Month: November 2024

Interreg Atlnatic Area Third Call For Projects

Interreg Atlantic Area – Call 3 for Projects Now Open

The Interreg Atlantic Area Programme Third Call for Projects is open from November 25^th 2024 to 14th of February 2025 (1:00 PM, Irish/Lisbon Time) which aims to allocate around €43 million to projects in line with the three thematic Programme priorities and seven specific objectives, as provided in the Approved Cooperation Programme 2021-2027.

This call intends to select high-quality transnational projects in which relevant organisations cooperate to make regions more resilient to common challenges that know no borders and cannot be solved alone.

It covers the priorities of Blue innovation and competitiveness, Blue/Green environment, and Blue sustainable and social tourism & culture. Click here to access the specific objectives.

For more information on Call 3 visit: https://www.atlanticarea.eu/for-applicants/call-for-projects?tab=call-3

Information Sessions

Two online information Sessions about the call are taking place on the 25th November 2024 on 8th January 2025, you can find more information and register here: https://www.atlanticarea.eu/news-events/events/second-info-session-on-the-3rd-call-for-proposals

You can watch the first information on youtube here:

If you are an Irish Organisation and would like to learn more about the Atlantic Area, including support with or can application form, contact the National Contact Point for Atlantic Area Dr Travis O Doherty ei.ar1747041351wn@yt1747041351rehod1747041351ot1747041351. To stay up to date with funding opportunities for Interreg projects, join our EU funding Network.

Job Vacancy for Senior Executive Planner

Job Vacancy – Senior Executive Planner

Overview

Established in 2015, the Northern & Western Regional Assembly, is one of three Regional Assemblies and is part of the regional tier of government in Ireland. It covers the local authorities of Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Mayo & Galway City & County with 25 Assembly Members representing the 9 local authorities at regional level.

The Regional Assembly has statutory responsibility for Regional, Spatial and Economic policy and forges links between the European Union (EU), and national and local levels through regional spatial and economic planning for the benefit of the Northern & Western Region. It plays an important role in promoting and supporting balanced and effective regional development and is tasked to co-ordinate, promote and support strategic planning and sustainable development, and to promote effectiveness in Local Government and public services.

An opportunity now exists in Northern & Western Regional Assembly for the position of Senior Executive Planner.

The role of Senior Executive Planner is a key position within the Northern & Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) and is an exciting opportunity to be directly involved in the development and implementation of strategic spatial planning and economic policy at a regional and national level.

It also offers the opportunity to engage with the development of new insights into and best practice approaches to planning, regional development, and related fields.

A full list of essential requirements is available in the Information Booklet.

Visit the Public Jobs website to apply: https://www.publicjobs.ie/en/?option=com_jobsearch&view=jobdetails&Itemid=263&cid=196995&campaignId=24544302

https://www.nwra.ie/erdf/schemes/thrive/

Building the Future of Irish Towns

Representatives from 31 Irish Local Authorities came together for a training session on how to better integrate the New European Bauhaus values of aesthetics, sustainability, and participation into THRIVE projects from the early stages of development.

The THRIVE – Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme financially supports Irish local authorities in renovating heritage buildings in town centres through ERDF and National co-funding, that incorporate the values of the New European Bauhaus.

Hosted by European Urban Initiative (EUI), in partnership with the Southern Regional Assembly, the Northern & Western Regional Assembly and the European Commission, the hugely successful ‘Building the Future’ event in Limerick gave practical advice and shared tools to ensure projects are sustainable, beautiful and inclusive through participatory processes, multi-level engagement, and a transdisciplinary approach throughout the project timeline.

So far, 26 projects have received funding through THRIVE Strand 1 to develop integrated urban strategies and for project pipeline development. Also, 5 projects have received THRIVE Strand 2 funding for refurbishment, renovation and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings across Ireland.

Another THRIVE funding call will open in January 2025 which offers a significant opportunity for local authorities to access capital funding of up to €7 million for sustainable urban development projects.

THRIVE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF the Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027 and the Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027.

For more information on the ERDF THRIVE funding scheme please visit: https://www.nwra.ie/erdf/schemes/thrive/

EU in my Region: UrbanCOOP project brings European Stakeholders to Galway

Galway hosted international project partners as part of an EU Project
The Interreg Europe funded UrbanCOOP Project supports multilateral cooperation amongst local government actors
Galway County and Galway City Council showcased Good Practice examples of smart urban planning around Galway City

The Northern and Western Regional Assembly were excited to welcome a group of European project partners involved in the Interreg Europe EU funded URBANCOOP project to Galway for a two day event on 6^th and 7th November 2024. URBANCoop strives towards better cooperation governance to attain urban sustainable development and this interregional learning event to facilitate this aim, will bring partners and stakeholders from all over Europe to Ireland. The event in Galway facilitated collaboration and learning between EU regions, which is a central element of all Interreg Europe funded projects.

Over the course of two days, the project partners from 7 different countries (Italy, Bulgaria, Spain, Estonia, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Ireland) heard from local and regional representatives, as well as from actors involved in urban development and regeneration. The 2- day visit also included visits to sites of significance around Galway City.

On Day 1 Senior Planners from Galway City Council and Galway County Council presented how their local authorities cooperate under the Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP), which forms part of the Northern and Western region’s Regional and Spatial Economic Strategy. The process of sustainable urban planning and examples of good planning practices and regeneration projects was also highlighted. In addition, the process by which communities are involved in local planning and decision-making will be also be explored in a presentation by a representative of the Galway City Community Network, the Public Participation Network in Galway City.

A further suite of presentations on urban regeneration projects was delivered by representatives from the Land Development Agency, the Port of Galway and the Northern and Western Regional Assembly. These presentations were followed by site visits that will take place in the afternoon of Day 1. The participants will be given a tour of the Port of Galway and an overview of its planned regeneration. Next, the participants were taken to Nun’s Island Theatre and Cultural Centre, in the heart of the city, which has recently secured funding to revive the site under the NWRA THRIVE Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme. This Scheme is managed by the NWRA and is delivered as part of the region’s European Regional Development Fund Operational Programme. Lastly, the participants got to visit the recently developed and award-winning ERDF funded Pedestrian Bridge, ‘Droichead an Dóchais’.

Day 2 of the event is comprised of a workshop element to hear from the guests and exchange ideas in an interactive session. The focus on these meetings will be on achieving the outputs of the project and fulfilling its deliverables. The 2 day event was conclude with a Steering Committee meeting amongst project partners to discuss the management of the project and next steps.

More information on the UrbanCoop meeting visit: https://www.interregeurope.eu/urbancoop

Now Hiring: EU Projects Officer

Closing Date for Applications: 4pm, Wednesday 4th December 2024

The Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) is one of three Regional Assemblies in the Republic of Ireland. We work with key stakeholders at EU, national, regional and local level to accelerate and optimise effective regional development.

We are looking to recruit an EU Projects Officer (analogous to Staff Officer) who share our values and a commitment to sustainable regional development.

The Role

The EU Project Officer (analogous to Staff Officer, Grade V) has responsibility for the successful implementation of existing European Union funded projects and for the development of new EU funded opportunities and projects. The EU Projects Officer will provide project management and ongoing administrative duties related to EU Projects, initially for the GREENHEALTH, BIOWIND, LOTTI, Urban COOP (Interreg Europe Programme) and Wild Atlantic Nature (LIFE) project.

The position requires work to be conducted/completed outside of normal office hours and frequent travel within Europe will be required.

Desirable Requirements

Postgraduate qualification in relevant discipline
Knowledge and experience of EU- Funded programmes
Satisfactory knowledge of public service organisations and national and regional policies
Satisfactory knowledge of European Institutions, policy issues and EU funding programmes
Experience of managing finances and budgets and ensuring value for money
A proven ability to develop stakeholder relations, strong interpersonal skills and an ability to deal with people across a range of organisations;
Excellent presentation skills
Creative communication skills
Competence in the use of ICT and other software skills
Excellent organisation skills and discipline and possess the drive to deliver the required results
An understanding of the challenges for the Northern & Western Region
Experience drafting press releases and interacting with the media

Download the Information Booklet

Download the Application Form

Visit to EU Co funded Innovators’ Initiative Project

The Northern and Western Region Assembly had a wonderful opportunity this week to visit the University of Galway and see how the EU Co Funded Innovators’ Initiative is progressing at the Bioinnovate Centre.

Innovators’ Initiative is in an immersive, needs-led entrepreneurship programme that lasts for 9 months, offering a postgraduate diploma.

Along with colleagues from Enterprise Ireland and Bioinnovate, we had the opportunity to engage with both mentors and participants of the programme, who are currently undergoing the initial phase, which includes a bootcamp, anatomy training, and clinical immersion.

The current group of 12 participants, which were selected from diverse professional backgrounds are exploring three separate clinical areas, working towards identifying clinical needs before exploring potential solutions.

The engaging discussions with participants shed light on their motivations and positive experiences of the initial phase of the programme and we will be sharing details of some of those experiences on our website as the programme progresses.

Upon completing the program, participants will have crafted an advanced technical solution for a business opportunity, potentially paving the way for a high-potential startup (HPSU) or leading to licensed technology.

For more information on Innovators’ Initiative, please click on the link.