Framework Agreements with the Italian Ministry of Economic Development (Fund for Sustainable Growth

By project STEPHANIE

Published on 13 November 2019

Italy

About this good practice

When two or more institutions decide to cooperate in order to jointly finance a specific programme, could be treacherous for them to combine different kind of financing instruments and it could generate uncertainty for the final beneficiaries (different procedures, different timing, etc..). Framework agreements with the Ministry of Economic Development: under a specific agreement that identifies the programme to be financed, Tuscany Region contributes to integrate the National Fund for Sustainable Growth with regional resources in order to finance specific R&D projects fitting both with the priorities identified at national level and with the regional strategy and priorities (basic conditions are: both regional and national impact and considerable contribution in terms of growth and employment). According to the agreement, only one procedure for collection and evaluation of the proposals is identified and it is directly managed at national level. Innovation consists in integrating financing instruments and schemes, identifying not only common rules but also: a) the specific procedure for the management of the resources, b) one managing authority (according to the rules pre-identified and agreed).

Expert opinion

The good practice illustrates the importance to align different national and regional funding mechanisms to reach innovative outcomes. The region of Tuscany and the Italian Ministry of Economic Development have developed a common procedure to select and finance R&D programmes. Indeed, combining different funding sources can lead to timely and burdensome procedures, the good practice emphasises on the importance to harmonise procedures and have one responsible Managing Authority to finance R&D projects that are aligned with national and regional priorities. Such initiatives require a preliminary negotiation phase between national and regional Managing Authorities that take some time and thus need to be carefully planned. The good practice can inspire policymakers who aim to design such a funding mechanism aligned across multiple administrative boundaries.

Arnault Morisson

Works at Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform

Resources needed

Personnel assigned (1 manager, 3 officers – half time): approximately 30.000,00 euros per year.
Regional funds for cofinancing the agreements: 30 mln of euro (at 31/12/2023, ending date)

Evidence of success

Foreseen R&D Investments in Tuscany Region for a total 185.000.000,00 euro.

Potential for learning or transfer

The scheme could be easly applied to other programmes (i.e. transnational, in order to overlap weaknesses of existing transnational financing schemes, as it happens in the case of ERANET).