If you have a question that is not contemplated on this page, please get in touch with us at JRC-TRANSFORMING-TERRITORIES
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-TRANSFORMING-TERRITORIES[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
Yes, the EU Survey, where the application form was made, allows to download an offline copy of the Expression of Interest before submitting it.
Applicants can save a draft of their application, which can be exported as a link or PDF, using the option available on the right-hand side of the page. However, certain sections of the questionnaire may only become visible upon selection.
Preparatory Action does not directly link with RIS3 and enabling condition of PO1, as based on the challenge it might have connections to other, or more than one POs. However, organically there might be strong connections with RIS3 as territories are applying with their specific challenges that might be already being tackled by interventions under RIS3.
The lead applicant must be public administrations representing territories. Universities and research organizations are welcome as one of the main stakeholders, while the lead applicant must be a public administration.
The Expression of Interest is open to be on any territorial level (local, regional, national), thus there is no limitation of NUTS level.
Individual territorial expressions of interest are preferred. However, in exceptional cases an application where multiple territories in oneNUTS 2 level area with samethematic focus area are working on the samechallenge could be considered.
Yes, different NUTS2 regions from the same country can apply individually.
Yes, any type of public administration institution can be a lead partner, given that they come from the governmental sector. If in some cases regional development agencies are not public authorities, we encourage them to apply in partnership with public administration institutions from the governmental sector.
We encourage participation of academia and research institutions in partnership with public administration as lead applicant.
Yes. Territories can apply at any territorial level.
We evaluate applications based on the description of the challenge and how the territories are responding to it. Should the challenge be the same, we encourage city and region to work together on the application, and then to submit 2 separate applications, as in this case we will require the letter of support from both the region and the city to validate the application.
The territory or region must be represented by a single and identifiable public administration that performs legislative implementation functions. If it is not possible to provide a letter of support at NUTS 2 level, separate applications should be submitted.
Joint applications among different territories facing the same challenge are not recommended, as the application process is designed for individual territories to apply separately and the JRC cannot guarantee support for their collaborative efforts.
Territories must apply individually, addressing a specific challenge, describing their previous work on the subject, and providing political support, with decisions on the participation being made based on the territory’s expression of interest, proposed challenge and policy initiative, and overall proposal.
It is fundamental that the application is completed by submission of the relevant letter of support, which cannot be signed by the Network but by each individual territory in the right capacity.
See the previous question. If a group of territories is already working together to address a common challenge, one (lead) territory can apply and participate individually, while the collaborating regions can indirectly benefit from the lead territory’s participation, leveraging their common efforts.
The level of commitment and capacity required to participate varies across the 3 tracks:
- Awareness Raising activities requiring approx. 10 hours of dedication over 18 months.
- Capacity Building involving 60 hours of training and individual work over 18 months.
- Experimentation Journey requiring weekly commitment of 1-2 hours and a clear focus on a territorial challenge.
To participate in Capacity Building and Experimentation Journey – applicants must show a certain level of capacity and commitment – including identifying a territorial challenge and having a mandate (letter of commitment / political support) to participate.
Challenges must be a shared important societal / environmental / technological / ecological problem that needs ongoing, collective work and policy attention. For example, a territory is aiming to:
- find a solution for lack/quality of water (climate adaptation),
- change unhealthy behaviour in a group of citizens (healthcare),
- introduce sustainability through automation in the food industry (food security),
- inspire economic life in specific sparsely populated area (New European Bauhaus),
- encourage broader usage of batteries (reducing reliance on fossil fuels).
All applications will be analysed and screened for complementarities in taken and planned actions, coordination, stakeholders etc., which might be an additional element for grouping.
It can be held in the territory of the successful applicants if they expresswillingness to host the activity.
The level of commitment and capacity required to participate varies across the 3 tracks, for Awareness Raising activities requiring approx. 10 hours of dedication over 18 months.
Please submit one application for preferred combination of tracks.
The Capacity Building will be designed on the basis of the ACTIONBook being the main reference and will be adapted to the current capacities, needs and expectations as identified by the applicant territories in their self-assessment. This self-assessment is one of the main elements of the application process for the call for expressions of interest.
The modules are expected to take approx. 20-30 hours of engagement and will be delivered online. The duration and amount of work could vary for each module depending on its content. We estimate an average of 7-8 hours total commitment per module (training + individual work). In the case of face-to-face sessions, we expect to organize two of them. We expect to hold them back-to-back with other relevant events and visits, so the total duration could be 1.5 days.
The Capacity Building consists of 8 basic modules, following the dimensions of the ACTIONBook and 3 additional advanced modules. The advanced modules will be based on the evolution of the territorial needs after the basic modules and the Experimental Journeys.
The Capacity Building modules aim to teach participants through hands-on experience, focusing on transforming their approach to the policy cycle and acquiring new skills.
The program will rely on a blended learning approach and combine online and offline activities. For instance: co-creation sessions, masterclasses, podcasts, interactive workshops, work in break out rooms, online repository of resources, webinars, video tutorials, panel discussions, living labs, etc., to engage participants in experiential learning and encourage active participation.
The working language is ENGLISH.
The 88 hours already include individual work. Bear in mind that each Module may be different, and hence, one Module may take more or less time than another. Especially, there might be a difference between the time one needs to put into foundational and advanced modules.
Yes, provided that the lead applicant is a public authority. Given that this condition is satisfied, we encourage applicants to form teams up to four people, including key representatives of stakeholders who will be engaged in addressing the identified challenge.
The Capacity Building program will take into account in its scope the territories’ challenges. Therefore, we ask applicants to describe their challenge and carry out a self-assessment.
We expect participants to apply with a challenge that they are already working on addressing, regardless of their current level of progress. What matters most is the commitment to actively pursue this challenge throughout the duration of the programme, and beyond.
Yes, one territorial applicant can apply for more than one activity in one application provided that they share a common challenge.
We encourage territories to submit one application as one territorial team working on the same challenge within different departments of the same territory.
Preparatory Action is not connected with S3 CoP, however there might be unique synergies for each of the participating territories.
To participate in the Experimentation Journeys, territories must demonstrate their existing efforts to address the identified challenge by carefully and thoroughly completing the specially designed application form.
The application form assesses the territory’s readiness to participate in the Experimentation Journey and includes targeted questions that evaluate their capacities, achievements, experience, coordination mechanisms(vertical and horizontal), stakeholder engagement, and the obstacles/difficulties that they are currently facing.
Transformative innovation policy (TIP) approach seeks to tackle complex problems by incurring and sustaining transformations within the socio-technical system. The results of the Experimentation Journeys are expected to be practical, applicable, policy-relevant outputs.
New or improved instrument design, joint initiative, new legislation proposal, new standard, new coordination scheme etc.
Joint applications among territories facing the same challenge are not recommended, as the application process is designed for individual territories to apply separately and the JRC cannot guarantee support for their collaborative efforts.
Territories must apply individually, addressing a specific challenge and providing political support, with decisions on the participation based on the territory’s expression of interest, proposed challenge and policy initiative, and the overall proposal.
If a group of territories is already working together to address a common challenge, one (lead) territory can apply and participate individually, while the collaborating regions can indirectly benefit from the lead territory’s participation, leveraging their common efforts.
The self-assessment of capacities and accomplishments will be done through a specific dedicated table in the application form (requesting to evaluate capacities and accomplishments following each dimension of the ACTIONBook).
The self-assessment is done by selecting the level of capacity development (emerging, developing, expanding, or mastering) for engaging and envisioning aspects of the challenge. This assessment helps to tailor the capacity building program to the needs of regions.
To ensure a consistent and standardized application across the various dimensions, an evaluation framework of levels has been developed specifically for this application form. The levels provide a clear reference for applicants to evaluate their progress when completing the table.
We have developed an assessment tool based on progressive learning / skills. This can be found on the application page.
The JRC provides training and expertise, but the PA does not provide any financial support (for example, there are no travel costs for the participants from the territories to participate in the on-site meetings).
Participating territories must cover the costs of overheads, travel and own staff costs associated with the participation. That is why the regions are asked to declare that they can secure resources (i.e. human resources, time, travel costs etc.) to participate in the Preparatory Action.
Ideally for Experimentation Journeys that would be producing an applicable and relevant policy output for the participating territory. For Capacity Building the main output will be your learning and readiness to implement place-based transformation.
The PA will inform the ongoing dialogue on transformative innovation policies, experimentation and inter-regional collaboration. It is in everyone's best interests that altogether we create a positive impact on the future EU legislation and encourage place-based transformations. The results of the Preparatory Action will be presented to the European Parliament with an intention to have a role in the continuation of place-based approach and policy experimentation.
No, the selected challenge does not need to align with the one identified in the RIV label. However, choosing the same challenge may create opportunities for synergies to arise, given the parallel participation in both initiatives.
The EUPA relates to RIVs by addressing the innovation divide, regional overlaps, sharing similarities in the expression of interest, with both initiatives focusing on strengthening innovation ecosystems and promoting collaboration between high and low innovation regions. Both initiatives aim to increase regions’ capacities for vertical and horizontal coordination, engage stakeholders, and raise awareness on transformative policy approaches.
Having the RIV label does not guarantee automatic participation in the EUPA, as this is a separate initiative, and participants are selected through a different Call for Expression of Interest.
Nevertheless, having the RIV label serves as a strong foundation for submitting a successful EUPA application and is therefore highly encouraged. As highlighted earlier (see answer above) the two initiatives make RIV participants well-positioned to leverage their experiences in the EUPA context.