BSR INTERREG III B
Progress Report – Activity Report
BSR INTERREG III B Activity Report
Dear Lead Partner,
Please take notice of the following when filling in the activity report:
1. Please do not change or delete the structure, page/section breaks or prefilled texts of the reporting form.
2. Please follow the instructions given in the turquoise fields or in cursive in the white fields. Please delete the cursive advice in brackets on the white fields before filling them in.
3. Please try to keep the descriptions clear and short. When describing the performed activities please refer to your plan as stated in the application form.
4. Please find a list of programme output indicators on the next page. Please use them in the section “output indicators” when reporting the WP achievements. In case you have named and quantified any other output indicators in the application, please list and quantify the fulfilled ones in the WP reports.
5. Projects that have received Tacis funding to involve partners from Russia and Belarus (upgrades from the 6th and 7th rounds and projects of the 8th round) should report the activities carried out under the Tacis grant contract in a specific section “Tacis funding” of this reporting form. This information is required to follow up the main progress of the Tacis part. Please note that there is a separate reporting procedure towards the EU delegation for Tacis funding.
6. Please note that the sections “Summary description of the project” and “Achievements of the project so far” will be published without further edition on the BSR INTERREG IIIB website. Therefore, try to describe the project and the achievements in a concrete way and make the texts easy to understand also for those not so familiar with your topic. Please revise whenever appropriate the descriptions of these sections, and submit these sections in all your activity reports (for finalising projects – please see below).
Finalising projects (projects submitting the last Progress report) should note that:
7. The section “Achievements of the project so far” should not be filled in – please instead include the main achievements in the “Summary description of the project” according to the guidance in the corresponding section of the reporting form.
8. For finalising projects two separate annexes attached to the Reporting Form have to be filled in. Annex A is common for all ending projects and Annex A.1.1, A1.2 etc. is measure specific. Please submit the annexes together with the final progress report both in a digital and a signed and stamped paper version.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the BSR Interreg III B Joint Secretariat.
BSR INTERREG III B *** Progress Report 02.11.2007 Page 2 of 4
BSR INTERREG III B
Progress Report – Activity Report
Eeva Rantama
Project Manager
Tel: +49 381 45484 5254
Bo Storrank
Project Manager
Tel: +49 381 45484 5276
Joanna Przedrzymirska
Project Manager
Tel: +49 381 45484 5291
Vineta Griekere
Project Manager
Tel +371 7357373
BSR INTERREG III B *** Progress Report 02.11.2007 Page 2 of 4
BSR INTERREG III B
Progress Report – Activity Report
BSR INTERREG III B *** Progress Report 02.11.2007 Page 2 of 4
BSR INTERREG III B
Progress Report – Activity Report
Output indicators
1. Number of common spatial development visions
2. Number of concrete development concepts and strategies
3. Number of land-use and building plans based on transnational strategies
4. Number of technical concepts and feasibility studies
5. Number of economic expertise and business plans
6. Number of cases where environmental impact assessment has been used
7. Number of cases where territorial impact assessment has been used
8. Number of promotion and marketing strategies
9. Number of guidelines, manuals
10. Number of learning programmes
11. Number of training courses and number of trainees
12. Number of small-scale infrastructure investments and their amount
13. Number of all persons involved directly in project events
14. Number of information releases describing project results
· Websites
· Brochures
· TV and radio broadcasts, movie clips
· Presentations and lectures
BSR INTERREG III B *** Progress Report 02.11.2007 Page 2 of 4
BSR INTERREG III B
Progress Report – Activity Report (general information)
Project name: / Sustainable Development in the Mid Nordic RegionReporting period: /
01.01.2007 - 05.10.2007
/ Number of the report: / 6Summary description of the project
Please provide a brief overall summary of the project. The description will be directly published on the BSR INTERREG III B website, and it is intended for use in marketing material, project summaries etc. Please therefore pay attention to the language and make the text easy to understand also for people not familiar with your project theme.
(maximum 2500 characters)
County Councils from Norway, Sweden and Finland being the members of the 25 year old Mid Nordic Committee (MNC)-covering the Mid Nordic Region (MNR)-are facing great challenges such as an ongoing decrease of the population and a tendency towards centralization of the whole society. The cities in the MNR have difficulties in balancing the increasing impact from the big cities. The population density is low compared to the central and southern parts of the three countries, and extremely low compared to that of the other EU countries. Subsequently there are grave consequences with high costs for public and private service, for the transport of people and goods and for small business to get access to the commercial markets. Traditional industry and farming do not create new jobs like they used to. The low population density does not favour the creation of new business. Communications tend to follow a north-south axis, aiming at the capitals. All this will lay the basis of a common agenda.
The MNR has a several thousand-year-old cultural tradition of communicating along an east-west axis. In addition there is a rich cultural heritage. Also MNR holds great natural resources. The living conditions are of highest quality with access to great nature and a rich culture. One way of balancing the negative trends is to develop the advantages and make them more visible, both for the inhabitants in MNR and for the people in the BSR and EU. With a stronger identity and a higher self-esteem, MNR can more actively take part in the challenges for the northern part of EU as well as the efforts to promote sustainable development. The MNR attractive force must be increased, which can also be done by developing a joint strategy in a MNR common perspective, applying the intersectorial comprehensive view that characterizes "spatial development".
The top goal of the project is to develop and market the MNR potential, based on natural resources and environmental qualities. The type of measures, being based on the earlier analyses of MNR's strengths and weak points, will be 1) strengthening the transnational co-operation within MNR, politically and
through co-operation between regional centres, universities and science parks 2) strengthening the knowledge and the ability to compete within the environmental sphere 3) develop MNR's natural resources for sustainable energy production 4) engage young people to improve the conditions for future development 5) use culture to strengthen the identity.
Together these activities will contribute to a sustainable development thus also strengthening BSR and EU.
Transports being important will be developed in co-operation with the NECLA.
Main results and outputs of the project including durability
The main focus in ProMidNord project (PMN) is to make the Mid Nordic Region (MNR) an eco-sustainable, effective and competitive region that can appear in a European and BSR context as a strong actor. The political process for preparing a common strategy for the Mid Nordic co-operation is working through the use of the Spatial Development concept being based on the strategies of the sub regions and the municipalities. The discussions on MNRSTRAT, a common development strategy approved by the MidNordic Committee has shown a lot of similarities in the regional development situation and laid a foundation for concrete future cooperation, a better understanding. ProMidNord has strengthened the regional cooperation on development issues between the regions. Innovative Eco-business, bioenergy, infrastructure, cultural tourism and digital media is important. The city network SÖT have developed a common strategy on how to strengthen the regional capital as an engine for regional development. A wider cooperation network, URBNET, with all regional capitals, has been started. See final report” Work with a development strategy for the Mid Nordic Macro Region 2004-2007” www.promidnord.net.
There is now an increased cooperation and marketing between enterprises of environmental technology, increased eco- and energy-efficiency in tourism and industry, through developing networks and strategies within the concept of sustainable development in the MNR. See “Improving the Eco-competitiveness in the Mid Nordic Region. Final report of WP 2” www.promidnord.net . Lots of efforts are being implemented in order to increase and promote MNR as a 100% fossil fuel free Region. The reports, "Sustainable development in the Mid Nordic regional capitals - reporting and measuring the state of the environment" and “ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION - Best practices in Green Traffic”, are presented at the official website of PMN : www.promidnord.net. Creating an increased understanding of the cultural identity and the political involvement of the youth in the MNR, through events such as school class exchange. A group of young people, consisting of two young members from each participating region form together a network of young people with a political/ social commitment and a good knowledge of the Mid Nordic region. The group members have been responsible for preparing and hosting an event for young people from the Mid Nordic region in their own country, focusing on democracy and self esteem (Sweden), environmental issues (Finland) and entrepreneurship (Norway). Altogether more than 250 young people participated in these events. The young members of the network have established a knowledge and an identity to the region. They want other young people in the region to get the same opportunity as thePMN project have give them, and they want to make use of their network and their experience to help realize this. Summary Report” Youth, Regional Development and Democracy” www.promidnord.net The strategic focus in “ Culture and cultural heritage as a means for sustainable development” has been presenting a broad cultural variety to strengthen the identity and convey the values. The Mid Nordic Artist Forum”, “Graphic Design and Art”, “Graphic Design in Focus”, The Nordic Green Theatre”, “Meeting place for artists and “Meeting place for artists” are activities which in a successful way did meet the public and professionals. In the exhibition“ MidNordicDays artists showed their thoughts on sustainability .
The proposed new Mid Nordic Development Council which hopefully will be founded and organise and finance an institution building effort for continuing transnational regional development cooperation/EGTC.. MNR will in 2020 be known as a creative and eco-aware region, attractive worldwide, with a tolerant population, with a nice climate and a driving political leadership.
Achievements of the project so far
Please describe the main achievements of the project so far. The description will be published on the BSR INTERREG III B webpage website, and it is intended for use in marketing material, project summaries etc. Please therefore pay attention to the language and make the text easy to understand also for people not familiar with your project theme.
(maximum 1500 characters)
BSR INTERREG III B *** Progress Report 02.11.2007 Page 3 of 5
BSR INTERREG III B
Progress Report – Activity Report (general information)
Are there any changes on the general project conditions/project set-up?(e.g. partnership, key persons, schedules …)
(Please describe changes in the partnership that occurred during the reporting period, and please also report changes related to the management of the project such as new co-ordinator or financial manager, other changes of the project staff.
Please report major deviations in the implementation and especially as regards the project implementation schedule.)
Please describe the main co-ordination activities that have taken place during the reporting period.
(e.g. partnership contracts, organisational arrangements, mid-term meetings for the whole partnership…)
The main co-ordination activities have been WP-leader contacts and meetings in order to plan and secure the results under MS 6 and concluding activities. Political contacts with MNC have very intensive while working with MRSTRAT. A huge effort in order to secure the final financial reports has been done by the Financial Manager in co-operation with financial partners and WP-leaders.
BSR INTERREG III B *** Progress Report 02.11.2007 Page 5 of 1
BSR INTERREG III B
Progress Report – Activity Report (activities and outputs)
Title of WP1 / Strengthening the MNR as a macro-region and introducing joint Spatial Development as a methodStrategic focus of WP1 / To make the MNR an eco-sustainable, effective and competitive region that can appear in an European and BSR context as an strong actor. / MILE-STONE
Planned results of WP1 / Strengthening the political level. Joint strategy to develop a macro-region. Establishing a city network URBNET. Common development work between MNR-cities Sundsvall, Östersund, Trondheim. An ongoing learning process of macro-region co-operation. / 6
Planned activities and outputs / Main activities that have taken lace during the reporting period / Outputs produced during the reporting period and related output indicators
EB-meeting. SP1, 2 and 3: Concluding conference on ProMidNord including MNRSTRAT, URBNET and SÖT. Final report. Follow-up activities and support to introduce and implement the MNRSTRAT guidelines – The Mid Nordic Way in the sub-regions and the cities. - SP4: Proposal for SÖT-strategy to be presented at a conference in order to get support. SP5: Carrying through information and marketing efforts, conferences and exhibitions in 2-3 national cities. / EB-meeting: EB-meeting (steering group took place in Sundsvall 15th of February.
SP 1 MNRSTRAT: The discussions about MNRSTRAT was continued from M5 during workshops with partners in Sundsvall January 2nd , Östersund January 11th , Trondheim January 25th. After adjustments the strategy was discussed and approved first by the EB/ steering group 15th February and later by the MidNordic Committee meeting in Punkaharju March 28-29th.
A special seminar on Spatial Planning methods and examples with participants from regional and local planning organisations was arranged in Sundsvall January 31th and in Stockholm October 30th.
SP 2 Institutions: A survey of best practice organising regional co-operation was made by MidSweden University, Paul Howgate in February and presented for the steering group in February 14th. The discussions on strategy has the future institution building as an integrated part.
SP3 URBNET: The study of Innovation supporting systems in the Nordic and especially the MidNordic area has been concluded and presented during the concluding conference in Sundsvall May 30th. The final report “Innovations in the Mid Nordic Region - Overview of Current State and Proposals for Joint Initiatives” is published at www.promidnord.net.Further contacts has been taken between the Finnish cities and a meeting between the directors of the city administration of Jyväskylä, Sundsvall , Östersund and Trondheim was arranged in Sundsvall May 31th. The result of this meeting was an agreement on further contacts concerning concrete co-operation tasks. The other Finnish cities have declared a wish to follow Jyväskyläs contacts.
SP 4 SÖT: The final conference for the SÖT-project was carried out in Sundsvall May 31- June 1st.
SP 5 Marketing: The delayed study on best practice in marketing cities and regions and an outline for a marketing strategy for the MidNordic area was concluded and presented at the final conference in Sundsvall may 30th. Examples from Glasgow, West Midlands and Alberta, Canada was presented. The report is available in Swedish but will be translated to English. Marketing the MidNordic regions has been continued through the exhibition MidNordic Days (WP5) visiting Vaasa, Östersund, Trondheim, Steinkjer and finally Sundsvall. In Sundsvall a special exhibition of 4 roll-ups and a short version of the MNRSTRAT was produced and printed and distributed to the public at the exhibition.
Concluding conference WP 1: The final conference for the strategy work and the SÖT-project was carried out in Sundsvall May 30th- June 1st.Final Summary report for WP 1 is published at www.promidnord.net
(In case there were deviations/delays of activities from the previous milestone, please indicate explicitly which activities are the delayed ones and which belong to the current reporting period.) / EB-meeting February 15th in Sundsvall with 10 persons participating
MNRSTRAT draft II and III and various PowerPoint –presentations.
Spatial Planning method seminar in Sundsvall January 31st, Stockholm October 30. 85 participants.
Approwed MNRSTRAT, printed in Swedish, pdf in English and Finnish.
Roll-up-exhibition in Swedish.
Innovation system survey study.
Marketing cities and regions study and marketing strategy by P&P Kommunikation (Swedish)
Limited survey of Baltic Sea Interreg projects that have continued their activities by Paul Howgate, MidSweden University
Final conference on MNRSTRAT in Sundsvall May 30th. 80 participants.
MidNordic Days exhibition and activities in 5 Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish cities. Strategy lecture for the public in Sundsvall
WP1 Final Summary Report” Work with a development strategy for the Mid Nordic Macro Region 2004-2007” www.promidnord.net.
Deviation from the planned activities and outputs as well as their reasons/justifications
BSR INTERREG III B *** Progress Report 02.11.2007 Page 8 of 1