MEMO/08/545
Brussels,7 August 2008
Germany – Operational
Saxony-Anhalt
Programme
2007-2013:
1. Operational Programme 2007–2013 for Saxony-Anhalt under the
‘Convergence' objective, co-financed by the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF)
2. Overview
On 22 October 2007, the European Commission approved the Operational
Programme for Saxony-Anhalt for the 2007-2013 programming period of the
European Regional Development Fund. This programme involves Community
support for Saxony-Anhalt through the ERDF under the "Convergence" objective.
The programme's total budget is around €2.6 billion and the Community contribution
through the ERDF amounts to around €1.9 billion, corresponding to around 7.3% of
the total funds available for Germany under the cohesion policy for 2007-2013 .
3. Purpose and aim of the programme
In accordance with the Lisbon Strategy, the primary goals of the programme are
convergence through sustainable development, in particular by boosting growth, and
the improvement of employment prospects.
With the aid of the 2007-2013 ERDF programme, research and development and
businesses' capacity for innovation are to be strengthened, with emphasis being
placed on the transfer of knowledge between universities and businesses. Increasing
the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in particular and the
targeted expansion of the economic infrastructure are aimed at enhancing
employment prospects.
Urban projects aimed at contributing to enhancing potential for economic
development and combating social and ecological degradation are planned. At the
same time, investment in educational and social infrastructures is intended to
contribute to integrated urban development. Finally, investment in certain
infrastructures is designed to boost environmental protection and increase risk
prevention. Special attention is to be given to equal opportunities and to the
challenges presented by demographic change when implementing all these
measures.
4.
Expected impact of the investments
Over 400 projects promoting innovation and around 370 research and development
projects are to be implemented under the programme, resulting in the funding of 600
research posts, inter alia. There are over 1 000 projects promoting direct investment,
creating almost 59 000 jobs, and approximately 4 500 projects for advising small and
medium-sized enterprises in particular. Around 260 projects with an investment
volume of just under €280 million are planned for the expansion of the economic
infrastructure. Through the 155 planned urban measures, €560 million is to be used
to fund urban renovation and invested in the modernisation of schools which
demonstrate improved teaching strategies. At the same time, a wide range of
projects concerning the rational use of energy and the use of renewable energy
sources are to be supported.
Overall, it is expected that this support will result in an annual increase of SaxonyAnhalt's GDP by 0.7-1.0% and a rise of 8 000 people per year in gainful
employment.
5.
Priorities
In order to achieve the main objectives of the programme, the ERDF Operational
Programme 2007-2013 for Saxony-Anhalt has been divided into the following
priorities:
Priority 1: Innovation, research and development [approx. 25.6% of total
ERDF funding]
The primary aim of this priority is to strengthen Saxony-Anhalt as a location for
research and development in a sustainable manner. A first aspect encompasses
subsidies for small and medium-sized enterprises for industrial research and
development, the introduction of new production processes, the transfer of
technology, and also the provision of risk capital. A second aspect concerns support
for publicly financed research within and outside universities and funding
infrastructure projects in higher education. A third aspect is aimed at increasing the
innovative capacity of the economy through transfer of knowledge and technology
and network measures. Finally, projects on the development and use of renewable
energy sources and climate protection will be supported.
Priority 2: Increasing the competitiveness of the economy [approx. 33% of
total ERDF funding]
This priority focuses on the promotion of business investment with a view to
widening the Land's export base. In addition, two loan and co-financing instruments
are to be made available in response to specific funding problems encountered by
new small and medium-sized enterprises. Furthermore, complementary and specific
measures for the support of SMEs are planned, comprising, above all, advisory
services and other forms of support aimed at ensuring competitiveness.
2
Priority 3: Improving the economic infrastructure [approx. 13.4% of total ERDF
funding]
This priority calls for investment in economic infrastructure, in order to guarantee the
establishment and growth of companies, remove key bottlenecks in the transport
infrastructure and better develop endogenous potential. In the area of economic
infrastructure, the quality of as yet unoccupied industrial sites is to be improved and
abandoned industrial sites regenerated as required. Selected investments in the
economic infrastructure are planned, in order to offset disadvantages of location and
improve certain areas' links to national transport networks. Furthermore, projects for
developing tourism through the qualitative improvement of the economic
infrastructure in the area of culture and supporting the cultural economy will be
implemented.
Priority 4: Sustainable
urban
development,
including
infrastructures [approx. 13.6% of total ERDF funding]
educational
This priority aims to promote predominantly urban infrastructures serving to raise the
profile of towns and to increase the human resources available to them and the
Land, and consists of two approaches. The first of these involves promoting
integrated urban development in 20 to 25 towns to improve their potential for
economic development and to tackle social and ecological problems in urban areas.
The second approach involves supporting projects to improve the infrastructure of
pre-schools and schools, with particular emphasis on pedagogical approaches to
improving the quality of education in schools. Finally, innovative solutions for social
and cultural infrastructures will be supported, including those intended to address the
consequences of demographic change.
Priority 5: Environmental protection and risk prevention [approx. 10.4% of
total ERDF funding]
This priority sets out a series of measures to improve water quality and economic
conditions in the area of drinking water and sewage treatment plants. As regards
waste management, waste prevention and waste recovery and also environmentally
friendly treatment and disposal of waste are to be given particular attention. In
addition, clean urban transport projects will be carried out. Flood protection projects
are also planned. Finally, measures relating to the restoration of mines and
redevelopment of fallow land and conversion areas are to be promoted.
Priority 6: Technical assistance [approx. 4% of total ERDF funding]
Resources are also earmarked for technical assistance to implement the
programme. Preparation, administration, support, assessment, information and
monitoring measures for the operational programme will be supported.
6. Managing authority: Saxony-Anhalt Ministry of Finance
(Ministerium der Finanzen des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt) – Magdeburg,
Germany
Contact details:
Ministerium der Finanzen des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt, EU-VB
Dr Heller
Editharing 40
D-39108 Magdeburg
Germany
Tel.: +49 391 567 1080
Fax: +49 391 567 3080
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E-mail: norbert.heller@mf.sachsen-anhalt.de
Internet: http://www.sachsen-anhalt.de/LPSA/index.php?id=5268
7. Title: "ERDF Operational Programme 2007-2013 for Saxony-Anhalt"
Intervention type: Operational Programme
CCI No: 2007DE161PO007
Commission Decision No: K/2007/5254
Date of approval: 22/10/2007
8. Breakdown
of
funding
by
priority
(in
euro)
National
public
contribution
Total funding
491 198 001
169 214 348
660 412 349
642 344 635
219 288 713
861 633 348
3. Economic infrastructure
258 279 587
88 538 572
346 818 159
4. Sustainable urban
development, including
educational infrastructures
262 687 980
91 199 368
353 887 348
5. Environmental
protection and risk
prevention
200 010 360
72 310 950
272 321 310
77 271 690
25 757 230
103 028 920
1 931 792 253
666 309 181
2 598 101 434
Priority
1. Innovation, research and
development
2. Increasing the
competitiveness of the
economy
6. Technical assistance
Total
EU
contribution
4