This newsletter is special as it informs you on the launch of the newly adopted ESPON 2013 Programme and the first calls for proposals and interest.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION ADOPTS THE ESPON 2013 PROGRAMME

The European Commission adopted the Operational Programme for the ESPON 2007-2013 on 7 November 2007. The programme includes 5 priorities for operations:

1. Applied research on European territorial development, cohesion and competitiveness shall continue.
2. A new type of projects will be offered providing targeted analysis based on existing ESPN results to interested stakeholders.
3. The scientific platform for ESPON including data, indicators and tools shall be maintained and further developed.
4. Capitalisation of results shall be enhanced creating awareness of the European dimension of territorial development and stimulating transnational activities.
5. Apart from Technical Assistance, the analytical character of the ESPON 2013 Programme requires specific analytical support.

You can access the adopted ESPON 2013 Programme by clicking [here]. 

PREANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FIRST CALLS FOR PROPOSALS AND INTEREST

The first calls for proposals and interest has been pre-announced on the ESPON website. A preannouncement will follow in the Official Journal of the European Communities.  The pre-announcement should give potential beneficiaries and interested stakeholders sufficient time to reflect on opportunity and to start building partnerships for responding on the calls.

The 4 calls for Proposals and Interest that will become open on 21 January 2008 are the following:  

(1)    Calls for Proposals on applied research projects covering the following themes:

• Cities and urban agglomerations: their functionality and potentials for European competitiveness and cooperation
• Development opportunities in different types of rural areas
• Demographic and migratory flows affecting European regions and cities
• Climate change and territorial effects on regions and local economies
• Effects of rising energy prices on regional competitiveness
• Territorial Impact Assessment of policies

(2)    Calls for Interest and ideas of stakeholders for using targeted analysis based on ESPON results.

(3)    Call for Proposals on the ESPON 2013 database.

(4)    Calls for Interest in the Knowledge Support System creating a pool of experts in the field of territorial research and analysis.

LAUNCH OF THE ESPON 2013 PROGRAMME AND THE FIRST 4 CALLS ON 21 JANUARY 2008

The ESPON 2013 Programme and the 4 calls for proposals and interest will be launched at an event in Bruxelles on 21 January 2008.
The target group for the event is potential beneficiaries and interested stakeholders that want to learn more about the different opportunities for taking part in project activities. 

Commissioner Danute Hübner and the Luxembourg Minister Jean-Marie Halsdorf will address the policy context for the ESPON 2013 Programme along with representatives from the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the EU Presidency of Slovenia.

First, the new ESPON programme, its mission and priorities will be presented.

Second, Calls for Proposals on 6 applied research projects and a project on the ESPON 2013 Database will be opened and the conditions for taking part explained.

Third, Calls for Interest from stakeholders in targeted analysis based on ESPON results and from experts in being included in an ESPON Knowledge Support System will be opened and conditions explained.

Finally, information on the next steps of the ESPON 2013 Programme will be given.  

At the launch event on 21 January 2008 all documentation relating to the planned calls, including details on the thematic scope, the procedure for applying, the eligibility rules, the evaluation criteria and the submission material, will be made available. 

You can access the draft programme and register for the launch event by clicking [here].

THE ESPON CU IS LOOKING FOR A PROJECT EXPERT SPECIALISED IN DATA, STATISTICS AND MAPPING

A post as Project Expert at the Coordination Unit is vacant. The special competence in demand is a person with skills in managing data, statistics and capable of making European maps. Having an educational back ground in economics, economic geography or similar would be an advantage.
The deadline for applying for the post is 15 February 2008.
You can access more detailed information about the post and the conditions for applying by entering www.espon.eu. 

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