Highlands and Islands Partnership Programme logo
… prosperous, inclusive and self-sustaining communities,
where the unique cultures,
traditions and environments are enhanced …
Priority 2
ESF Trainee
 

Priority 2

Enhancing Key Drivers of Regional and Sectoral Sustainable Growth

The objective of this Priority is to:

"enhance the sustainable value of the key drivers of the regional economy, specifically the UHI, the wider research capacity of the region and the use of the region's natural, historical and cultural assets".

There are three sets of key drivers within this priority:

  • The core research and training capacity of the region, consisting of the UHI and its network working towards the goal of university status;
  • The capacity of the wider research infrastructure of the region to improve research and innovation in the region; and
  • The sustainable economic use of the natural and cultural assets of the region. 

Eligible activities to be supported are:

UHI-Millennium Institute

  • The development of the UHI and its network through investment in improving research facilities and infrastructure linking to the key sectors
  • In-house research and technological development capacity within the UHI and its network;
  • E-learning infrastructure for the UHI and its network, particularly when linked to enhancing skills and training provision to remote communities (though not to the local facilities themselves which will be supported through Priority 3)
  • Training facilities for the UHI and its network, particularly linked to supporting skills development in enterprises

This element of Priority 2 will be delivered through UHI as a Strategic Delivery Body (SDB) and it is anticipated that UHI will receive up to 50% of the funds available under this Priority.

Wider Research Capacity of the Region

  • Investment to upgrade research facilities and infrastructure, especially those supporting competitiveness in the region's key and growth sectors
  • Support for specific research projects leading to the development of key technologies by research centres

Increasing the Sustainable Use of Natural, Historical and Cultural Assets

  • Projects to develop new products, services and processes of benefit to groups of enterprises and sectors based on the region's natural resources;
  • Projects that enable the region's cultural/linguistic/historical heritage to be developed and marketed in support of the region's cultural industries and tourism;
  • Activities that seek to bring together individual tourism attractions/sites into more integrated products/services;
  • Projects that enhance the visitor experience such as interpretative facilities (where infrastructure expenditure is involved, it is envisaged that this would be small-scale and involve the extension/adaptation of existing facilities)

€41,433,214 of ERDF has been allocated to this Priority.  This equates to 34% of the Programme.