Pilot project - Agropol: Development of a European cross-border agribusiness model region in Euroace
Published on 27 December 2018
Spain
Extremadura
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
In 2016 the DG Agriculture & Rural Development launched the study PILOT PROJECT–AGROPOL to develop a European cross-border Agri-business model region and selected the Euroace as a case area.
This Euroregion emerged from the commitment of Alentejo (PT), Centre (PT) and Extremadura (ES) to foster cross-border and inter-regional cooperation, promote the integrated development of the territories and improve the population´s living conditions. Once the regions had designed their Smart Specialization Strategy, the Euroace RIS3 Working Group was created to work on a Joint Specialisation Pattern for the identification of the priority areas for collaboration and complementarities between the regions.
The Agropol consortium is currently co-developing with regional stakeholders a cross border strategy in the agri-food sector through a continuous participative process with diverse activities to define the sector to focus on, identify the cooperation potential, identify the needs and opportunities for cross-border cooperation in agri-food and identify the objectives and expected results of a cross-border cooperation. In practice this process is being carried out as a cross-border Entrepreneurial Discovery Process which involves key regional players from the Quadruple Helix and aims to boost innovative and collaborative initiatives in the Euroace. As a result, the fruit and horticulture sector and, specifically, the medicinal & aromatic plants value chains have been selected to focus on
This Euroregion emerged from the commitment of Alentejo (PT), Centre (PT) and Extremadura (ES) to foster cross-border and inter-regional cooperation, promote the integrated development of the territories and improve the population´s living conditions. Once the regions had designed their Smart Specialization Strategy, the Euroace RIS3 Working Group was created to work on a Joint Specialisation Pattern for the identification of the priority areas for collaboration and complementarities between the regions.
The Agropol consortium is currently co-developing with regional stakeholders a cross border strategy in the agri-food sector through a continuous participative process with diverse activities to define the sector to focus on, identify the cooperation potential, identify the needs and opportunities for cross-border cooperation in agri-food and identify the objectives and expected results of a cross-border cooperation. In practice this process is being carried out as a cross-border Entrepreneurial Discovery Process which involves key regional players from the Quadruple Helix and aims to boost innovative and collaborative initiatives in the Euroace. As a result, the fruit and horticulture sector and, specifically, the medicinal & aromatic plants value chains have been selected to focus on
Resources needed
There has not been a specific budget allocated for Agropol. Every partner has had to finance the expenses with each participating entity´s own funds. Nevertheless, the activities developed by external Agropol experts have been financed by the European Commission, DG Agriculture & Rural Development
Evidence of success
This cross-border Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) has resulted in the development and implementation of concrete cooperation initiatives, among which it can be highlighted the submission of a project proposal to the Programme INTERREG V-A Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) in order to foster cross-border cooperation in the medicinal & aromatic plants sector in the Euroace.
Potential for learning or transfer
The experience drawn from this pilot project can serve as a benchmark for other European regions in terms of regional development through cross-border cooperation and EDP
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
Organisation
European Commission, DG Agriculture & Rural Development
Belgium
Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/ Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest
Contact
Project Manager