topic overview

Expertise

Cohesion Policy

Structural & transformation policy strengthen regions.

The tasks of transformation and structural policy at EU, federal, state and local level: boosting competitiveness of regional economies, spurring growth and pushing for structural change in the regions. This includes inducing catch-up processes in structurally weaker regions while contributing to important political objectives – such as digitisation, Industry 4.0, the knowledge economy, climate and environmental protection.

EU Structural and Investment Funds for regional growth

Structural and transformation policy are two of the EU’s key policies and complement national regional policies. The Structural and Investment Funds are intended to support smart, sustainable and integrative growth within the regions. Among the European Structural and Investment Funds are the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF).

Successful structural and regional policy: Clear goals and stakeholder involvement

Efficient and effective structural and regional policy require strategies that pursue clear goals and are synchronised with key players within regions. Structural policy programs should focus on specific regional needs to ensure that subsidies are allocated effectively. This cannot be achieved without individual strategies as well as sound programme design and implementation processes. Regular evaluation of the funding programmes provides a valuable and robust basis for political decisions.

Cohesion Policy: A selection of our services

Policy consulting

Our consultancy services cover the entire policy cycle: We support our clients along the value chain of structural and transformation policy.

Strategy development

Our portfolio includes strategy development, programme design and implementation for regions, associations and chambers of commerce, as well as process organisation and support.

Evaluations

We evaluate European, national and regional funding schemes.

Decades of experience

We can rely on decades of experience at both European and national levels (for instance ERDF, ESF, INTERREG and GRW).

Our work on this topic

Take a look at our latest projects and activities.

Zug und Solaranlage

Just Transition Platform Conference: Carbon-Intensive Regions

| Event

Stakeholders of the European chemical industry exchange on their activities for a just transition towards climate neutrality.

Cluster collaboration between the EU and Africa

2023
 | Project

Cooperation between the EU and Africa, which has intensified since 2000, warrants increased momentum. Prognos examined trade flows between the EU and South Africa, Senegal, and Kenya as well as the potential for further cooperation through cluster organisations.

Strengthening trade relations with Ukraine

2023
 | Project

“Clusters meet Regions” – Prognos examined trade relations between EU member states and Ukraine as well as potential for further cooperation.

Begrüntes Haus

Cluster Collaboration Lab Lund

2023
 | Project

Innovative business models for the future – this was the focus of the second edition of the Cluster Collaboration Lab in Lund, Sweden. Prognos provided the input paper for this interactive workshop.

Windrad im Aufbau

DG REGIO – Evaluation of the European Green Deal

ongoing
 | Project

How effective has the EU cohesion policy been in driving green change in Europe? This and other questions are being investigated jointly with COWI, Milieu, and CSIL, on behalf of the European Commission (DG REGIO).

Polnische Flagge auf einem Gebäude

Clusters as drivers of regional development – Silesia

2022
 | Project

The third “Clusters meet Regions” event was dedicated to the Polish region of Silesia. An input paper for the European Cluster Collaboration Platform.

Zug und Solaranlage

Just Transition Platform: Meeting of the Working Group on Chemicals

| Event

At the meeting of the JTP Working Group on Chemicals, proposals will be discussed to help EU regions with a strong chemical industry make a just transition to climate neutrality.

Hochhäuser in Singapur

EU clusters and value chains with Singapore

2022
 | Project

Singapore and the EU seek to intensify their relations through targeted cluster-based cooperation. Prognos analysed the potential for future cooperation.

Prognos-Mitarbeiterin packt ihren Laptop aus

Evaluation Network Meeting of DG REGIO

| Event

Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer presents first results of a study for DG Regio.

Zug und Solaranlage

Just Transition Platform Meeting: Coal Regions in Transition

| Event

Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer speaks at the fifth Just Transition Platform Meeting.

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Portraitbild von Prognos-Mitarbeiter Ralph Rautenberg

Ralph Rautenberg

Principal

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Portraitbild von Prognos-Mitarbeiter Holger Bornemann

Holger Bornemann

Partner, Director

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Portraitbild von Prognos-Mitarbeiter Jan-Philipp Kramer

Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer

Vice-Director, Head of EU-Services

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About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

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