About NEEBOR – Networking for Enterprises In the Eastern External Border Regions

The project has grown out from the Network of Eastern External Border Regions, from a wide European initiative aimed at the collaboration of regions from European countries on the external borders of the European Union, which decided to work more closely together and to elaborate joint actions for their common challenges. The project has 12 partners - representatives regional bodies from 8 European countries, and intends to involve further interested European and non-European partners to their activities.
The core elements of successful Small and Medium Enterprises' development and innovation policies in these areas are cross-border business cooperation with non-European neighboring countries, and better access to knowledge and financing for SMEs in periphery areas. Good practices and the special opportunities in these common fields should be better exploited and strengthened. That is why the overall objective of the NEEBOR project is to exchange and exploit solutions for a more competitive and innovative SME sector while increasing the efficiency of regional SME development and innovation policies in the external border areas. The specific objectives of the project are to develop a clear understanding of the external border regions' key challenges, key strategies, key actors and key actions on SME development and innovation; to exchange good practices which can help to unlock business potential in these regions as cross border business cooperation, access to finance and  knowledge for SMEs; to exchange and exploit experiences on these areas through successful seminars, study visits, staff exchange and transferability actions; to develop joint methodologies and give policy recommendations on the above mentioned areas; to deepen the relations among the external border regions, and to upgrade their networking capacity.

About INTERREG IVC Programme

The Interregional Cooperation Programme INTERREG IVC, financed by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund, helps Regions of Europe work together to share experience and good practice in the areas of innovation, the knowledge economy, the environment and risk prevention. EUR 302 million is available for project funding but, more than that, a wealth of knowledge and potential solutions are also on hand for regional policy-makers.

http://www.interreg4c.net

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm