Kaunas RDA - a Tool for Regional Development

1. Kaunas RDA -a Tool for Regional Development . Evelina VainorieneKaunas Regional Development Agency

2. Content • Overview of Regional Development in Lithuania; • Kaunas RDA: • Tasks; • Activities; • Projects; • Challenges….. Kaunas

3. Regional Development – Lithuanian experience • Till 1990 – planned economy model (+- considering adequate development of whole country); • From 1990 Independency of Lithuania: • Artificially formed 10 Counties (Culturally – 4 ethnic sub-regions in Lithuania); • From 2000 Regional Development Law, Regional Development Councils in each County (delegated from Municipal councils, not directly elected); • 2010-07 Administrative reform - cancelled Counties’ Governors’ administrations, now- secretariats, coordinating EU support on regional dimension projects (Central, Ministry level). Kaunas

4. Regional development trends and policy toolsin Lithuania (I) EU perspective- Lithuania as one NUTS II region; 1. Structural EU regional policy: • Lithuania is 55 % of EU average GDP per capita (Estonia 64%, Latvia 52%, Poland 61%, Finland 113%, 2010, EU27), • Main tool to raise the level of socio-economic development- Structural Funds (Cohesion policy through State investments); • Projects aimed to implement state programmes; (2007-2013 – from tender oriented process towards planning development policy). Kaunas

6. Regional development trends and policy toolsin Lithuania (II) 2. National regional development policy: • From 2000, Regional Development Law; • Recognition of increasing disparities of development level within the country: • Vilnius (153 % of LT average GDP per capita) • Taurage (49% of LT average). • Network of Regional Development Agencies, National RDA; • Vertical policy: • Programme for reduction of Regional Social and Economic disparities 2011-2013; • Horizontal policy: • Regional Dimension programme, Competence of Regional Development Councils (11% of EU Structural funds). Kaunas

8. Programme for reduction of Regional Social and Economic disparities 2011-2013 1. Improve competitiveness: • Regional growth centers (long term perspective, separates investment programmes) • Selected 7 towns, surrounded by lower developed areas; • having economic potential, infrastructure for economic development intended to influence competitiveness of whole region; • EU (120,3 m €)/ national funding; 2.Tackling spacial disparities - promote living standards and employment: • Selected Problemic areas (short term perspective); • 14 municipalities (high level of unemployment, level of socialy supported inhabitants); • Intervention measures (Problemic areas development programme): • EU (90,2 m €), National funding • Diversificationof rural areas (sectorial projects, state planning processes). Kaunas

9. Regional dimension programme: • Approved by Regional Development Council (2007-2013); • Sharing of resources (agreed percentage) within the County; • Right for each municipality to initiate projects aimed to increase socio- economic development in the area; • Applicants: Municipalities, limited list of institutions. After Administrative reform, 2010-07, functions from County Governor’s administration delegated: • to local –municipal level (>without money – health care, education, etc); • to Cental level- Ministries – land reform, coordination of EU support at regional level... (Secretariat - unit of Department of Regional Development, Ministry of Interior) • Regional cooperation initiatives - Kaunas RDA. Kaunas

10. KAUNAS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY Instrument for Development of Kaunas Region 2000-2012 Evelina Vainorienė Director

11. Kaunas Regional Development Agencyis a non-profit non-governmental organization, acting under the Law of public establishments. Founded in 2000;RDA model based on Dutch/Belgian experience;Permanent staff (4) and free-lancers (experts) Kaunas

12. FOUNDERS • Kaunas County Governor’s Administration; • 8 Municipalities of Kaunas region; • Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts; • KTU Regional Science Park; • Kaunas Development Forum; • Chamber of Agriculture. Kaunas

13. Our mission is to organize activities for sustainable and balanced development of Kaunas region, linked to the National and European regional development policy.   Kaunas

14. Goals: • To be active in formulating and implementing National regional development policy, to promote sustainable and balanced development of Kaunas region; • To support implementation of technological and social innovations; • To motivate cooperation between private initiatives and local authorities; • To encourage local and foreign investments in Kaunas region, shape favorable, thorough and efficient image of the Region‘s development; • To stimulate local and international interregional cooperation, to participate in social and economical problems solution and development processes of Kaunas region. Kaunas

15. Activities: • Preparation of Strategic development documents (as work plan, project or tender); • Preparation/ implementation of projects/ programmes • For Kaunas RDA (Applicant, beneficiaries- separate municipality, or whole region); • For Kaunas Region Municipalities; • Funding -EU Structural funds, CBC, INTERREG, national/ local initiatives…); • Implementation of Kaunas Region International Cooperation Programme (2011-2013) • Services (public procurement, preparation of feasibility studies, projects, trainings, etc..); • Invest (Project, oriented towards attraction of and services for potential investors, not active now) Kaunas

16. Activities (1): Regional strategic development documents • Kaunas Regional Development Plan 2003 – 2013; 2014-2020 (under preparations, 2012); • Strategy of tourism development in Kaunas Region 2007 – 2013; • Strategy of Kaunas Region Image (2007-2013). • Strategic development plans for separate municipalities and areas (Jonava District, Rukla, Kaišiadorys District, etc.) Kaunas

17. Activities (2):Preparation/ Implementation of the Projects Projects of tourism development: • Feasibility study of the touring route development in the Nemunas River; • Establishment of Pociunai aviation tourism centre in the bends region of the Nemunas River in Prienai; • Establishment of touring accesses to the piers on the Nemunas River in Kaunas Region; • Skiing routes in Kaunas District municipality, etc.. Kaunas

18. Activities:Preparation/ Implementation of the Projects Projects of transport and logistics development: • NeLoc - building of a network of logistics centres; • Feasibility study of the development of business environment infrastructure in Kaunas City and Kaunas Region; • Linkage of VIA BALTICA highway to Kaunas City centre and its industrial districts by means of M. K. Čiurlionis Bridge; • Development of the network of bicycle tracks in Kaunas City, Birštonas; • Reconstruction of Streets in Kaunas, Kaišiadorys and Birštonas... Kaunas

19. Activities:Preparation/ Implementation of the Projects Social and health care projects: • Lithuanian Health Project in Kaunas Region (World’Bank project); • Improvement of health and social care conditions of patients suffering from dementia in Kaunas Region; • Development of non-stationary social services in Kaišiadorys District; • Investment project of the development of Kaišiadorys Culture and Sports Centre, public infrastructure in Prienai, Kaišiadorys and Birštonas.... Kaunas

20. Activities:Preparation/ Implementation of the Projects Projects of qualifications enhancement: • Enhancement of employee qualifications in public institutions of Kaunas Region (KAVAKompeT, (2006-2008); • Computer literacy trainings for economically active citizens in Kaunas Region (2006-2008); • Qualifications enhancement for the employees of "Lonas and partners“ (2007); • Enhancement of employee qualifications in Kaunas Region Municipalities (DAKOTA, 2012). Kaunas

21. “Hot Spot” projects: • “Bying Green” (2006-2008, EU SF project, promotion of green public procurement among CA of Kaunas region); • Investment portfolios in Latgale and Kaunas regions (2005-2006, www.investkaunasregion.lt ) • One-stop shop principles in Kaunas Region (feasibility study, 2006-2007) • “60+”, local financing, analysis of aging in Kaunas region, proposals for softening the processes, etc..2011); • “Creative Growth” project (2010-2011, INTEREG IVC, 11 partners, 9 countries, promote creative industries in the Region); Kaunas

22. Working plan 2012 • Project “Start business in Kaunas district” (2010 grew into separate programme); • Children’ Entrepreneurship and Financial literacy Encouragement programme (integrated into school programmes, management of own finances…) Enterpreneurship encouragement projects: • Youth Entrepreneurship Encouragement in Kaunas and Minsk regions, YEE!; • Create4Compet – Creativity for boosting Competence and Competitiveness; Kaunas

23. YEE! • Financed under Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus CBC Programme within the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument 2007-2013; • The purpose - increase enterpreneurship of the young people in Kaunas and Minsk region. Also aim to reduce the number of emigratingyoung people and their unemployment, encouraging young people to start their own business. • 2011-2012, 12 months, 130 320 Euros; • Preparation of Youth entrepreneurship encouragement programme; • Prepared coachers (5 + 5), 50 persons coached; • Camp for preparation of common business ideas. Kaunas

24. Create4Compet – Creativity for boosting Competence and Competitiveness; • Financed under Lithuania-Poland-Russia CBC Programme 2007-2013; The purpose -Strengthen business support organizations in Marijampole, Kaunas and Kaliningrad regions; • Raise competitiveness and entrepreneurship of SMEs in Marijampole, Kaunas and Kaliningrad regions; • Enhance cooperation among SMEs’, and business support organizations in Marijampole, Kaunas and Kaliningrad regions. • 2012-2014, 24 months, 400 000 Euros; • Preparation of BSO Coachers; • Prepared coachers (5 each), 150 SME’s coached; • Cross-border business cooperation groups coaching, etc; • Renovation and equipment... Kaunas

25. Challenges: • Kaunas RDA- only one RDA in LT “alive”, with public founders- as local initiative of cooperation between public institutions; • Our role- directly depending on national programming processes (eligibility of applicants for CBC, EU SF programmes, status of partners, etc.) and local politics (founders); • High dependence on Calls of proposals/ success rates/ public procurement tenders; • Each year- separate discussion with founders about working plan content and financing scheme; • Financing- unstable, cash flow problems for CBC projects… Kaunas

27. Kaunas

28. Kaunas

29. Kaunas

30. Kaunas

31. Kaunas

32. Kaunas

33. REMEMBER: ...Impossible is often untried... Kaunas

34.   Thank you for your attention ! Questions?Evelina.Vainoriene@krda.lt Kaunas