French Stakeholders Strengthen Regional Strategy
On 25 February 2025, the Hauts-de-France Regional Council hosted the fourth InnoCom Stakeholders Meeting, bringing together key regional actors to review the project's progress, exchange best practices, and define strategic actions for improving SMEs' access to European funding.
The meeting marked an important follow-up to the previous gathering on 5 July 2024, ensuring continuity in the region's commitment to strengthening EU funding mechanisms.
Advancing InnoCom’s Objectives
Stakeholders reviewed the outcomes of the Interregional Exchange Meeting (IEM) 5 in Ireland, reflecting on key lessons learned regarding business support mechanisms and challenges in raising awareness about EU funding.
Additionally, representatives from European Department of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry were invited to deliver a presentation. They showcased their work on European projects, explained how they manage their extensive network of regional and local CCIs across France, and detailed their approach to disseminating information on EU funding to their audience. Their presentation reinforced the crucial role of chambers of commerce in guiding businesses through the complexities of European funding opportunities.
Stakeholder Workshops & Policy Roadmap
During interactive workshops, participants:
✅ Refined best practices to align with InnoCom’s objectives.
✅ Reviewed the regional analysis and SWOT conclusions to identify gaps and opportunities.
✅ Co-designed tools and policy strategies to improve SME engagement in European programmes.
Peer Review & Pilot Action Discussions
The session also covered the progress of the Irish and Italian Peer Reviews, conducted with Latvian and Romanian partners, assessing regional funding policies. Furthermore, a discussion was held on potential pilot actions, led by Interreg Europe’s national authority and national point of contact, to explore new avenues for supporting regional businesses.
Key Takeaways & Next Steps
🔹 Boosting Digital Communication: Work is underway on an SME-friendly funding portal to simplify access to EU opportunities.
🔹 Stronger Regional Collaboration: Plans to enhance coordination between stakeholders.
Best Practice Selection:
- "FRAPPE Initiative" selected as the second best practice, and it has been submitted and published.
