Two-thirds of the way through its funding period, INTERREG IVC counts 122 projects across 10 themes, all sharing experiences on how to improve policy or practices. Already, the results coming from each project are impressive and demonstrate the programme’s success. The programme wants to go one step further, to consolidate and exploit the results of projects working on a similar topic so that any innovative practices and policies can be shared with interested policy-makers across Europe.
This exercise is known as ‘thematic programme capitalisation’. What this means in practice is that the results of projects working on the same topic will be analysed with the help of an expert in this field. Topical publications and events will share the conclusions of this analysis. An online ‘good practice database’ will be a one-stop shop for getting details on the different practices identified.
Already seven topics have been identified for analysis, with up to 12 topics in total to be potentially examined. They are:
- Creative industries
- Entrepreneurship
- E-government services
- Climate change
- Energy efficiency
- Renewable energy
- Sustainable public transport
Ultimately, there will be no need to look project by project, policy by policy, to identify the valuable knowledge gained within a particular topic. In each topic, the knowledge will be benchmarked, and validated by an expert, with the contextual elements that make them ‘ready to use’ by the policy-makers.
The outcomes should be of benefit, not only to the projects themselves, but more widely to regional and local authorities in Europe interested in that field. The screening and information on regional policy issues and solutions could even have an influence on the shaping of certain of these policies.
Finally, the programme’s Monitoring Committee members will have a clearer insight into the programme thematic achievements; which could also lead to a better strategic governance of the programme. That is why, during its last meeting on 15-16 June 2011, the Monitoring Committee of the programme agreed to launch the thematic capitalisation of the programme in 2012.
source: http://i4c.eu/