INTERREG IVC

About INTERREG IVC project

From 2012 until 2014 RTU took part in a European Territorial Cooperation Programme INTERREG IVC project “MICROPOL – Smart Work Centers in Non-Metropolitan Areas”. Project supervision was provided by professor Maija Šenfelde. Acting researchers Iveta Baltiņa and Alise Vītola were responsible for project coordination. This 3-year project was implemented by the Department of Territorial Development Management and Urban Economics of the Institute of Civil Engineering and Real Estate Economics in cooperation with experts, regions and municipalities in Latvia and abroad. Project partnerships included such European countries as Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Hungary, Slovenia, United Kingdom, Italy, France and Estonia.

Aim and objectives

The overall objective of the project

To improve the effectiveness of local and regional policies and instruments for stimulation of growth and employment in non-metropolitan areas.

More specifically the project aims

to improve the knowledge and strategies of local and regional governments on how to implement smart work centres.

Smart work centres provide a flexible base for knowledge based workers and businesses, allow for interaction and collaboration with others through co-working, provide high level ICT infrastructure and capabilities, such as high speed broadband networks, as well as provide proactive managerial, administrative, technical and social support services for business users.

Project activities

Project activities include:

5 thematic seminars in Estonia, Italy, United Kingdom, Brussels and Slovenia
5 study visits to Estonia, France, Spain, Hungary and the Netherlands
Seminar within „Open Days 2013” in Brussels
Kick-off and final conference in Denmark
Local activities, such as discussions, seminars and conferences

Main project deliverables are:

A good practice guide
A smart work centre business model
Policy recommendations
Local action plans in each partner country or region
Surveys and report on telework and smart work centres
Scientific international publications, i.e. in indexed journals and conference proceedings

Projct result

The creation of co-working space

6 Skola street in Cesis, Latvia

Project results are available in project website

http://micropol-interreg.eu/-About-Micropol-