Development programmes

1. The purpose and aim of the EU investment

The aim of this Operational Programme is to promote competitiveness in South-East England whilst contributing to reducing the region's ecological footprint. To achieve this aim, the programme has established the objectives of raising levels of knowledge and innovation across all business sectors in order to support more resource efficient business practices, boosting profitability and long-term competitiveness, stimulating innovation and job creation in new and emerging ecologically-driven market sectors and reducing the rate of growth of the Region's ecological footprint, whilst stimulating economic growth.

The focus of the Programme is on ensuring sustainable production and consumption, through promoting innovation and knowledge transfer and stimulating enterprise and supporting successful businesses. It is intended that this will not only deliver positive sustainable development outcomes, so improving the attractiveness of the region, and secure a more competitive economy but will also lead to the creation of more and, more particularly, better jobs in the regional economy as a whole.

2. The expected impact of the investment

The programme will support more than 1200 business to improve their performance in particular in relation to improved energy and resource efficiency. It will contribute towards a €32 million increase in the regions Gross Value Added (GVA). It also aims to reduce road congestion and pollution levels by 10% and will engage in developing and disseminating good practise expertise in these fields.

3. Priorities

These objectives will be pursued through the following priorities:

Priorité 1: promouvoir une production et une consommation durables

• Promoting Resource Efficient Business Practices;
• Stimulating Innovation for a Sustainable Economy; and
• Encouraging Sustainable Consumption Practices

Priority 2: Technical assistance

There is also provision for technical assistance in order to implement the programme. Financial support is available covering administration, monitoring and control.

4. Managing Authority