Competitiveness

The Regional Assembly enhances the region’s competitiveness by managing the Border, Midland and Western (BMW) Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020.

This is a €320 million fund that is funded from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Irish Exchequer and reflects the European Union’s Europe 2020 goals of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Investment in the Northern and Western Region is concentrated on research and innovation, information and communication technologies (ICT), small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and promoting a low-carbon economy.

In this section:

BMW Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aims to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union by correcting imbalances between its regions.

RTDI (Research, technology development and innovation)

There are a number of schemes approved under Priority 1, the implementation of which will contribute significantly towards increasing the level of R&D taking place in the BMW region.

ICT Infrastructure

There is one major project approved under Priority 2 – the National Broadband Scheme which is being delivered through the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

SME

Schemes approved under Priority 3 of the BMW Regional Operational Plan seek to promote entrepreneurship, in particular by facilitating the economic exploitation of new ideas and fostering the creation of new firms, including through business incubators.

Low Carbon Economy

This priority focuses on supporting energy efficiency, smart energy management and renewable energy use in public infrastructures, including in public buildings, and in the housing sector.

Sustainable Urban Development

The Sustainable Urban Development priority objectives include increasing the number of integrated growth centre strategies implemented and supporting low carbon sustainable, multi-modal urban mobility in designated urban centres.

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