Campania Region ROP constitutes the reference frame in relation to the use of EU funds. The aim of the programme is to ensure that regional instruments are coherent and consistent with the EU development policies. The Program is divided into 11 priority intervention axes and thematic objectives. Particularly the Axis 3 “Competitiveness of production and manufacturing system” aims at enhancing growth and development of SME as well as their competitiveness through the development of innovative business ideas and the uptake of new technologies. Among investment priorities we also find enhancing entrepreneurship mind-set, internationalisation dynamics support, diversification of products and services.

Particular attention has been put on mobility systems and new means, in order to boost towards the efficiency of resources and green economy. In particular, the objectives to be achieved are: ensure the accessibility of people and goods to the entire regional territory; Improve the interconnection of Local Territorial Systems with national, interregional and interrelated networks; Improve the harbor and internal connections of harbor system; Realize alternative transport systems for sensitive areas. Thus SMEs operating in the transport sector ( especially the 'green transportation') are the top priority of Axis 3.

The Programme aims to boost economic development and create job opportunities in the islands of South Aegean. It contributes to achieving the Europe 2020 targets for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, also in line with the smart specialization strategy. It will create jobs and help SMEs to become more competitive and innovation-driven. Specifically, under TO3 the focus is to increase the competitiveness, size and potential of the SME market. The uptake of collaborative models for SMEs across the value chain will be given priority especially to SMEs that are connected with the areas of Smart Specialisation. Advisory services to support SMEs are also provided through the ROP for the following activities:

- develop new products and processes;

- technical assistance in solving technological problems;

-design of new products, organisational innovations, process innovations;

-identification of new markets and development of penetration strategies; and

-clusters and collaborative networks.

Transport services and products are given attention in the ROP because the region relies heavily on tourism, therefore, the move of products and people are of imperative importance. Under TO7, there is a substantial amount of funding to be directed to the companies & SMEs who are active in the sustainable mobility sector too. One more area of focus both on TO3 of the ROP but also in the smart specialisation strategy is the further development of ICT in transportation.

INVESTMENT PRIORITY 3.3 – “Supporting the capacity of SMEs to grow in regional, national and international markets, and to engage in innovation processes”

Within this priority Lithuania will seek to increase productivity and allow enterprises to use time and financial savings for the development or improvement of high value-added goods and services.

To achieve traditional transformation of the industry support will be provided for the deployment of technologies (KETs) important for the innovation of the industry and the economic growth in SME production processes. KETs have a multiple effect on many industrial value chains and sectors. They help create value in the entire chain: from materials, equipment and machinery to goods and services. SMEs will be promoted to use research results and develop mass industrial production and supply of NGA-based goods. It is expected that implementation of this objective is expected to boost the productivity of Lithuanian SMEs.

With regards to transport, SMEs are encouraged to develop resource-efficient technologies more often. Lithuania’s international competitiveness in the

transport and logistics sector is to a large extent determined by its geographical position, as east- and west-bound freight flows cross the country connecting the Baltic Sea region, the CIS and Western Europe. This makes the transport sector the largest contributor to the Lithuanian economy (around 13 % of GDP) thus supporting transport SMEs is a key focus of the OP

Priority Axis 2 - Improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises; Investment Priority 2.2 - Support the creation and expansion of advanced production capacities and service development; Specific Objective - to improve economic competitiveness by increasing labour productivity in SMEs in competitive sectors identified in the National Competitiveness Strategy.

Through this investment priority, specific activities will be supported:

- Construction / upgrading and extension of the SME production / services area

- Activities required to run and implement the certification process

- Promotion of products and services

- Activities specific to the internationalization process

While the policy instrument recognises the importance of supporting the competitiveness of SMEs in the region, the flow of information and cooperation between these SMEs remains suboptimal.

To improve the transport-related SMEs competitiveness, the OP supports the creation and expansion of advanced production capacities and service development in these SMEs, which need to be more innovative in new product development, financing, logistics, within the transport-related technology circuit. Based on the above considerations, the policy instrument should be improved.