However, the PMC has identified the following programme gap that needs to be addressed with additional project development support:
1. urban-rural partnerships for new service solutions (alternative wording: new services for rural areas linked to towns or services provided by organisations based in towns and distributed to a wider surrounding rural area.)
The following gap is still present and project proposals are welcomed:
2. maritime safety in relation to remote areas with arctic, harsh conditions
In addition, the PMC specially welcomes proposals for the following four themes that could be more strongly addressed:
3. exchange of best practise and establishment of cooperation networks between R&D institution and SMEs to increase the capacity for innovation, facilitate the design of innovation systems and strengthen competitiveness
4. cooperation and exchange of best practice between SMEs on how to address and reach markets with existing and new products
5. increased use of ICT to overcome distance
6. developing innovative product and service solutions for developing and maintaining transport infrastructure with regard to roads, railways, airports and ports under harsh climatic conditions
The PMC also welcomes applications in all other programme objectives and themes. However, it views the Priority 1 themes “implementation of ICT to modernise and to innovate industries and businesses in the Northern Periphery” and “transnational cooperation networks and knowledge transfer to develop existing and new innovative products” as already covered. In Priority 2, the theme “Developing new approaches to efficient and sustainable management and utilisation of resources”, is viewed as sufficiently covered, especially forestry projects, but new initiatives for small scale renewable energy resources and other natural resources projects, which are appropriate for the programme area are still welcomed. Applicants submitting a main project proposal under these themes need to strongly justify the need of the project and demonstrate concrete tangible added value in products and services to be developed.
Partnerships should try to cover interest in the West-Atlantic area, the North-Atlantic area even with smaller programme partner countries such as Greenland, and the Nordic countries and to encourage participation from all these different areas. Projects having pre-dominantly a cross-border character are discouraged. In addition, projects should try to demonstrate SME involvement or at least associate with SME partners where appropriate.
Projects should realise industrial development based on collaboration between traditional and creative sectors to produce products and services, thereby, reducing the innovation and creativity gap within the Northern Periphery Area to become more competitive than other economic trading blocks.