Interreg V-A Italy-Austria 2014-2020
The Interreg V-A Italy-Austria program is a cross border program under the European Territorial Cooperation Goal for the programming period 2014-2020, aiming to support a balanced and sustainable development and a harmonious integration of the border region between Italy and Austria. The program is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as well as national public contributions for a total of 98 million euro.
With these funds, the programme promotes Italian-Austrian cooperation projects in the fields of research and innovation, nature and culture, institutional capacity and community led local development.
The main aim of the programme is to strengthen territorial cooperation and to maintain the quality of life and competitiveness in the border area between Italy and Austria. These objectives will be achieved through actions aimed at overcoming border barriers, creating new cross-border synergies, increasing territorial attractiveness, increasing sustained regional growth and achieving high levels of employment, productivity, and social cohesion.
Eligible Area
With an area of over 50,000 square kilometers and a population of over 5.5 million inhabitants (in 2013), the eligible area of the cross border program extends for a total of 19 NUTS-3 areas in the border region between Italy and Austria.
Compared to previous programming periods, the area of cooperation for the period 2014-2020 has been extended: former areas of flexibility were included as full program areas.
As a general rule, the project beneficiaries should be based in the eligible area and all project activities should be carried out within it. The Lead Partner must, in any case, be based in the area of cooperation. A cooperation with beneficiaries based outside this area, including cooperation with other Interreg programmes, is possible, provided that their participation is an increase in quality of the partnership and project content, adds additional value to the eligible area and their being funded with ERDF funds is unanimously approved by all participating regions to the programme.
The eligible area of the Interreg V-A Italy-Austria 2014-2020 includes:
Priority Axes
The programme strategy is built upon the objectives and requirements of Europe 2020 and CTE, as well as on a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis carried out in the programme area in order to determine how the programme funding should be allocated in order to achieve the maximum development towards a balanced and sustainable development and a harmonious integration of the border region. In addition, stakeholders and the public were involved in the drafting. Building on this, the Interreg V-A Italy-Austria programme has outlined four priority axes, in the context of which the programme will support cross border projects over the next seven years.
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Research and innovation
1a) Thematic focus
Strengthen the infrastructure for research and innovation and the capacities to develop excellence in R & I as well as promoting centers of competence, in particular, those of European interest.
Specific objective
Capacity building for research and innovation in key sectors of regional economies through cross border collaboration of research institutions.
Measures
- Definition and implementation of cross border measures to facilitate the exchange of knowledge to support multi- and interdisciplinary research teams
- Exchange of experience between stakeholders in the field of research and innovation (eg seminars, studies, and publications)
- Intervention of "innovation brokers" who operate across borders and act as mediators between different areas, having the skills to convey the innovative content more quickly and thus optimize the activation process, construction and research stabilization
Beneficiaries
Public authorities, universities, research centers, competence centers, polytechnics and higher technical colleges, technical institutes, clusters of research centers and/or expertise, technological and innovation parks, chambers of commerce
Financial framework
9,229,537 euro
1b) Thematic focus
Promotion of investment in research and innovation, by strengthening cross border cooperation between enterprises and research institutes.
Specific objective
- Promotion of investment in R & I through enhanced cross border cooperation between enterprises and research institutes
- Improving the basis for business innovation in the programme area
- Capacity building for research and innovation in key sectors of regional economies through cross border cooperation of research institutions
Measures
- Development of new production systems, characterization, and control of new generations of microchips ("Smart Health")
- Initiatives to support the use of pre-commercial procurement procedure (CFP) - testing, pilot projects and validation of pilot product lines, demonstrations of new technologies, etc. - via PCP calls
- Improving the conditions for cooperation between SME and R & I institutions, especially in the areas of sensors, wood and innovative and sustainable environmental technologies
- Implementation of IT / digital platforms for safety on ski slopes
- Experimentation and exploitation of renewable resources for the production of environmentally sustainable products (eg "composite" materials for the wood industry)
- Developing an "entrepreneurial ecosystem" for positioning the programme area in the fields of business creation and start ups, for example, by supporting the formulation of business plans with the aim of a common reflection on the market relevance of the business model
- Development of joint projects and cross border partnerships to test and validate the prototypes and the marketing of new products and/or processes, relevant from an environmental perspective
Beneficiaries
Public authorities, universities, research centers, competence centers, polytechnics and technical colleges, technical institutes, clusters of research, expertise, production, technology and/or innovation, technology and innovation parks, chambers of commerce, enterprises, trade associations, innovation intermediaries
Financial framework
18,459,078 euro
Nature and culture
Thematic focus
Preserve, protect, promote and develop the natural and cultural heritage
Specific objective
Protection and enhancement of natural and cultural heritage
Measures
- Connection and enhancement of not connected habitats by creation of access
- Regulatory measures and protection of lakes and streams in the border area
- Augmentation of the diversity of mountain products through an assessment of the factors that influence the quality of local products
- Creation of an origin guarantee for regional and local products as a quality label
- Product development and cross border services in the fields of biking, trekking, and outdoor activities
- Internet network of small museums in the immediate vicinity of the border
- Development of tourist mobility concepts and tourism guide systems with the support of e-tourism platforms
- Development of touristic offers in the health sector through modern ICT solutions
- Development of cross border products
Beneficiaries
Public administrations, universities, associations, educational and cultural institutions, environmental organizations, management bodies of natural parks, SME, economic and tourist organizations
Financial framework
24,879,920 euro
Institutions
Thematic focus
Strengthening institutional capacity of public authorities and an efficient public administration by promoting legal and administrative cooperation as well as cooperation between citizens and institutions.
Specific objective
Strengthening institutional collaboration a cross the border
Measures
- Implementation of cross border actions and pilot projects in the field of civil protection for cases of mutual aid in emergency situations
- Creation of networks on glacier retreat as a basis for climate adaptation strategies
- Joint planning and implementation of innovative actions for the management of risks arising from soil erosion
- Creation of a trans regional transport information system - development of interfaces for all user groups: transport modeling, information services for users or operators of public transport in the border area between Carinthia and Friuli Venezia Giulia
- Harmonization of standards at regional and local level
- Development of common models to facilitate access to the labor market (introduction of bilingual curricula)
- Developing cross border pilot projects to improve the quality and sustainability of health care, eg cross border patient care
- Public awareness campaigns for young people in situations of social conflict
- Development of common models of social support for dependent persons in peripheral regions
Beneficiaries
Public administrations
Financial framework
17,146,804 euro
Community Led Local Developement
Thematic focus
Investment in local participatory development strategies (CLLD)
Specific objective
Promote integration and local ownership in the immediate border area through integrated cross border strategies according to the CLLD approach
Measures
- Massive involvement of local actors in the development and implementation of CLLD cross border strategies, specifically an increased participation of civil society and local authorities
- Creation of improved framework conditions for cross border cooperation through widely shared strategies and their substantial exposure to the three growth targets of the Europe 2020 strategy
- Institutionalization of cross border thematic working groups in the CLLD areas, designed to intensely support the implementation of the CLLD strategy
- Creating an interactive platform for cross border cooperation in the CLLD regions
- Consolidation of cross border cooperation at a top political level by an active involvement of EGTC and national and regional governments
- Strengthening governance among the CLLD areas and at regional and state level (necessary, since the differences in administrative and legal systems hinder the cooperation while higher organisms would have skills for the resolution of such problems)
- Augmentation of awareness of the possibilities and opportunities that cross border cooperation offers to individual territories, in order to promote a useful consolidation of such cooperation even beyond this programming period
Beneficiaries
LAG and other beneficiaries compatible with the priorities
Financial framework
13,126,919 euro
