Delighted to have two more policy improvements to boast about!!
In Attica (EL) our MARIE partner has managed to get RI criteria included in the ERDF funding instrument.
In Centre Val de Loire (FR), MARIE has helped boost networking and communication between social innovators and the economic development network.
What exactly are these policy changes?
In the new funding opportunity published through the ERDF ROP of Attica, the RRI dimensions of Open Access and Gender Representation were incorporated in a systematic and standardised manner as evaluation criteria for the first time. The call falls under Priority Axis 1: Strengthening Research and Innovation Mechanisms for SMEs in the Region, with funding for Tourism – Culture – Creative Industries, Agri-Food and Environmental Technologies.
Meanwhile, our French partner added a measure in the ERDF Operational Programme entitled “Actions promoting synergies and cross-fertilization between the social and solidarity economy and the traditional economy, for example by supporting social innovation projects.” As part of Action 1, to provide a favourable environment for business, the measure laid the foundation for the possibility to fund Innovative projects, merging the traditional and social economies.
How did MARIE contribute to this?
Both partners agree that MARIE was at the heart of making these changes happen!
Region of Attica, working with AUEB-RC, was inspired by interregional events and by the early policy improvement achieved in Tampere, where RRI criteria were integrated into a call to fund innovation projects. Dev’Up’s Entrepreneurial discovery process (EDP) was also tested by the Special Managing Authority of ROP Attica, prior to composing the open call, to promote cross sector and cross discipline dialogue and identify needs and sectors that should be supported via the ERDF call.
Dev’Up used MARIE to gain an understanding of the main differences and synergies between the concepts of social and responsible innovation. This was shared with regional stakeholders from the social economy as part of a movement to foster social innovation in our territory. This was the first time that such cross-fertilisation was actively promoted and it enabled the creation of a common culture. This is the foundation for actions aimed at strengthening the synergies between the support ecosystems of the social economy and the traditional economy.
With these two, we have policy improvements in 5 MARIE regions (read here about Tampere, Southern Ireland and Romagna). Amazing results from amazing partners !
Photo by Guille Álvarez on Unsplash
