What are the aims of the Policy Maker Seminars? Interview with Lennart Färje, Region Dalarna
Following the launch of the first JOSEFIN service model in Lithuania and the ongoing negotiations with finance institutions in the other JOSEFIN regions, new developments are under way: making recommendations for regional policy referring to the implementation of JOSEFIN. On this account, three Policy Maker Seminars are planned. The first one, which is organised by the Regional Development Agency JSC (ARR) in cooperation with Region Dalarna (Leader of JOSEFIN Work Package 6 “Impact Assessment, Evaluation and Policy Recommendations”), will be held in Zielona Gora, Poland, on 22nd and 23th September 2010. Mr. Lennart Färje from Region Dalarna shared insights into the planned Policy Maker Seminars in an interview.
1. What are the aims of the Policy Maker Seminars?
JOSEFIN will improve existing and implement new financing instruments in the partner regions by transfer of best practices, and develop Loan Guarantee Fund models based on an innovative use of EU financial instruments (e.g. CIP, JEREMY). The JOSEFIN model will combine finance with integrated coaching schemes to facilitate innovation, internationalisation and transnational cooperation and reduce the risk involved. To obtain regional political support for a smooth implementation of the JOSEFIN instruments, three Policy Maker Seminars will be organised by the project partners until the end of 2011.
2. Who can join these events?
Policy makers from all the regions, involved in JOSEFIN can take part. We also welcome every one engaged in the overall objective to develop and implement financial solutions for innovative SME´s in the Baltic Sea area.
3. What are the participants supposed to expect?
The experiences and recommendations from the project will be discussed with policy makers during the conference. The dialogue between the JOSEFIN consortium and the decision-makers on the political-administrative level may pave the way for a platform for new ideas and actions aiming at further enhancing the innovation capacity of the partner regions around the Baltic Sea.
4. What benefits can you offer to the participants?
An attractive programme and opportunities for discussions, exchange of ideas and experiences with representatives of organisations around the Baltic Sea as well as a short but interesting insight into the Polish region of Lubuskie and the city of Zielona Gora.
5. Is there an overarching concept for all Policy Maker Seminars?
One of the purposes of JOSEFIN is to foster the dialogue on improvement of access to external finance between the financial sector, the entrepreneurs and the public authorities . As a result, tangible outputs are expected, which are going to be worked out in order ot make recommendations for policy makers.
6. What are the main objectives of the Policy Maker Seminar on 22nd and 23th September 2010?
The objectives of the 1st Policy Maker Seminar in Zielona Góra are to demonstrate how the JOSEFIN approach fits into existing regional strategies for innovation and internationalisation in the Baltic Sea Region, to inform about the needs and challenges of SMEs in the various regions as well as to identify existing obstacles and solutions in implementing innovative financial support solutions for SMEs on the regional level. Moreover, the added value that integrated solutions like JOSEFIN offer for SMEs and the regions is to be addressed too. Of course, specific measures are to be defined in order to give policy makers hands-on support in setting the right framework for implementing the JOSEFIN solutions.
