COLLABOR8                 

COLLABOR8 is a European project involving nine partners and for which South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd. is the lead partner. The other partners are based in Wales, England, The Netherlands and Belgium. The total budget for the project, which will run until 2012, is €10,559,772 and will be 50% part funded by INTERREG IVB NWE Programme.

The aim of the project is to contribute to the economic prosperity, sustainability and cultural identity of North West Europe in increasingly competitive global markets. This will be done through forming new clusters of businesses in the cultural, creative, countryside, recreation, local food and hospitality sectors, to work together using their uniqueness of place as a binding force to overcome barriers to regional and transnational collaboration. They will be encouraged to offer a “critical mass” of products/services across the sectors involved.

With globalisation, many businesses are often unconnected with the locality or cultural identity of the region from which they are operating. A place’s uniqueness is a potential asset for enterprise to develop distinct products and services and to work together – collaborate. Rural areas, in particular, face economic hardship with declining populations and disappearing traditional landscapes. This required careful economic restructuring to strengthen their economies and protect their landscapes, cultural identity (sense of place) and traditions.

The main themes of the project are sustainability, quality and sense of place while also focusing on the use of new technology to give the businesses involved leading advantages and link them regionally and transnationally by a common code of practice that contributes to a sustainable economic prosperity.

By setting up regional and transnational networks, businesses taking part will be able to share resources, expertise and marketing opportunities and strengthen trade links. The results, processes and knowledge derived from the project will be disseminated across the EU, adaptable to North West Europe and EU regions.

For further information on the project or if you feel that you may be interested in joining a business cluster please contact:

Joe Barry

Phone 066 9761615; e-mail: jbarry@skdp.net

Or

Sean de Buitlear

Phone 066 9761615; e-mail: sdebuitlear@skdp.net

 

COLLABOR8 Programme website: www.collabor8.me

 

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