DISTRICT is an INTERREG Regional Framework Operation focused on Knowledge Economy and Technological Innovation funded under the INTERREG IIIC South Zone Programme.
The partnership includes Lead Partner Tuscany and other three partner regions West Midlands (United Kingdom), Saxony (Germany) and Västra Götaland (Sweden).

DISTRICT’s Objective
The idea for DISTRICT originated from the shared interest of some members of ERIK (European Regions Knowledge based Innovation Network) - a specific network within the Regional Program of Innovative Actions (RPAI) funded by the European Commission (DG Regional Policy) - to improve regional development and regional development policies in the light of the Knowledge Economy. DISTRICT partners’ regional economies have been, and still are, strongly dependant on industry. Their share of industrial employment is higher than the EU average - with the exception of Västra Gotaland performing high in R&D. Here the challenge of globalisation is particularly relevant, as it often brings risk of marginalisation of entire regions or clusters. DISTRICT partners share the concern for the declining competitiveness of their industrial systems due to (a) a limited capability of SMEs to access knowledge and technological innovation; (b) the attitude of medium- and large-sized industries to relocate to countries with lower labour costs; (c) underperformance of innovation-related regional institutions, such as universities, research institutes, advanced business services providers and intermediaries. The idea is to provide partner regions with concrete, tailored operative cases and tools to better equip them for the next EU Cohesion Policy programming period. DISTRICT’s aim is to provide its partners a continuous cooperation framework to exchange information and best practices, and jointly develop innovative methodologies for improved regional strategies, strategic planning and pilot actions. Laying a special emphasis on increasing RTDI activities by industrial SMEs, this will be achieved by the partners closely cooperating and implementing actions to strengthen the relationship between SMEs, knowledge-promoting institutions and technological innovation services.

DISTRICT’s Thematic Components
To better achieve its objectives DISTRICT focuses on three specific areas (thematic components): Connecting clusters and business networks to innovation, within the global context. This component - lead by West Midlands - aims at developing regional abilities through innovation, knowledge management and economic and technological intelligence techniques, enabling firms from local clusters and business networks to develop, test and provide new ground-breaking approaches and services. SMEs innovation projects, in collaboration with Universities and Research and Transfer Centres. This component - lead by Sachsen - analyses difficulties in accessing knowledge - one of the main obstacles for SMEs. A closer relationship between SMEs, Universities and Technology Centres would foster innovation. There is a definite need for improving the quality of research and stimulating the creation of stronger links between research institutions and SMEs. Innovation in financial engineering, seed venture capital, start-ups and spin-offs. This component - lead by Vastra Gotaland - focuses on encouraging creation of new technological enterprises by stimulating business ideas and spin-offs by Universities, Research Centres and Smes, as well as improving support services and financial support to new enterprises - especially through an increased role of business angels.

Duration and budget
DISTRICT has formally started in July 2005 and will terminate by the end of June 2008. DISTRICT’s total budget amounts to 6.646.575,00 euros, with a 3.686.343,75 euros ERDF contribution by the European Commission corresponding to a 55% cofinancing rate.

What is INTERREG?
The European INTERREG Programme is designed to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union by promoting interregional co-operation. It is financed under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The overall objective of INTERREG is to improve the effectiveness of policies and instruments for regional development and cohesion. The INTERREG programme aims at promoting Europe-wide co-operation. one key objective is to transfer and exchange information, knowledge and good practices between Regions, in order to promote a more homogeneous economic and social development at the European level. The Interreg IIIC strand of the Programme focuses on interregional cooperation – as distinct from Interreg IIIA and Interreg IIIB strands focusing on crossborder and transnational cooperation respectively.

What is an Interreg IIIC Regional Framework Operation?
DISTRICT is a Regional Framework Operation (RFO) - that is, one of the three types of operations (the other two being individual projects and networks) funded by the INTERREG IIIC Programme. It corresponds to a mini-programme managed by a group of regional authorities (or equivalent bodies) exchanging experiences and methodologies through specifically financed sub-projects.