The main objective of the policy instrument chosen (Priority 1: Strengthening Research, Technological Development and Innovation) is to strengthen the research, technological development and innovation by boosting research activities and improving research and innovation conditions in order to offer new opportunities to companies located in the Valencian Region. Among its main characteristics is that the projects should fall within the thematic priorities developed in the RIS3-CV and their results should be of interest to the diversification and competitiveness. It aims at creating an own integrated research system for Valencia oriented to the achievement of the research excellence. Actions financed under this policy instrument are aimed at modernization of facilities, acquisition of equipment of last generation, provision of material resources and creation of a network of support structures and research management to ensure that it has the means to advance R&D, coordinate the various actors of research, promote the transfer results and give value for money. The policy instrument will promote initiatives contributing to industrial needs by building synergies and sharing resources among the different groups and research projects. A greater attention should be paid to the transfer of results and to the link between technological evolution of products and processes and environmental sustainability concerns.

The OP PIK is the programming document of the Ministry of Industry and Trade for the disbursement of funds from the European Regional Development Fund in the programming period of the EU cohesion policy 2014—2020. This operational programme, in particular the Priority Axis 1: Advancement of research and development for innovation, will support Czech entrepreneurs by funds in the overall amount of 4,316 million Euros, which represents the equivalent of about 116 billion CZK. The aim of the OP PIK 2014 — 2020 is to achieve a competitive and sustainable knowledge and innovation—based economy. The operational programme is therefore designed to support Czech companies with the potential to move the technological boundaries in their field, while laying emphasis on the development of corporate research, development and innovation capacities, and their integration with the surrounding environment in addition to business and innovation development of small and medium—sized enterprises in less knowledge—intensive fields, where the aid is focused mainly on the implementation of new business ventures, including the development of services aimed at increasing the competitive advantage of small and medium—sized enterprises in the international environment. This policy instrument should be improved in fostering links between technological evolution of products and processes with a more sustainable approach to the market, enfolding ecological, safety, ethical, social and economic values.

The aim of the ERDF ROP 2014-2020 of Saxony, Priority axis 1 is to strengthen the research, technological development and innovation, through the support of applied research to improve the innovative capacity of the Saxon economy and thus its competitiveness. To achieve this goal the policy instrument shall strengthen the applied research at universities and other research institutions of Saxony. The policy instrument is designed to help to open up more research and development potential in the field of public research and to enhance its exploitation, in order to improve the basic conditions for a successful transfer of innovation into economy and as a result to increase the technology transfer services. The funding of research infrastructure and projects will contribute to increase the competitiveness of application-oriented research facilities in Saxony. The typical SME sectors rely mainly on strong scientific partners with appropriate technical equipment, trained personnel and exploitable research results as a basis for further corporate driven technology developments and important knowledge-driven economic development. Possible funding objectives are equipment investments, application orientated research and development projects and pre-competitive research projects. The need is to strengthen the links between technology developments and environmental sustainability of the reaserch and innovation activities and a greater awareness among SMEs and consumers.

This policy instrument pursues Europe 2020 objectives of a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and economic, social and territorial cohesion, by increasing investments on research and innovation processes, to achieve the aims provided in terms of expenditure/ regional product of R&S and to reduce its gap in comparison with the European average. This increase is sought by improving the productivity through stimulating processes of technological, environmental and social innovation and a greater sustainability that can be fostered by innovation processes. Most of support activated by the ERDF ROP 2014-2020 to increase innovation in enterprises fall under Axis 1. Strengthening research, development and technological innovation. It will operate to improve the business system through innovation and R&D activities, along the technological roadmaps identified by the regional S3, declined in terms of development sustainability. Support actions will also try to increase the availability of qualified human capital (researchers) and spread a more collaborative approach while conducting R&D projects with other companies and R&D centres. It is expected to achieve a greater effectiveness of policy actions to promote innovation and research in terms of: a) greater exploitation of research results for productive purposes; b) higher number of researchers working with and within enterprises; c) more cooperative R&D projects between R&D centres and entreprises. 

The ROP aims at promoting smart sustainable and inclusive growth in all regions in Romania making them more attractive places in which to live and work. The Investment priority "Supporting transfer of technology and innovation take up by SMEs in areas for smart specialisation" aims at increasing economic competitiveness through technology transfer in order to increase the share of innovative SMEs collaborating with others. The objectives are: - Capacity building to foster excellence in R&D and technological developments, making investments in innovative solutions and technology transfer infrastructures and equipment. - Achieving a more intense transfer of research results into innovative commercial applications impacting the uptake and dissemination of research results to the market, while also increasing the diffusion pace of technological progress in the market and in society in general. The priority investment addresses the issue of low rate of transfer of research results to the market and low uptake of innovation in firms. In Romania there are a large number of research activities, but the connection between education, research and business environment remains weak, which translates to reduced market transfer of new ideas. The main aspects that characterize the process of innovation and technology transfer in Romania are little cooperation between firms and R&D Institutions low level of SMEs participating in knowledge transfer activities, low technology transfer rates.

The POCI thematic program is anchored in major national strategic policy guidelines and the Europe 2020 strategy. The contribution of the program is particularly relevant to the priority "smart growth" and to develop an economy based on knowledge and innovation. Main objectives of the Axis 1, closely related to the national RIS3 are: • Increase business investment in R&D by increasing the economic intensive activities in knowledge and value creation based on innovation, strengthening the link between companies and other entities of the research and innovation. Development of new products and services, especially in more technology-intensive activities and knowledge as result of business cooperation with R&D centres and universities through new projects and activities and successful share of its results. • Strengthening networks and other forms of partnership and cooperation oriented to innovation of enterprises and value chains through enhanced clustering initiatives and their effectiveness and efficiency in terms of innovation and competitiveness • Increase business investment in innovative activities promoting tradable production and changing the productive economic base profile, by developing innovative solutions based on the results of R&D and integration and convergence of new technologies and knowledge. Improvements to be proposed for this policy instrument relate to a greater focus on the environmental sustainability to be promoted by R&D processes and activities.  

The Programme's strategy focuses firmly on growth, building on England's competitive advantages. The aspiration is for locally driven growth and development. Resources will be focused on the core objectives of innovation, SME competitiveness and low carbon economy. RESET falls under the Priority Axis 1 -Promoting Research and Innovation, which main focus is improving commercialisation of new or enhanced products or services by SMEs, whether through increased investment or better collaborations. This requires the involvement of a much wider group including large firms in cooperation with their supply chains and other SMEs, HEIs, public sector institutions R&D centres, Catapult Centres and other centres of excellence. The two investment priorities under Axis 1 relate to: Priority 1a – Enhancing R&D and innovation infrastructure and capacities to develop R&D and innovation excellence, and promoting centres of competence, in particular, those of European interest: Increase investment in R&D and innovation infrastructure that catalyses collaboration with the R&D community in sectors identified by RIS3; Priority 1b – Promoting business investment in research and innovation; developing links and synergies between enterprises, R&D centres and higher education, in particular promoting investment in product and service development, technology transfer, social innovation, eco-innovation, demand stimulation, networking, clusters and open innovation through smart specialisation.      

The ERDF-ESF Programme "Nord-Pas de Calais" aims to boost economic growth and contribute to achieve the Europe 2020 targets for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, and to ensure economic, social and territorial cohesion in a region facing a strong population concentration in urban areas. The RESET project falls under the Priority Axis 1 of the Programme: Strengthening research, technological development and innovation. This priority aims to increase innovation and favour the economic valorisation of research in developing sectors with high potential identified by the regional S3, through the support of applied research to improve the innovative capacity of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Métropôle Européenne de Lille (MEL) and thus its competitiveness and visibility on international markets. The policy instrument is designed to help to open up more R&D potential in the field of public research to enhance its exploitation, in order to improve the basic conditions for a successful transfer of innovation into economy and as a result to increase the actual technology transfer services. The improvement of this policy instrument is needed to target future lead markets for innovation, develop new, original and strongly differentiated products related to users’ needs and identify a new network of actors and contributors. It should be improved through a greater focus on the environmental sustainability of innovation actions oriented to the productive processes and product development.