Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
How to form a good partnership to
achieve the planned project results
Stuart Simpson
EU-Projects Content Coordinator, European Office,
Vienna Board of Education
Going
Concrete
Results
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Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
Context
Overall strategic framework: EU2020 strategy
SMART
GROWTH
Economy
based on
knowledge &
innovation
GREEN
GROWTH
Resource
efficient,
greener and
more
competitive
economy
INCLUSIVE
GROWTH
Highemployment
economy
delivering
social and
territorial
cohesion
CENTRAL BALTIC
1. Competitive
economy
2. Sustainable
use of common
resources
3. Wellconnected
region
4. Skilled and
socially inclusive
region
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Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
Hi, I think I’ve got some problems.
Yeah, me too.
And, me too.
And, …
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Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
But how do I find
like-minded
partners?
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Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
You have several possibilities. Definitely three.
1. Contact people (institutions) you or your
institution know from previous experience.
2. Contact your National Contact Point (NCP).
3. ‘Cast out your net’.
Let’s see who swims in?
And how do I ‘cast out my net’? Go to CENTRAL BALTIC
and put in your details in the Partner Search Notice
Board http://www.centralbaltic.eu/projects
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Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
http://www.centralbaltic.eu/projects
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Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
1. So, we’ve all got the same problems. Let’s look
for concrete solutions together.
2. OK, let’s go together.
3. Juhu. We’ve achieved the concrete solutions
(results) we planned together.
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Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
And as happy little
hippos, we want to work
together for ever and
ever (sustainability).
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Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
2. OK, let’s go together.
A Common Working Culture
A Common Understanding of
the Project and its Goals
The Project
A Common Sense of Ownership of
the Project Outputs
A Common Internal
Communication Culture
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Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
A Common Working Culture
•Your project will not work without the people in the project
•Get to know them / break the ice – e.g. organise a “Common Culture
“I am looking forward to working with you.”
Workshop”
A Common Understanding of the Project and its Goals
•Do not assume that the people in the project really know what the
project is about
•Take time to explain the project and its goals again and again and
again because …
“I understand the project fully.”
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Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
A Common Sense of Ownership of the Project Outputs
•Only when the people understand will they be willing and capable of
assuming responsibility
•Ownership is everything – when I own something I feel responsible
“It is also MY project and I am looking
for it
forward to it.”
A Common Internal Communication Culture
•From the outset establish clear lines of communication
(“good habits”):
•Compile a partner countries calendar (national holidays)
•Every e-mail should be answered within two working days
•LP Team (Project Coordinator, Finance Manager, Communication
Manager) should be copied into every mail
•Clear understanding of reporting responsibilities and procedures
“I want to keep you ‘in the picture’.”
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Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
Post scriptum
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Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
•But even if you have managed all of this (at the beginning):
“I am looking forward to working with you. I understand the
project fully. It is also MY project and I am looking forward to
it. I want to keep you ‘in the picture’.”
•You might still (in the long run) have a problem:
•The so-called: “Sleeping Partner”.
•KEEP ON BOARD AT ALL COSTS: How?
(1) Talk10 – (2) Motivate – (3) Visit – (4) Analyse – (5) Draw up an extra
agreement with the Legal Representative – (6) Inform the JS - (7) and
hope …
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Going for concrete results: Interreg cooperation in the Central Baltic region
Thank you for your kind
attention.
Best wishes for your project(s)
Stuart
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