Additional specific principles that apply for this Investment Priority are:

- at any supported project an R&I institution must be actively included as a partner - only R&I activities of regional interest/impact will be supported (i.e. research projects etc. using the internal research and innovation potential of cross-border region)

- only those studies, strategies, plans and similar cross-border mechanisms and solutions will be supported which are able to demonstrate evidence or realistic assumption on their real/practical application in sustainable development of common area.

The Monitoring Committee will develop and approve detailed criteria for the selection of projects and interventions within this Programme.

2.A.6.3aa Planned use of financial instruments (where appropriate)

(Reference: point (b)(iii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)

Investment priority Enhancing R&I infrastructure and capacities to develop R&I excellence and promoting centres of competence in particular those of European interest

Planned use of financial instruments

N/A

2.A.6.4aa Planned use of major projects (where appropriate)

(Reference: point (b)(iii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)

Investment priority Enhancing R&I infrastructure and capacities to develop R&I excellence and promoting centres of competence in particular those of European interest

2.A.6.5aa Output indicators

(Reference: point (b)(iv) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)

Table 5: Common and programme specific output indicators

ID Indicator (name of

indicator)

Measurement unit Target value (2023)

Source of data Frequency of reporting

Cross-border mechanisms in the field of R&I (studies, strategies etc.) Number of mechanisms Monitoring Number of research institutions participating in cross-border, transnational or interregional research projects (REGULATION (EU) No 1299/2013) Organisations Monitoring

2.A.4ab Investment priority

(Reference: point (b)(i) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)

Investment Priority

Promoting business investment in R&I, developing links and synergies between enterprises, research and development centres and the higher education sector, in particular promoting investment in product and service development, technology transfer, social innovation, eco-

innovation, public service applications, demand stimulation, networking, clusters and open innovation through smart specialisation, and

supporting technological and applied research, pilot lines, early product validation actions, advanced manufacturing capabilities and first

production, in particular in key enabling technologies and diffusion of general purpose technologies

2.A.5ab Specific objectives corresponding to the investment priority and expected results

(Reference: points (b)(i) and (ii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)

ID

Promoting business investment in R&I, developing links and synergies between enterprises, research and development centres and the higher education sector… Specific objective _{Fostering of involvement of enterprises (primarily SMEs) in}

the innovation system The results, which the

Member States seek to achieve with Union support

The innovation system of the cross border region is based on a considerable number of recognized public and private research institutions, universities located in the cities as well as on scientific parks and the numerous large scale enterprises running their own R&I departments or the specialised regional clusters.

In the programme area SMEs are dominating as the main group of enterprises but their involvement in the innovation system and their R&I activities are in comparison with the large enterprises with special budgets and special R&I departments very low. Networking, technology transfer activities and other R&I support activities have a strong potential to intensify and ensure the integration of SMEs into the innovation system. Important in boosting innovation potential of the region and in process of introducing SMEs into innovation system is the role if “innovative leaders”, being usually large

enterprises.

The envisaged result are:

o enterprises (primarily SMEs) better integrated in the regional innovation system, their innovation activities (new products, services, processes…) will increase.

o Universities and research institutions are more connected to the regional needs (e.g. SMEs, Clusters) and cooperate increasingly with enterprises (primarily SMEs). Cross-border cooperation between businesses and R&I institutions is visible and will be intensified

o Increased diffusion of research and development o processes into the region

This investment priority is focused on the involvement of enterprises (primarily SMEs). The success of these interventions can be measured by the indicator “increase of R&D expenditures in the business sector”.

Table 3: Programme specific result indicators (by specific objective)

(Reference: point (b)(ii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)

ID Indicator Measurement Unit Baseline value Baseline year Target value (2023)

Source of data Frequency of reporting R&I expenditure in the business sector R&I expenditure (% of GDP) 2011 ...% EUROSTAT, national statistics Every 3 years

2.A.6ab Actions to be supported under the investment priority

2.A.6.1ab A description of the type and examples of actions to be supported and their

expected contribution to the specific objectives, including, where appropriate, identification of the main target groups, specific territories targeted and types of beneficiaries

(Reference: point (b)(iii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)

Investment Priority Promoting business investment in R&I, developing links and synergies between enterprises, research and development centres and the higher education sector… Based on the existing national and regional innovation strategies it is be very important to concentrate on the unutilized cross border potential in the business sector as well as in the cooperation of public and private research institutions (incl. universities) with the business sector – primarily SMEs as a key segment or local and regional economies in cross border area but also a large enterprises acting as “innovation regional leaders” having potential to boost the innovativeness and form innovative networks and chains. The planned interventions will support these approach in the following way:

- The business sector (primarily SMEs) will be empowered in their innovative orientation by cooperation with research institutions or by establishing cluster and networks of branches

- Know-how and information transfer will be fostered to improve the commercial viability of the business partners

- enterprises (primarily SMEs) will be integrated in the regional innovation system to bring them closer to the R&I results

- Institutional cross border networks will be promoted to secure a systematic development of cooperation and capacity building

Within the investment priority following types of activity will be supported:

a) Joint research projects, technology transfer and know-how transfer between research/technology institutions and businesses (incl. necessary R&I equipment)

b) Systemic measures to facilitate enterprises (primarily SMEs) in joining the

innovation system and using results of regional R&I system (incl. specific services in R&I sector - intermediation of information, contacts, consultancy and other

assistance to enterprises (primarily SMEs) aiming at their increased innovativeness) c) Promoting networking and cooperation activities among research institutions,

education/research institutions, universities and businesses Main target groups

 public and private R&I institutions  universities and university institutes  enterprises esp. SMEs

 non-profit sector  public sector Types of beneficiaries

 enterprises

 public and private R&I institutions  universities and university institutes

 public authorities (state, regions, municipalities, and their organisations)  non-profit actors

 chambers and associations  EGTC

Specific territories targeted Programme area

2.A.6.2ab Guiding principles for the selection of operations

(Reference: point (b)(iii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)

Investment Priority Promoting business investment in R&I, developing links and synergies between enterprises, research and development centres and the higher education sector… I. The following general principles will guide the selection of interventions under the various Investment Priorities:

Cross-reference IP 1.1.

II. Additional specific principles that apply for this Investment Priority are: