In our work, we often talk about integrated projects and integrated development, but what does this really mean, and in what context can it be relevant? To explain this, below is an historic background. Pro-active work with regional policy driven innovation system development started in most OECD countries in the 1950s and 1960s. This was… Continue reading Historic Background to Policy Driven Innovation System Development
Category: European Union
The Global Minotaur
“Had history been democratic in its ways, there would have been no farming and no industrial revolution. Both leaps into the future were occasioned by unbearably painful crises that made most people wish they could recoil into the past.” ― Yanis Varoufakis, The Global Minotaur, 2011 Two weeks ago, on July 6th, the Greek finance… Continue reading The Global Minotaur
Decision on the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI)
In November 2014, Jean-Claude Juncker presented an investment plan for Europe, to boost investments by using public funds to gain confidence and investments from private sector investors. The plan aimed to address the dramatic fall in investment affecting Europe since the beginning of the great recession, which has been a significant brake on growth and… Continue reading Decision on the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI)
Summer Reading List – Inspired by Greece
One of my first acts when I wake up in the morning is to check the latest with BBC news on my iPhone. As most mornings this summer, I woke up with headline news about the Greek debt crises. Not surprisingly, the European Union´s finance ministers could not agree on a new Greek bailout last… Continue reading Summer Reading List – Inspired by Greece
Guy Verhofstadt Plenary Speech on Greece
We often write about the European Union on this blog, as we work with development and assessment of EU projects. Being a non-aligned consultancy we have not commented on Greece yet, however being proponents of responsible place management, we need to share the video below from a speech in the European Parliament today. It really… Continue reading Guy Verhofstadt Plenary Speech on Greece
Zlarin – The Croatian Coral Centre Project
“Coral reefs represent some of the world’s most spectacular beauty spots, but they are also the foundation of marine life: without them many of the sea’s most exquisite species will not survive.” – Sheherazade Goldsmith, English environmental activist and author Zlarin is a small island of the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, almost in the very… Continue reading Zlarin – The Croatian Coral Centre Project
A Beginners Guide to EU Funding
The European has released an updated “A beginner’s guide to EU funding”, which introduces the EU funding opportunities available in the period 2014-2020. The guide presents an overview of the EU funding options according to the main categories of potential beneficiaries: small companies (SMEs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), young people, researchers, farmers and public bodies. It… Continue reading A Beginners Guide to EU Funding
The (Dark) Art of Procurement
Procurement is a necessary process that involves an organisation acquiring services from an external source, in a structured and accountable way. Limited or open procurement is a common method for obtaining consultancy or other services throughout the world. When a tendering process is initiated it should allow a fair and confidential opportunity for bidders to… Continue reading The (Dark) Art of Procurement
Development of Pula Kulturring
At the end of last year, Bearing signed a contract to develop the Pula Kulturring project. Pula is the largest city in the Istria County in Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of approximately 60,000 people. Like the rest of the region, Pula is known for its mild… Continue reading Development of Pula Kulturring
Updated EU Guide to Cost-Benefit Analysis of Investment Projects
The European Union has published an updated Guide to Cost-Benefit Analysis of Investment Projects, replacing the old guide from 2008. The new one is available to download from this link. As an Economic Appraisal Tool for Cohesion Policy 2014-2020, the new guide updates and expands the previous edition of 2008. The guide has been revised… Continue reading Updated EU Guide to Cost-Benefit Analysis of Investment Projects