The Programme

The European Structural Fund's new programming period started in 2007 and will end in 2013. During this period EU Member States have had to develop a National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) to ensure consistency with the European Cohesion Policy.

In Italy, the strategy defined in the NSRF is implemented through National Operational Programmes (NOPs), Regional Operational Programmes (ROPs), Inter-regional Operational Programmes (IOPs) and Operational Programmes for "European Territorial Cooperation" - a total of 66 Operational Programmes.

In this context, the NOP for Research and Competitiveness, adopted by the European Commission with Decision C (2007) 6882 of 21 December 2007, allows research and business systems to develop solutions capable of increasing competitiveness and creating employment in the four regions of Calabria, Campania, Puglia and Sicily.

The NOP for R&C finances projects for scientific research, technological development, industrial competitiveness and innovation. Its budget exceeds €6 billion, 50% of which (€3.1 billion) is co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The Programme:

• Mission: to bring development levels in Calabria, Campania, Puglia and Sicily in line with European standards by strengthening their competitiveness on a rapidly changing international stage

• Strategy: to integrate into a unified and consistent policy of sustainable development through research and innovation activities which either have been implemented or are currently being implemented at a national, regional and community level

• Governance: to improve consultation procedures with the regions concerning the allocation of Structural Funds with the objective of establishing the nation's strategic objectives, interventions and resources on the basis of the particulars of each geographical area

The Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), in its capacity as Managing Authority (MA) and the Ministry of Economic Development (MiSE), in its capacity as Intermediate Body (IB) hold political responsibility for the NOP for R&C and are jointly responsible for its implementation.

Shared governance over the NOP for R&C between the two Ministries favours the integration of research and technological development policies with policies for economic development and industrial innovation, and hence ensures consistent action and more effective measures.

The development of the NOP for Research and Competitiveness 2007-2013 was accompanied by an:

• Ex-ante assessment (EXAA)

• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

The European Structural Fund's new programming period started in 2007 and will end in 2013. During this period EU Member States have had to develop a National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF)  to ensure consistency with the European cohesive policy.

In Italy, the strategy defined in the NSRF is implemented through National Operational Programmes (NOPs), Regional Operational Programmes (ROPs), Inter-regional Operational Programmes (IOPs) and Operational Programmes for "European Territorial Cooperation" - a total of 66 Operational Programmes.

In this context, the NOP for Research and Competitiveness, adopted by the European Commission with Decision C (2007) 6882 of 21 December 2007, allows research and business systems to develop solutions capable of increasing competitiveness and creating employment in the four Regions of Calabria, Campania, Puglia and Sicilia.

The NOP for R&C finances projects for scientific research, technological development, industrial competitiveness and innovation. Its budget exceeds €6 billion, 50% of which (€3,102 million) is co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The Programme:

• Mission: to bring development levels in Calabria, Campania, Puglia and Sicilia in line with European standards by strengthening their competitiveness on a rapidly changing International scenario

• Strategy: to integrate into a unified and consistent policy of sustainable development through research and innovation activities which have either been implemented or are currently being implemented at a National, Regional and Community level

• Governance: to improve those consultation procedures concerning the allocation of Structural Funds with the regions with the objective of establishing the Nation's strategic objectives, interventions and resources on the basis of the peculiarities of each geographical area

The Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), in its capacity as Managing Authority (MA) and the Ministry of Economic Development (MiSE), in its capacity as Intermediate Body (IB) hold political responsibility for the NOP for R&C and are jointly responsible for its implementation.

Shared governance over the NOP for R&C between the two Ministries favours the integration of research and technological development policies with policies for economic development and industrial innovation and hence ensures consistent action and more effective measures.

The development of the NOP for Research and Competitiveness 2007-2013 was accompanied by a:

• Ex-ante assessment (EXAA)

• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)