Interreg IVA North, case study : ex post evaluation of Cohesion Policy programmes 2007-2013, financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund (CF)

The Interreg IVA programme North covers a large area with 1.5 million people, including the northernmost regions of Finland, Sweden and Norway. These share common challenges as well as opportunities related to their peripheral and sparsely populated character combined with specific geographical conditions (harsh climate, long distances, unique natural resources). The programme has a small budget in comparison with other programmes from the A strand: the allocated EU contribution amounts to EUR 36 million, which is complemented by a total contribution from Norway of EUR 20 million. The strong orientation of the programme towards "Research, technological development, innovation and entrepreneurship" (the focus of this evaluation) is reflected in the following figures: 34% of projects and 53% of programme expenses are devoted to this theme. Cooperative applied research, gathering public research institutes and firms in the various countries, is the most frequent activity supported by the programme. Technological development and innovation are an important focus under the "economic development" priority (Priority 1), while business development is well integrated under the "R&D" priority (Priority 2). Innovation promotion and fostering entrepreneurship are also present within the Sápmi sub-programme, even if this represents a small share of projects. Interreg IVA North has been successful in stimulating cross-border cooperation among enterprises: 241 companies have increased their turnover and 172 companies have started a new cross-border business as a consequence of the programme. "Enlarging the home market of companies" thanks to delivery of innovative products is a main benefit of this cross-border programme. The main benefit for companies involved in the projects consists in acquiring new contact networks and new collaborative partners.