The objective of the OP ERDF Axis1 is to invest in NordPasdeCalais in R&I activities related to the RIS3. The aim is to improve the capacity to develop R&I excellence and promote centers of competence by promoting investment in R&I and developing links and synergies between businesses, research and development centers and the higher education sector (see the “triple helix” concept). The IP 3d is focussed on private R&D investments and the companies'capacity to innovate with public research centers. The project’s intervention logic is: in NPDC, the main industry is the rail sector. The rail sector is characterized by a few big companies and hundreds of SME which face big challenges due to a fierce international competition. This means that they need to innovate to offer added value products and services to be able to face competitors. The issue is that they have difficulties to invest more and better in R&I. To increase their level of investments, they can use instruments put at their disposal by the regional council or BPI France (the French public bank of investments dedicated to innovation and growth). Also, to increase the quality of their investments, they can get support from clusters (financed partially and supported by the region) that will help them build joint R&D projects namely with academia. Nevertheless the SME investments are under expectation. Therefore the policy instrument should be redesigned to solve this issue.

IP 1.b : Promotion of the companies’ investment in research and innovation (R&i), development of links and synergies between the companies, the research centres and the university (triple helix concept). Specifically, the thematic objective OE.1.2.1. will be addressed. The project will aim to improve the creation of an innovation culture and the promotion of R&i activities, improving at the same time the low position of Aragon in innovation and the low level of research results transfer to the companies. Even though there is a strong commitment of the region in the railway topic, there are not so many SMEs working and innovating in it. In fact, this could be improved by a higher cooperation of SMEs working in innovation projects, and, of course, if this cooperation could include the university and the research centres, it would be better. Gathering the relevant logistics-related stakeholders in one platform is one step ahead, but it has still room for improvement.

The TO1 – 1b aims at promoting enterprises’ investments in innovation and R&D and at developing synergies between enterprises and R&D bodies. The Partner will mainly focus on the “Specific Objective RA 1.1” (Enhancing innovation activities in enterprises), and 2 specific actions : 1.1.4 Support to collaborative R&D for developing new sustainable technologies, new products and services : since it covers the activities of “Technological Districts” (Clusters), therefore it is the one directly concerning the Partner. Since we are already aware of the huge differences between the Clusters involved in the project not only in terms of organisation and financing but also in terms of activities and impact, identifying best practices will be crucial to us and the Tuscany Region. 1.1.5 Support to pilot actions, early validation of products and large-scale demonstration : it is for sure a crucial tool to build a long-lasting competitive advantage for enterprises bworking in the railway sector.

The objective of the policy instrument mentionned above and especifically the TO1 is to strengthen research, technological development and innovation’. Both 1a and 1b, as they are interconnected, will be addressed. The aim of 1a is to enhance research and innovation (R&I) infrastructure and capacities to develop R&I excellence. 1b is to promote business investment in R&I, developing links and synergies between enterprises, research and development centres and the higher education sector (see the “triple helix” concept) thanks to clusters and open innovation related to RIS3. The intervention logic is: In East Central Sweden, railway SMEs are reluctant and historically weak in investing in R&D. The region has a strong railway sector, which is identified as a key sector in the region, and is developing the Järnvägskluster (Railway cluster). Private R&D investments are currently limited to large companies and focused on technological innovations, when more is needed of organizational, market or social innovations. Also, generally speaking, collaboration between academia, trade/industry and society is low. As a consequence, the overall project objective is to redesign the policy instrument to foster measures and policies for collaboration across sectors on larger challenges of transport/railway, to identifying best practices and simplification for SMEs to increase effectiveness of policies and benefit from opportunities for crossregion learning on cluster policies and programs.

The Operational Program for Research and Innovation (OPRI) is based on the priorities of the Europe2020 strategy as well as the main recommendations of the Small Business Act and the Business Action Plan2020. It is a joint program led by the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic with the Ministry Education, Science, Research and Sports of the Slovak Republic and via which budget resources of about 3billionEUR are allocated. Its focus, structure and content of activities is based directly on analysis of needs and development potential as well as expected results defined in the Slovak Republic's Partnership Agreement2014-2020. Moreover, it reflects the principles of state education, research, development and innovation policies contained in The National Reform Program of the Slovak Republic. OPRI is a key implementation tool of the "Knowledge for Prosperity - Strategy for Research and Innovation for the Smart Specialization of the Slovak Republic" ("RIS3 SK") targeting SME. Since 2014, projects within OPRI were implemented. The results require our attention as they are not as good as expected. Indeed, the actual support seems inadequate: the number of cooperations supported by public grant programmes to develop innovation is very low. We must analyse & define why objectives are not achieved and make improvements towards socio-economic changes and define new actions. The aim is also to ensure specific support to the transport sector as required by regional stakeholders.