REGIOSTARS Awards 2017
RegioStars Awards identify good practices in regional development and highlight original and innovative projects that are attractive and inspiring to other regions.
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RegioStars Awards identify good practices in regional development and highlight original and innovative projects that are attractive and inspiring to other regions.
Think your project deserves to be known and rewarded? Then submit it! After being selected by an independent jury, representatives from the finalist projects will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony. You might be one of the winners!
The Award Categories for 2017 are:
- Smart Specialisation for SME innovation
- Energy Union: Climate action
- Women Empowerment and Active Participation
- Education and training
- CityStars: Cities in Digital Transition
This year's RegioStars award ceremony will take place on Tuesday, October 10, during the 2017 European Week of Regions and Cities.
Finalist projects will be acknowledged throughout the selection process and during the ceremony. Winners in each category will receive a RegioStars trophy, a short video about their project and a social media promotional package.
Submit your project with the endorsement of the responsible Managing Authority or let your regional or local Managing Authority know that you wish to participate.
If you have any other questions contact us at regiostars2017@iservice-europa.eu.
To help you prepare your application, we provide the application form in Word format. However, as of this year, applications can no longer be sent in a Word document, but have to be submitted directly via the online form on the RegioStars platform.
Deadline for submitting your application: 10 April.
The information should preferably be provided in English, but can also be submitted in all 24 EU languages. You can get free of charge a machine translation into English via this web-page.
Social Media
- @EU_Regional #Regiostars
- EU Week of Regions and Cities #EURegionsWeek
The RegioStars Awards Jury has announced the finalists for the 2017 edition of the RegioStars Awards, the yearly competition honouring Europe's most inspiring and innovating regional projects supported by EU Cohesion Policy Funds.
An independent Jury, led by MEP Lambert Van Nistelrooij, selected 24 finalists from 103 entries on the basis of four key criteria: innovation, impact, sustainability and partnership.
The 24 selected finalists come from regions and cities in 20 Member States and one neighbouring country: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Many of the finalists are addressing common challenges through cooperation across borders.
Category 1 - Smart Specialisation for SME innovation
1. 3D Boost and 3D Invest - Western Finland, FI
Project manager: SASKY Municipal Education and Training Consortium (Sastamala, FI) - European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020
The project has taken a great technological leap in Tampere Region in exploiting digital knowledge in form of additive manufacturing. The aim has been that all phases of manufacturing, from design into a ready-made item, can be concretized in research and development, learning and innovation environments developed during the project.
Learn more about this project / project website - 3D Boost and 3D Invest
2. Bio Base North West Europe
Project manager: Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (Gent, BE) - European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013/Interreg North-West Europe (BE / NL / DE / IE / UK )
The Bio Base NWE consortium brought together bio-based economy experts from eight organisations in five different countries. They provided networking opportunities and technological solutions to more than 755 SMEs, identified hurdles SME encounter during their innovation track and translated these into policy recommendations.
Learn more about this project / project website - Bio Base NWE
3. IPN TecBIS – Technology Business Innovation Sustainable Growth – Business Accelerator - Centro, PT
Project manager: Instituto Pedro Nunes (Coimbra, PT) - European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013
Setting up a dedicated infrastructure to foster innovation and growth of tech-based scale-up companies, going through their post-incubation phase. The Pedro Nunes Institute's (IPN, launched in 1991) mission is to act as an interface between academia and economy, fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurship. Adding to, IPN’s model combines a business incubator with laboratories for applied R&D in key areas of technology.
Learn more about this project / project website - IPN TecBIS
4. Seren - Wales, UK
Project manager: Geoenvironmental Research Centre (Cardiff, UK) - European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013
Project aimed at developing new commercial opportunities for SMEs in the low carbon, ground energy, sector. The project worked closely with SMEs to take transformational product and service innovations into viable commercial outcomes that deliver significant economic benefit; and to bridge cutting-edge academic research and practice in industry. The project has also developed a new, highly innovative approach to engagement with SMEs along Cross Cutting Themes.
Learn more about this project / project website - SEREN
5. Science Link - Interreg TN Baltic Sea (DE, DK, EE, FI, LV, LT, PL, SE)
Project manager: Deutsches Elektronen-synchrotron (Hamburg, DE) - European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013/Interreg TN Baltic Sea
Science Link provides European enterprises, in particular SMEs, with better access to large scale, high-tech research infrastructures such as Maxlab in Sweden or DESY in Germany. These research facilities carry out photon and neutron measurements and are up to now hardly accessible for industry. Enterprises who use the existing large scale research infrastructure, can develop new, better products faster and thus enhance their innovation performance in various fields such as environment and energy, agriculture and food, life science and biotechnology and chemicals.
Learn more about this project / project website - Science Link
Category 2 - Energy Union: Climate action
1. Construction of Gymnasium of Põlva - County of Põlvamaa, EE
Project manager: Foundation Innove (Tallinn, EE) - European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020
New public secondary school building built in the small town of Põlva is the first ever nearly zero-energy schoolhouse in Estonia.
Learn more about this project / project website - Foundation Innove
2. "InnoHiili" - Innovative Low-Carbon Public Services - Oulu, FI
Project manager: Micropolis Ltd. (Ii, FI) - European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020
The fastest Finnish community in CO2 reduction according to the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE): 2007-2015 with the reduction of – 50 %. All the public buildings of Ii are now heated by renewables. Business trips of the municipality employees are conducted by electric cars. All these have caused savings, now about 600 000 €/a, i.e. 60 €/capita.
Learn more about this project / project website - InnoHiili
3. Impianto di teleriscaldamento dell'abitato di Montieri - Tuscany, IT
Project manager: Municipality of Montieri (IT) - European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013
District heating network in the conurbation of Montieri fuelled by geothermal steam that can be drawn from a steam conduit, integrated with energy efficient systems in historic buildings and other renewable sources, and the refurbishment of the municipal sewers and the water supply.
Learn more about this project / project website - Municipality of Montieri
4. Réseau d’eau tempérée de l’ilôt Allar - Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur, FR
Project manager: EDF Optimal Solutions (Paris, FR) - European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020
Simultaneously delivers heat and air conditioning to buildings. The network consists of a temperate water loop that captures energy from seawater via its centre in the port of Marseille, and delivers it to heat pumps installed in building basements.
Learn more about this project / project website - Réseau d’eau tempérée de l’ilôt Allar
5. SEAP_Alps - Piemonte (Lead partner), IT - Interreg TN Alpine Space IT, SI, FR, AT, DE
Project manager: Città Metropolitana di Torino (IT) - European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013/Interreg TN Alpine Space
Adapted an EU Covenant of Mayors concept, the SEAP (Sustainable Energy Action Plans), to Alpine regions, providing local authorities with a joint methodology for energy and climate adaptation planning. In order to assist Alpine Space decision makers in drafting SEAPs in their own communities, the project provided a platform for knowledge transfer and capacity building., SEAP_Alps also tested a new public-private investment concept.
Learn more about this project / project website - SEAP_Alps
Category 3 - Women Empowerment and Active Participation
1. Coordination to improve gender-based violence survivors’ labour market integration & social inclusion - Murcia, ES
Project manager: Servicio regional de empleo y formacion (Murcia) - European Social Fund 2014-2020
Provides an integrative and personalised care to women victims of gender-based violence. It offered social and labour market support to women and, at the same time, the Regional Service for Employment and Training (SEF) also provided counselling and assistance to the same target group.
Learn more about this project / project website - Servicio regional de empleo y formacion
2. Together beyond silence (Don’t stay alone in the silence) - Riga, LV
Project manager: Latvian Association of the Deaf (LAD) (Riga, LV) - European Social Fund 2007-2013
Has created a set of specialised social services for women with hearing impairment that they can receive at childbirth and during postnatal period.
Learn more about this project / project website - Latvian Association of the Deaf
3. Enhancing the respect for gender equality in BG-TR cross-border area - Interreg IPA-CBC (BG-TR)
Project manager: Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Burgas, BG) - Interreg IPA – CBC BG-TR 2007-2013
Enhance the understanding of the gender equality principles in the border region between BG and Turkey. Contribute to reinforcing the women’s role at the labour market, as well as boosting women’s entrepreneurship in the region.
Learn more about this project / project website - Chamber of Commerce and Industry
4. Back2Job - Ingenieurinnen gesucht! - Hannover, DE
Project manager: Bildungswerk der Niedersächsischen Wirtschaft gGmbH (Hannover, DE) - European Social Fund 2014-2020
A lack of specialist skills, in particular in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology, is being felt in key industries in the Leine-Weser region, posing a threat to innovation and competitiveness. Thus through individual coaching, customised training, operational and trade fair visits, etc, women are attracted into engineering professions.
Learn more about this project / project website - Vives Emplea
5. Agile Nation 2 - Wales, UK
Project manager: Chwarae Teg (Cardiff, UK) - European Social Fund 2014-2020
Increase the qualifications and confidence of women working in sectors where they are under-represented in management roles. It aims to: improve the position of women in the workforce; increase numbers of women in management positions; and support an increase in female participation in non-traditional and STEM areas of work.
Learn more about this project / project website - Chwarae Teg
6. Femmes et bâtiment - Ile-de-France, FR
Project manager: Habiter au Quotidien (Montrouge, FR) - European Social Fund 2014-2020
Attracting women into construction sector employment and training, targeting women without other professional qualifications, single mothers, homeless, etc. Individualised accompanying in small groups, based on concrete work situations.
Learn more about this project / project website - Habiter au Quotidien
Category 4 - Education and training
1. PFK - Podmiotowe Finansowanie Kształcenia - Malopolska, PL
Project manager: Wojewódzki Urząd Pracy w Krakowie (Krakow, PL) - European Social Fund 2007-2013
A system of training vouchers to better support for SMEs in training their employees, as flexible solution free from complex procedures.
Learn more about this project / project website - Wojewódzki Urząd Pracy w Krakowie
2. European coworkings EOI - Madrid, ES
Project manager: Fundación EOI - Escuela de organización industrial (Madrid, ES) - European Social Fund 2014-2020
International business acceleration program aimed at entrepreneurs that receive free training and ad-hoc mentoring, both online and in-situ in an entrepreneurship/innovation centre located in a EU member state. 17 entrepreneurship centres located in 13 EU countries participate (UK, NL, IE, BE, PT, IT, EL, RO, HU, CZ, FR, AT and SE).
Learn more about this project / project website - Fundación EOI
3. EkoBiz – Promotion of Youth Entrepreneurship in the Organic Agriculture Sector - Split-Dalmatia County, HR
Project manager: Public institution for development and coordination of Split-Dalmatia County (Split, HR) - European Social Fund 2007-2013
Aimed to increase the interest of young people in entrepreneurship in the organic agriculture sector trough education, business support and development of entrepreneurship skills at the early stage (schools and nurseries).
Learn more about this project / project website - EkoBiz
4. Dote unica lavoro - Lombardia, IT
Project manager: ESF Managing Authority (Milan, IT) - European Social Fund 2007-2013
Provides tailored support to job-seekers and promotion of entrepreneurial activities via a basket of services offered at different levels and compositions. Based on the profile of the person (employment status and distance from the job market, educational level, gender and age), the recipient is assigned to a specific aid intensity level, with a specific budget and dedicated services.
Learn more about this project / project website - ESF Managing Authority
Category 5 - Cities in Digital Transition
1. The Małopolska Agglomeration Card (MKA) - Małopolska / Krakow, PL
Project manager: Regional Roads Management in Krakow (PL) - European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020
Integrates the existing sales systems of services related to public collective transport, offering them to the region inhabitants for competitive prices, thus increasing attractiveness and availability of public collective transport; in addition, the MKA system provides access to the Park & Ride facilities realised under separate projects. The range of the MKA system comprises the other transport system elements of the region, such as the city bicycle or the paid parking zone in Krakow.
Learn more about this project / project website - Małopolska Agglomeration Card
2. Smart Service Power - North-Rhine Westphalia / Dortmund, DE
Project manager: VIVAI Software AG (Dortmund, DE) - European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020
The project is concerned with the age-appropriate, technology-supported services in order to stay at home for a longer time. The use of technology with Internet of Things- (IoT-) platforms, big data analysis, deep learning and natural language assistance systems could be a part of the solution. This collaborative project integrates functions from the fields of e-health, smart home, ambient-assisted living (AAL), emergency call systems, nursing and concierge services. It is centered on the basic needs of an elderly person like security, eating, drinking and medication and of course the preservation of cognitive skills.
Learn more about this project / project website - Smart Service Power
3. SOHJOA: Physical & virtual innovation platform of autonomous last mile urban transportation - Helsinki-Uusimaa, FI
Project manager: Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (Helsini, FI) - European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020
Sohjoa addresses the challenges of new economic growth industries as well as sustainable intelligent transportation development. This is accomplished by bringing autonomous small electric buses to operate in various cities in Finland as part of the pilot innovation platforms created within the project. These buses have the potential to reduce operating costs, lower the overall emissions and offer better service to the mobility customer (last mile from the end of classic public transport to home – e.g. in outskirts of Helsinki). The project tests and develops new technologies to provide digital public services to citizens.
Learn more about this project / project website - SOHJOA
4. Integrated Public Services Platform Implementation and Electronic Payments of Olsztyn - Warmia and Masuria/Olsztyn, PL
Project manager: Olsztyn City Hall IT Department (PL) - European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013
Facilitate the use of municipal services for the inhabitants and tax payers implemented in 2015 e-services for local tax return and waste removal declarations. The implemented solutions allow for submitting the document in an electronic form and servicing it in the City Hall`s systems. In addition, thanks to the Electronic Payments of Olsztyn portal- epo.olsztyn.eu, an Internet user may check their payments due for local taxes, parking tickets and fines issued by the City Guards and then make the appropriate payments.
Learn more about this project / project website - Integrated Public Services Platform Implementation and Electronic Payments of Olsztyn
Category 1 - Smart Specialisation for SME innovation: Bio Base North West Europe
Project manager: Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (Gent, BE) - European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013/Interreg North-West Europe (BE / NL / DE / IE / UK )
The Bio Base NWE consortium brought together bio-based economy experts from eight organisations in five different countries. They provided networking opportunities and technological solutions to more than 755 SMEs, identified hurdles SME encounter during their innovation track and translated these into policy recommendations.
Learn more about this project / project website - Bio Base NWE
Category 2 - Energy Union: Climate action: "InnoHiili" - Innovative Low-Carbon Public Services - Oulu, FI
Project manager: "InnoHiili" - Innovative Low-Carbon Public Services - Oulu, FI - European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020
The fastest Finnish community in CO2 reduction according to the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE): 2007-2015 with the reduction of – 50 %. All the public buildings of Ii are now heated by renewables. Business trips of the municipality employees are conducted by electric cars. All these have caused savings, now about 600 000 €/a, i.e. 60 €/capita.
Learn more about this project / project website - InnoHiili
Category 3 - Women Empowerment and Active Participation: Coordination to improve gender-based violence survivors’ labour market integration & social inclusion - Murcia, ES
Project manager: Servicio regional de empleo y formacion (Murcia) - European Social Fund 2014-2020
Provides an integrative and personalised care to women victims of gender-based violence. It offered social and labour market support to women and, at the same time, the Regional Service for Employment and Training (SEF) also provided counselling and assistance to the same target group.
Learn more about this project / project website - Servicio regional de empleo y formacion
Category 4 “Education and training”: EkoBiz – Promotion of Youth Entrepreneurship in the Organic Agriculture Sector - Split-Dalmatia County, HR
Project manager: Public institution for development and coordination of Split-Dalmatia County (Split, HR) - European Social Fund 2007-2013
Aimed to increase the interest of young people in entrepreneurship in the organic agriculture sector trough education, business support and development of entrepreneurship skills at the early stage (schools and nurseries).
Learn more about this project / project website - EkoBiz
Category 5 “Cities in Digital Transition”: Smart Service Power - North-Rhine Westphalia / Dortmund, DE
Project manager: VIVAI Software AG (Dortmund, DE) - European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020
The project is concerned with the age-appropriate, technology-supported services in order to stay at home for a longer time. The use of technology with Internet of Things- (IoT-) platforms, big data analysis, deep learning and natural language assistance systems could be a part of the solution. This collaborative project integrates functions from the fields of e-health, smart home, ambient-assisted living (AAL), emergency call systems, nursing and concierge services. It is centered on the basic needs of an elderly person like security, eating, drinking and medication and of course the preservation of cognitive skills.
Learn more about this project / project website - Smart Service Power
Public choice award
strong>11937 votes were cast for the Public Choice Award! Project Coordination to improve gender-based violence victims' labour market integration and social inclusion won, based on the votes received via social media and from the attendees of the event. ! Project Coordination to improve gender-based violence victims' labour market integration and social inclusion won, based on the votes received via social media and from the attendees of the event.
Special mentions of the public:
IPN TecBIS – Technology Business Innovation Sustainable Growth – Business Accelerator - Centro, PT
Project manager: Instituto Pedro Nunes (Coimbra, PT) - European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013
Setting up a dedicated infrastructure to foster innovation and growth of tech-based scale-up companies, going through their post-incubation phase. The Pedro Nunes Institute's (IPN, launched in 1991) mission is to act as an interface between academia and economy, fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurship. Adding to, IPN’s model combines a business incubator with laboratories for applied R&D in key areas of technology.
Learn more about this project / project website - IPN TecBIS
2. Together beyond silence (Don’t stay alone in the silence) - Riga, LV
Project manager: Latvian Association of the Deaf (LAD) (Riga, LV) - European Social Fund 2007-2013
Has created a set of specialised social services for women with hearing impairment that they can receive at childbirth and during postnatal period.
Learn more about this project / project website - Latvian Association of the Deaf