of business plans prepared by the participants during the training;
• One-to-one tutoring of the Bulgarian entrepreneurs;
• Promotion of business opportunities between Bulgaria and Italy and organization of meetings and seminars between Italian and Bulgarian enterprises.