Instruments and know-how to implement regional development measures in border regions.

By the INTERREG IIIC-project INCORD - "Integrated Concepts for Regional Development" - a sound and intense cooperation between German and Eastern European border regions has been established in the field of integrated regional development. The project unites partners from Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and Estonia.

INCORD focuses on a mutual learning process on institutional structures and instruments of regional development and especially on the application and implementation of integrated Regional Development Concepts (RDC). Five pilot RDCs are conducted within the context of the project. Resulting, INCORD strives to develop common guidelines and best practice examples for the implementation of RDCs and political recommendations for efficient institutional structures and a better use of EU-funds on basis of RDCs.

RDCs are of increasing importance in Europe because first of all the application allows the identification of regional strengths and weaknesses and the deduction of adequate actions and measures. It is an instrument which can handle and integrate the increasing complexity of regional problems and the concern for a sustainable development. Furthermore, RDC are often a prerequisite for applying EU-funding.

The project's duration is from January 2004 until June 2006.