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Interreg North Sea Region

The programme aim is to support development and foster sustained economic growth across the region. It helps enterprises, institutions, public administrations, NGOs and others to pool their expertise, share their experience and cooperate to develop realistic solutions to problems shared by organisations across the region.

The UK is still a full member of the EU, and UK applicants are eligible for EU funding until new arrangements are agreed. The External Funding Team would urge potential applicants to make the most of the opportunity while it still exists and are here to help.  Email funding@norfolk.gov.uk for more information.

Case study

Educating climate change issues

ANSWER - A North Sea Way to Energy-efficient Regions

This project developed ways to promote and increase energy efficient consumption patterns in society, working with communities and businesses to engage and empower them to increase efficiency.

Led by Suffolk County Council and in partnership with Norfolk County Council along with 11 other partners from five countries, this project received €1.8 million for a total budget of €3.6 million.

Further information on this project is available here: http://www.northsearegion.eu/project-information/

Please note that this project was funded under the previous programme (2007-2013) and that the new programme (2014-2020) has different objectives and expectations.

1. Thinking Growth: strengthening research, technological development and innovation

  • Develop new or improved knowledge partnerships between businesses, knowledge institutions, public administrations and end users with a view to long-term cooperation (post project) on developing products and services
  • Enhance regional innovation support capacity to increase long-term innovation levels and support smart specialization strategies
  • Stimulate the public sector to generate innovation demand and innovative solutions for improving public service delivery

2. Eco-Innovation: preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency

  • Promote the development and adoption of products, services and processes to accelerate greening of the North Sea Region economy
  • Stimulate the adoption of new products, services and processes to reduce the environmental footprint of regions around the North Sea

3. Sustainable NSR: promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management

  • Demonstrate new and/or improved methods for improving the climate resilience of target sites
  • Develop new methods for the long-term sustainable management of North Sea ecosystems

4. Green transport and mobility: promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures

  • Develop demonstrations of innovative and/or improved transport and logistics solutions with potential to move large volumes of freight away from long-distance road transportation
  • Stimulate the take-up and application of green transport solutions for regional freight and personal transport

Projects can be co-financed by up to 50% of the eligible costs by the North Sea Programme.

Any legal entity from the private or public sector within the programme area may be Lead Partner or Partner of a project and apply for funding.

Projects must include at least two beneficiaries from two different countries within the eligible area.

Note: projects should have a positive effect on large parts of the programme area which could be hard to justify with only the minimum number of beneficiaries.

The programme area of the North Sea Region is made of the following countries:

Norway and Denmark, eastern parts of the UK, three provinces of the Flemish region of Belgium, the north western regions of Germany, the northern and western parts of the Netherlands and the south western area of Sweden.

The North Sea Region programme has a two-step application procedure with the submission of a Phase 1 application form followed by a more detailed Phase 2 application form for successful applicants.

Details of forthcoming application deadlines can be found on the programme website.

You can find further information on the programme website. There you will also find information on the programme’s specialist Facilitation team, who can help you find partners in eligible countries. Contact us if you are considering applying to the programme and want some advice on your project.