SPAIN

Instituto de Fomento de la Region de Murcia (INFO) is the Regional Development Agency in Murcia (NUT II region designated as objective 1 of Structural Funds). In its capacity of Regional Development Agency, INFO-MURCIA has been responsible for co-ordinating most of aspects of regional economic development including promotion of technical and financial services to regional SMEs, building soft infrastructures such as Technological or Business Innovation Centres and attracting investment to the region. Instituto was the first intermediary organisation responsible for the implementation of the EC's Global Grant in Europe (ERDF over the 1990-93 and 1994-99 periods) whose main actions were: Improving financial situation of SME, Fostering innovation management and increasing of quality standards, Internationalisation and foreign promotion of products, Valorisation of regional economic ressources, Improvement of competitiveness, Promotion of the local and social development as well as best economic equipment and infrastructures. INFO is currently implementing a new Global Grant of some 100.7 Meuro within the framework of the Regional Operational Programme for the Murcia Region (2000-2006 programming period of EU Structural Funds)

BULGARIA

BARDA is the organisation of independent regional development agencies and business centres in Bulgaria. It was established in 1997 by 5 Regional Development Agencies and now has 33 members – agencies situated in all regions of Bulgaria. A Board of Directors, comprising representatives of its member agencies, manages BARDA. Since July 1998, a Membership Coordination Office in Sofia is in place (BARDA EXECUTIVE SECRETATIAT). To support the achievement of the Association’s mission. BARDA is a member of the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA) and the Bulgarian Economic Forum. BARDA members are united by a common mission: to contribute to the enhancement of the economic environment in Bulgaria through improved entrepreneurial initiative and employment at regional level. They work in concert with economic development strategies of regions and participate in regional development policy making. BARDA network offers support to the small and medium-sized enterprises and municipalities in their respective regions, including: business consulting, SME training, support in business plan development, as well as providing information on markets, credit instruments, investment opportunities, exhibitions and other support services. Through these activities, BARDA contributes to the employment creation and are also actively involved in the development of regional economic and sector strategies

CZECH REPUBLIC

Regional Development Agency in Ostrava. The ARR - Regional Development Agency, a.s. was established as the pilot project of the European Union in 1993 with the objective of assisting with the restructuring of the North Moravian and Silesian region. ARR mission is to contribute to the co-ordination of projects for the economic and social transformation of the region to regional development by way of the following: to act as a developer for some regional projects, to support the development of various forms of enterpreneurship, to provide information services for municipalities and institutions, to act as a regional centre for international co-operation purposes, to participate in the establishment and development of regional policy, to be able to provide the above services, the ARR uses the resources of the European Union international assistance funds (Phare, bilateral assistance), public national sources, those of districts and communities and some private funding.

The Regional Development Agency for Central Moravia (RDACM) was established in 1996 by the Association of Central Moravia municipalities and the city of Olomouc and is a unique partnership between towns and villages of the Central Moravia region operating on non-profit basis. RDACM is certified according to ISO 9001:2000 standards. Its principal mission is to support the economical development of the region working in different sectors like tourism, investments attraction, internationalization, infraestructure and housind, etc. For these purposses the Agency services are, among others, the preparation of Central Moravia region for joining EU and the preparation of the strategic development plans for each micro-region, projects preparation in frame of differenet Czech and EU programmes, assistance to local entrepreneurs and presentation of the Region in domestic and foreing markets. RDACM is member of EURADA and regional representative of the Czech Agency for Foreign Investments CzechInvest and the Association of Innovative Entrepreneurship CR.

ESTONIA

The Narva Business Advisory Services Foundation is the first advisory service of its kind to be established in the Narva region and North-Eastern part of Estonia. The primary aim of the Narva BAS is assistance to development of Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and assistance to local authorities in regional economic development. NBAS orients to constant improvement of quality of business-plans, financial planning, marketing, business partner search as well as providing with access of SMEs to credit and financial sources and with development of proposals on international projects. During its operations NBAS is approved in the market of consulting services, became known to SMEs and developed international network. Additionally, by marketing of Narva and Northeastern Estonia as an active business region, the Agency is assisting in the development of a market economic environment and investments. Narva NBAS is member of EURADA, BARDI (Baltic Alliance of Regional Development Institutions), Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI), Estonian Small Business Association, etc.

HUNGARY

The West Pannon Regional Development Council, as sole proprietor, founded the West Pannon Regional Development Agency. Following a half year of preparations, the Agency began its first full year of operation at the beginning of 2000. Its main tasks were to support the work of the Regional Development Council and to implement the specific objectives set in the West Pannon Regional Development Program. The Agency participates in establishing a future vision for West Pannonia, and is responsible for implementing the regional development program; carries out tasks associated with the working body of the West Pannon Regional Development Council; helps and promotes the flow of regional development information in the region; supports local and small regional initiatives, organisations, and organises as well as co-ordinates conferences, meetings, trainings.

The South-Transdanubian Regional Development Agency is a working body of the South Transdanubian Regional Development Council. Its main activities include coordination of international programes (EU PHARE HU 9606 and HU9705 Programmes, INTERREG Community Iniciative Progammes, Croatian-Hungarian CBC programme), coordination of regional programming (Complex Development Programme of the region, Preliminary National Development Plan (for the period 2001-2003), Regional Development Plan (2004-2006) and regional monitoring activities. The Institution also put special emphasis on maintainig internal and external connections, which involve management of regional-wide partnerships, reinforcement of interregional connections, development of international cooperations. The Agency has already gained reasonable experineces in transnational cooperaion actions. The Agency took part in the Industrial Park Partnership Programme (detailed description see below), which was implemented following the framework of INTERREG II/C programme. It is also involved in Regional Innovation Strategy programme with partners from Ireland and England, and have thematically widespread contacts with French (Rhone-Alpes) and Italian (Friuli Venezia Giulia) regions.

LATVIA

The Latgale Region Development Agency was established in September 1999 and comprises the area of 7 districts (Daugavpils Kraslava, Preili, Rezekne, Ludza, Balvi, Jekabpils) and two republican cities (Daugavpils and Rezekne) and also small towns. The Latgale Region Development Agency is an institution for the development of Latgale region and for co-ordination of the development activities within the region. It is working to establish co-operation network with other regional agencies in EU countries and to ensure implementation of the best practice of these countries also in Latgale region. Among its objectives are: to implement the Regional Development Plan (Pilot Plan dated August 2000) for the Latgale Region, to initiate and support socio-economic initiatives for the Latgale region, to assist in the development of Latgale by providing region-wide co-ordination, planning, implementing and monitoring, to attract resources and investment into the Region, to promote public awareness of Latgale regional development issues, regionally, nationally and internationally, to be the link between regional government and national and international organisations, and to work with European Commission funded Projects for the development of the region, leading to Latvian accession to the Union.

LITHUANIA

The National Regional Development Agency (NRDA) is a public non profit company owned by the Lithuanian Association of Chambers of Commerce. Established in 1999 it has grown to become one of the biggest consulting and technical assistance companies in the area of regional development in Lithuania. The Agency provides consulting, technical assistance and training services in the fields of regional economic development, project management and EU pre-accession assistance. NRDA aims are: To contribute to the implementation of the national regional development policy; To assist national, regional and local authorities in implementing a number of regional development instruments; To provide technical assistance and training concerning the programming and implementation of various EU-supported pre-accession programmes. The Agency fields of expertise are, among others, EU regional policy and structural funds, preparation of the SPD, Interreg and Phare programmes, local and regional development and strategic planning.

POLAND

Podlaska Regional Development Foundation has been responsible for implementing Polish - British Enterprise Project (PBEP) since 1995. PBEP is composed of four main components: Business Development Programme, Market Development Programme, Equity Investment Fund and Loan Guarantee Fund. These four sub-programmes have one aim: to stimulate and support the development of SME sector in Podlaskie Region, and contribute to the economic development. We organize international and local expert’s advisory help for SMEs. The Podlaska Regional Development Foundation provides trainings for managers and local authorities and unemployed persons. During the last years, the Podlaskie Regional Development Foundation has gained a very relevant experience not only in the fields of local and regional development, but also in the area of supporting actions to SME. In particular, the Foundation’s main goals are institutional support of economic restructuring processes in the region, support to the establishment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), development of co-operation with the territory self-government and regional administration organizations and supporting them with advice, creating of entrepreneurship, partnership and fair competition, development of inter-regional and international co-operation, adopting of regional development actions to change the social and economic environment. The Foundation is accomplishing such goals by creating of business incubators networks, co-operating with the territory self-government organizations and regional government administration institutions so as to establish a regional development strategy, organizing training activities, supporting of the marketing enterprises, organizing economic promotion actions for private entrepreneurs, supporting SMEs, co-operating with foreign organizations.

The Lódz Regional Development Agency was established on the initiative of the City Council and the voivod. It has been in operation since January 1992. The Agency is structured as a joint stock company. The largest shareholder is the Industrial Development Agency (more than 25%), City Council (20%) nine Warsaw and Lódz banks (20%) and private entrepreneurs in the region (10%). A number of other organizations have nominal shareholdings, including the voivod (2%). In addition to performing specific executive functions in promoting regional restructuring and economic development, the Agency was established in response to the need articulated by many organizations to provide an overview or strategic focus for the region, coordinate activities and fill gaps in action. The Agency is the principal implementing body at the regional level of the STRUDER programme (implemented at the national level by the Polish Agency for Regional Development).

ROMANIA

A non-governmental, non-profit institution of public utility, the RDA V West acts for the development and promotion of the region as a whole both at a national and an international level. RDA V West counts itself among the range of regional and national financial bodies and instruments referred to in the Law 151/1998 as the regional development system. The latter was initiated in order to allow Romania to absorb structural funds during the pre-accession period. The main objectives of RAD V West are the following: Increasing the attractiveness of the development region in view of bringing about investments; promoting co-operation within the development region, with other regions, as well as the international level by means of common projects; promoting innovation and know-how technological transfer by means of enforcing the link between the business community on one hand and the scientific, technological and research medium on the other; diminishing the disparities through the stimulation of sustainable economic, social and cultural development of the region with the aim of improving life standard; revigorating the lagged behind and depressed areas.

SLOVAKIA

The task of the Regional Advisory and Invormation Center Presov (RAIC Presov) as an independent and non-profit organization is to support and create conditions for the development of small and medium enterprises by means of its services and activities with the purpose of the social-economic development and the democratization of the society in the region of Presov. It was established in 1993 as a non-profit organization. The legal form of the RAIC Presov is the association of legal entities according to the Slovak legislation, specifically the Civil Code. The association consists of five members that represent the business, financial, and public sector. The main services provided by the organisation are finnacial, training and information services as well as individual consulting, RAIC Presov has been recently involved in many other activities, which are reflecting very often more and more sophisticated needs of the clients, in this sence it can be point out that the Centre is actually preparing to build the technological incubator centre or that taking into account the fact that the region suffers from the lack of foreign investment the new project of the Regional Centre for Foreign Investors is being prepared. RAIC Preseov is, among others, member of the Economic Board of the District of Presov , the Association of the RAICs and BIC of Slovakia, and EURADA.

The Agency for Regional Development in Zilina (ARD) was established as a non-governmental, non-profit and public-benefit association of legal entities in September 1999. ARD mission is to contribute to the co-ordination of regional development, preparation and implementation of regional development projects and cross-border co-operation. ARD is the member of the Integrated Network of the Regional Development Agencies in the Slovak Republic, created by the Ministry of Construction and Regional Development of Slovakia in 2000. The main activities of the RDA are: Preparation, coordination and implementation of regional projects: of regional infrastructure, entrepreneurship support, support to the development of cities and municipalities, tourism and countryside development, cross-border co-operation, etc. Providing advisory, consultant and information service for municipalities, small entrepreneurs and institutions, Promotion campaigns, Organisation of conferences and meetings, Co-operation with different institutions, and Assistance in the preparation of regional development analysis and documents.

SLOVENIA

The Regional development Centre Koper (RDC Koper) is a non-profit institution established by the Municipality of Koper, the Employment Centre Koper and the Regional Chamber of Commerce Koper with the intention to stimulate development of small economy and employment. In May 2001 the municipalities of Koper, Piran, Izola, Sežana, Komen, Divaca, Hrpelje-Kozina, Ilirska Bistrica and the local development agencies Inkubator d.o.o. branch in Sežana, RDC Koper, Centre for business promotion Piran and Development centre Ilirska Bistrica signed a contract about collaboration and organisation of the Regional development agency. RDC Koper was chosen to perform the role of leading agency for the period of 2 years with the possibility of prolongation. The tasks of the leading RDA: preparation and monitoring of regional development programs, counselling and applying to tenders for granting stimulation to regional development, tasks from the area of regional structural policy, coordination of local institutions’ work, collaboration at the preparation of national documents regarding development planning. The activities performed by the RDC Koper are divided into four areas of activity: Regional Development, stimulating business, human resources and stimulation of employment and innovation activity and transfer of technology.