Bringing outside perspectives on policy improvements

InnoCom's peer review process for interregional learning leverages expert collaboration to strengthen regional policies for SME support. Partner regions exchange good practices and identify areas for improvement through in-person and online sessions informed by the Advisory Partner's guidance and local stakeholder input.

The peer review process is explicitly focused on:

• Identifying and recommending solutions to reduce administrative barriers hindering SME access to EU funding and support programs.
• Assessing the digital accessibility of information and communication channels related to funding opportunities and support services.

By incorporating these aspects, the peer reviews can directly address challenges faced by SMEs and contribute to the project's objective of making EU funding more accessible and user-friendly.

The peer reviews follow guidance prepared by the University of Latvia, the project's Advisory Partner, to evaluate and discuss issues tackled by each policy and indicate possible improvements and integrations to be introduced. Each partner’s policy and context are studied by experts from two other partners, who perform an external assessment of local policies. The reviews are informed by the Regional Analysis reports (completed in the second semester), local practices and input of local stakeholders.

The work of peer reviews started in the third semester. One in-person session took place in Bucharest in June, when partners and experts from the Carlow County Council and the Municipality of Ivančna Gorica gathered with representatives and stakeholders of the Bucharest Ilfov Regional Development Agency to review the Romanian policy.

Meanwhile, partners and experts from Sviluppumbria and Carlow County Council are working to perform the review of the Hauts-de-France Regional Council policy. The process, which started with a site visit in February, has been subsequently conducted online and is expected to conclude in the next month.

At the end of each peer review process, the working group will send a short report of main findings, conclusions and recommendations for policy improvements to the partner and its stakeholder group.

All peer reviews are scheduled to be completed by the end of the fifth semester.