The aim of the project is to increase the investment in research and development of companies in Nijmegen Kanaalgebied and to increase the returns of these investments by stimulating technological cooperation between companies and research institutes and between companies themselves. The arrangement can also contribute to a closer link between research efforts by companies and of the research infrastructure.

The project will stimulate technological cooperation between SME companies and research institutes. As a result, the competitive position will be enhanced and the regional research infrastructure will be better utilised. The project is a continuation of the cluster arrangment projects that have been carried out over the past few years under Eurowork. Similar projects have been set up in consultation with Eurowork and the Arnhem Kern sub-programme.

The expected effects concern in particular greater participation between companies and research institutes and between companies themselves, greater investment in research and development and the returns of this investment. It is expected that the extra investment will create 17 additional jobs. Positive effects are also expected in financial terms. Based on experience from the past few years in the Arnhem-Nijmegen region and the advance applications of new clusters, the average financial range of the clusters will be around € 500,000 per cluster. In the case of four of the clusters the private investment impulse will be around € 2 million.

European subsidy: € 372.687
Total cost: € 2.055.375

This project has been partially funded with Objective 2 funds. Since 2000 nine cities have been eligible for the Objective 2 Urban Areas in the Netherlands programme, which forms part of the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRD) of the European Union. EFRD is one of the four Structural Funds of the European Commission. The programme helps cities to carry out projects that benefit disadvantaged areas.

In the Netherlands, total European Objective 2 subsidies concern 192 million euros. 4.25% of the Dutch population lives in the selected areas.

The European Commission prescribes that for every euro from the EFRD, a minimum of one euro must be contributed from the government. The cities must therefore add their own public or private funding to the European subsidy. The European programme is linked to the urban plans agreed within the context of the urban policy of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. For this, the cities can make use of funds that have been allocated to them in the context of the national urban policy.

Nijmegen Kanaalgebied - local programme management
Phone: +31 24 - 3292065

01/01/2002

case

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Competitiveness, Business support, Specific sectors