The South Baltic Area has a diverse array of actors among whom there exists enormous potential for improved cooperation at the cross-border level. The analysis has shown that the South Baltic Area suffers from insufficient levels of knowledge and technology transfer, as well as insufficient exchange of information between different groups of stakeholders (e.g., public entities, other local bodies). At the same time, there is a low level of identification with the South Baltic region of local authorities and communities. Hence, the region has significant untapped potential in this respect. The common denominator for the abovementioned problems is the unsatisfactory level of trust between different groups of stakeholders from different regions of the SBA.
This Priority Axis aims to not only to increase the level of trust and exploit existing potential but also ensure that the benefits of cooperation are made available to diverse groups of actors across the region – from public institutions, to non-governmental organisations, to business entities. In particular, its emphasis strengthening collaboration between the actors described in the Quadruple (or even Penta) Helix Model, which sets out the relationships between industry, academia, public entities, social entrepreneurs and civil society. On the one hand, the projects implemented within Priority Axis 4 will contribute to increase the level of trust between different actors and regions, and therefore strengthen the capacity for cooperation governance and boost cross-border collaboration while, on the other hand, building awareness of the benefits of such collaboration.
As part of the 4th Seed Money Call of ISBP 2014-2020, five projects have been selected under Specific Objective 5,1 in the ISBP 2014-2020; Capacity Building, and have the ambition to apply for the new Priority 1, 2 and 4 in the ISBP 2021-2027; Active South Baltic, Sustinable South Baltic and Active South Baltic, respectively. They are: COGREEN, SB SeaMan, BeConSEA, SB Place Capital and STRAPP.
- COGREEN: The future regular project will aim at strengthening the cooperation capacity of South Baltic education actors, through formalising a network of schools and SMEs to educate the future workforce in green skills.
- SB SeaMan: SB SeaMan will intend to incentivise networking of the South Baltic actors and testing methods to introduce innovative and socially inclusive solutions for water and sailing specialization (including environmental protection) in the area of education, awareness-raising and sustainable tourism services.
- BeConSea: The goal of the future project will be to increase the quality of the beach management through strengthening of the cooperation potential of the organizations acting in the field of beach management in SB Region.
- SB Place Capital: The main target of the future regular project is to create a changed environment with innovative methods for urban development and citizens engagement in the SBA so that urban areas will become more sustainable and inclusive.
- STRAPP: The goal of the future regular project is to develop, implement, and use the mobile stroke app in ambulances in the different settings in the SBA with the aim to increase the speed of stroke recognition by ambulance personnel and start the treatment as early as possible.
There are three Programme Measures in the ISBP 2021-2027 that constitutes Priority 1, 2 and 4; Innovative South Baltic, Sustinable South Baltic and Active South Baltic, respectively.
Programme Measure 1.1; Digitalisation. The SBA has a significant economic potential, especially in sectors related to the blue and green economy, nevertheless in order to ensure that it is adequately developing towards a knowledge-based and innovative, it still requires to be simulated and supported. Moreover, the digitisation processes are closely related to the digital pillars of the European Commission concerning strengthening solutions in the field of i.e., artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital skills, connectivity, etc. Thus, the actions under this Measure will support the process of achieving the goals defined by the European Commission.
Programme Measure 2.2; Promoting a sustainable use of water. The Baltic Sea and its tributaries suffer from a high level of pollution and eutrophication. Both are consequences of the unsustainable exploitation of the local environment and water reservoirs. Moreover, climate change consequences will result in enhanced risk of marine and flash floods, producing more intensive fluxes of pollutants into the Baltic Sea. Taking into account that water is the most important resource of the SBA, actions under this Measure are aimed at broad support of efficient and sustainable water management, in order to combat eutrophication and input of hazardous substances and thus enhance the water quality.
Programme Measure 4,1; Strengthen the trust and cooperation capacity of actors within the South Baltic Area (including civil society). This Measure will allow for capacity building and strengthening the cross-border cooperation of different actors functioning within the eligible area (specifically ones representing the public sectors and the civil society) in order to solve common cross-border problems and build mutual trust in the areas of administration, regional development and cross-border mobility. Potential beneficiaries of this Measure involve a wide array of actors, especially local actors considered to be newcomers to cross-border cooperation, creating ample opportunity for networking, building mutual trust and developing relationships between them. Notably, it will allow for developing stronger links between civil society and public entities, through encouraging bottom-up participation in decision and policymaking.
