Relying on Lower Normandy’s specific characteristics, four key objectives have been adopted for coordinating EFDR funding (181 million Euros) for the next 7 years.

Facing the major challenge of ensuring regional competitiveness and attractiveness, and in particular the creation of quality jobs so that young Normans can envisage a successful future in their own region, the partners involved in managing European funding have agreed on the priority to deploy a genuine strategy in favour of innovation, with 3 ambitious aims for 2013, in order to:

o place the added value per job of Lower Normandy-based businesses, essentially SMEs, at the same level as the national average in their respective sectors of activity;

o increase the GERD (Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D) to 2.5% of the region’s GDP compared to the current 0.9%.

o double the number of public and private researchers.

The 181 million Euros will be used to:
- consolidate the region’s innovation strategy by encouraging R&D among companies and laboratories;
- reinforce the competitiveness of the region’s leading economic sectors (agrifood, horse industry, automotive industry, plastics, electronics, information technology and the nautical sector) and develop partnerships between companies and research centres;
- accompany development strategies for urban and rural territories, together with commercial ports;
- develop new information and communication technologies (ICT): broadband internet access, developing service offers, ensuring command of IT tools;
- preserving the quality of the regional environment through the development of renewable energies and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, together with preventing natural hazards and risks for biodiversity.

Summary

• Europe invests in Lower Normandy
For “innovative projects with prospects for the future.”

• What they have to say…
Business leaders or researchers who have already benefited from European support.
They tell us what Europe has offered them.

• Follow the footsteps of a funding application
The State and the Regional Council have joined forces to make life easier for you.

• Useful addresses
The names, telephone numbers and websites you need to know to tackle Europe.

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