- Funding Programme
- Year
- 2021
Developing strategic planning and innovation services at regional level in Romania
The project aims to support Romania in strengthening regional strategic planning and innovation support services, funded by the European Commission through the Technical Support Instrument. The initiative seeks to enhance regional capacity, contribute to national productivity growth, and reduce territorial inequalities, thereby facilitating Romania's green and digital transitions and aligning with Union law.
Context
The project addressed Romania's need for strengthened regional and local capacity in strategic policy planning to facilitate socially inclusive, green, and digital transitions, aligning with EU policy priorities such as the Green and Digital Transformation and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Romania's decentralisation of the EU Cohesion Policy had placed pressure on regional bodies to ensure investments enhanced territorial cohesion and competitiveness. Challenges included capacity gaps, limited coordination, beneficiary capacity issues, and communication obstacles, which the project aimed to tackle by building regional capacity and fostering innovation. The initiative supported Romania's adaptation to structural global economic transitions.
Support delivered
The project, supported by EU funding through Technical Support Instrument and in collaboration with the OECD, delivered technical assistance to Romania from February 2022 to December 2023. Activities included regional diagnostic profiles, interviews, workshops, and a "train the trainers" workshop. These were conducted nationwide to build regional capacity, address policy challenges, and improve strategic planning. The project aimed to align Romania's regional efforts with EU priorities by strengthening institutional capacities for regional development, fostering innovation, and reducing territorial disparities. The OECD provided expertise to help execute these activities effectively.
Results achieved
The project produced eight regional diagnostic profiles and roadmaps, enhancing Romania's regional development strategies. It improved strategic planning and innovation support services, which are expected to boost national productivity and employment. Benefits include increased regional capacity, informed policy recommendations, and reduced territorial inequalities. Stakeholders gained insights into addressing regional disparities, and the project's outputs are anticipated to strengthen Romania's alignment with EU standards. A synthesis report highlighted regional innovations and strategic planning advancements, providing a foundation for continued improvement in regional governance and competitiveness.
More about the project
You can read the documents related to the project here: