Poctep

The INTERRE V-A- Spain - Portugal Programme 2014-2020 (POCTEP) is the direct consequence of the favorable experience that since 1989 has involved the cooperation on the borderline between both countries, which has enabled and pretends to keep advancing in the improvement of the quality of life of the people living in the Cooperation Space.

What is the Space of Cooperation of Spain and Portugal?

The Cross-border Space between Spain and Portugal is constituted by 37 NUTS III belonging to both countries, thus ensuring the coherence and continuity of the areas established in the previous programme period:  

• Spain: Ourense, Pontevedra, Zamora, Salamanca, Cáceres, Badajoz, Huelva, A Coruña, Lugo, Ávila, León, Valladolid, Cádiz, Córdoba and Sevilla.

• Portugal: Alto Minho, Cávado, Terras Tras-os-Montes, Douro, Beiras e Serra de Estela, Beira Baixa, Alto Alentejo, Alentejo Central, Baixo Alentejo, Algarve, Ave, Alto Tâmega, Tâmega e Sousa, Área Metropolitana do Porto, Viseu Dão-Lafões, Região de Coimbra, Médio Tejo, Região de Aveiro, Região de Leiria, Oeste and Alentejo Litoral.

What objectives does the Programme intend to encourage?

The POCTEP 2014-2020 acts in five grand spheres or thematic objectives:

1. Enhance research, technological development, and innovation, specifically:
   · To improve the scientific excellence of the Cross-Border Cooperation Space and in the research lines with the potential to be internationally competitive. 
   · To improve the participation of the business sector in the innovation processes and the I+D+i activities closer to the market (technological development, testing, innovation) susceptible of being commercially exploited. 

2. Improve the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular:
   · To improve the necessary and favorable conditions for the appearance of new business initiatives, guaranteeing their sustainability and promoting their growth.
   · Promote competitiveness in those sectors in which the Cooperation Space presents competitive advantages.
    
3. Promote adaptation to climate change in all sectors, and more particularly, promote the increase of territorial resilience for natural transboundary risks.
    
4. Protect the environment and promote the efficiency of resources, in particular:
   · Protect and enhance the cultural and natural heritage, as a support for the economic base of the cross-border region.
   · Improve the protection and sustainable management of natural spaces.
   · Strengthen sustainable local development along the entire Spanish-Portuguese border strip.
   · Increase levels of efficiency in the use of natural resources to contribute to the development of the green economy in the cooperation area.
    
5. Improvement of the institutional capacity and efficiency of the public administration, consolidating new strategies of dialogue and interrelation, that allow to start up new initiatives between the different actors that operate in the border.

What kind of actions does the Program promote to achieve its objectives?

The POCTEP contemplates actions in favor of research, development, and innovation, such as:

• Research and innovation activities, including the creation of networks.

• Technology transfer and university-business cooperation, especially for the benefit of SMEs.

• Processes of research and innovation in SMEs.

It also includes actions related to business development and the promotion of quality employment:

• Promotion of entrepreneurship in SMEs.
• Business development of SMEs, support for tutors' networks and support for entrepreneurship and incubation.
• Self-employment, entrepreneurial spirit and creation of companies, including micro-enterprises and entrepreneurial SMEs.
• Promotion of internationalization.
• Mobility of workers, companies and entrepreneurs.

Likewise, in terms of the environment and energy and ecological infrastructures, the POCTEP foresees measures of:

• Adaptation to climate change and prevention and risk management.
• Development and promotion of the tourism potential of natural spaces.
• Protection and promotion of the assets of culture and natural heritage.
• Treatment of household waste.
• Management and conservation of drinking water.
• Comprehensive pollution prevention and control.

Finally, the Programme provides for other types of actions related to improving the institutional capacity of public administrations and services through cross-border cooperation.

Who can benefit from the help offered by the Programme?

Universities, higher education institutions, Technology Centers, Research Institutes, Science and Technology Parks, Public Administrations, companies, Regional Development Agencies, Development and Economic Promotion Foundations, Chambers of Commerce, Companies, groupings of companies, business associations, Civil Protection Services, Hydrographic Confederations, Natural Parks and Associations for the defense and management of the Natural Heritage, Associations and organizations of the Civil Society.

What is the investment planned by the INTERREG V - A Spain - Portugal Programme (POCTEP)?