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. Mid-term evaluation of the Single Market Programme (SMP) 2025 | Project The Single Market Programme promotes the EU internal market in order to strengthen it, standardise it and make it more competitive. Prognos was involved in the mid-term evaluation of the programme. Read more Mid-term evaluation of the public sector loan facility 2025 | Project The Public Sector Loan Facility is an EU financial instrument to ensure a socially just transition to climate neutrality in the regions. Prognos and t33 srl evaluated the instrument. Read more Cluster Collaboration Lab (C2Lab) in Spain 19. - 20. March 2025 | Event The next edition of the Cluster Collaboration Lab (C2Lab) will take place in Zaragoza, Spain. As part of our work in the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), we are preparing an input paper, which Paul Möhlmann will present on site. Read more Forum on the Future of Cohesion Policy 20. March 2025 | Event At the invitation of the Bertelsmann Stiftung, Dr. Jan-Philipp Kramer will participate in an expert forum with representatives from EU institutions, regions, and academia to discuss the future of cohesion policy. Read more Expert roundtable on the European Investment Bank (EIB) support to Cohesion Policy 24. March 2025 | Event Dr. Jan-Philipp Kramer will participate in the Expert Roundtable with selected representatives from EU institutions and networks to discuss priorities for cohesion policy post-2027 and the optimization of EIB support. Read more A more centralised and sectoral post-27 cohesion policy? 17. March 2025 | Event Will a more centralised and sectoral approach reshape the EU's regional development? Prognos and EURADA invite you to discuss this with experts on regional development and cohesion policy. Read more Cohesion Policy beyond 2027 13. February 2025 | Event Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer will discuss the results of our study on the future governance of European cohesion policy with representatives from politics, science and practice. Prognos is a co-organiser. Read more Future governance of EU Cohesion Policy after 2027 2024 | Project With the involvement of relevant stakeholders, Prognos and partners developed conclusions for the further development of European structural funding after 2027. Read more Support for the Saxony-Anhalt Citizens’ Advisory Board on Structural Change ongoing | Project Prognos supports the citizens’ advisory council in incorporating the perspectives of the population into decision-making processes and advises the responsible staff unit of the State Chancellery. Read more Evaluation of the ERDF programmes of several federal states ongoing | Project How effectively do the federal states utilise ERDF funding? Prognos supports various federal states with the evaluation of their ERDF programmes. Read more Evaluation of ERDF funding for SMEs 2024 | Project How effective is EU support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)? On behalf of the European Commission, Prognos evaluated together with CSIL the ERDF funding in the period from 2014 to 2020. Read more Guest article in SPIEGEL: How Europe's economy can catch up with the USA and China 2024 | Expertise A race to catch up - this is what Europe needs if it is not to be left behind by the USA and China. In the SPIEGEL guest article, Christian Böllhoff calls for a new match plan with clear priorities for the new EU legislative period. Read more Developing the Rhein-Kreis Neuss economic development strategy 2024 | Project Rhein-Kreis Neuss is focusing on more innovative economic development to strengthen its business location. Prognos was instrumental in the development of the new strategy. Read more Hybrid seminar on cohesion policy support for RTDI 23. April 2024 | Event Prognos and its partners are organising a hybrid seminar on the evaluation of cohesion policy support for research, technological development and innovation (RTDI). Read more Spring workshop of the AK Structural Policy of DeGEval 25. - 26. April 2024 | Event Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer will give a presentation on "Theory-based (impact) evaluations in a comprehensive evaluation approach - an experience report from the accompanying evaluation in ERDF-NRW 2014-2020" at the spring workshop of the DeGEval Structural Policy Working Group. Read more European Cluster Conference 2024 7. - 8. May 2024 | Event The European Cluster Conference 2024 brings the key players in the European cluster economy together in one place. The Prognos team around Head of EU-Services Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer is providing input both as part of our work for the European Cluster Collaboration Platform and for the NRW.innovativ competence centre. Read more Support for the Just Transition Platform 2024 | Project Through the Just Transition Platform (JTP), the EU supports the member states and regions in achieving their climate targets in a fair manner. Prognos provided the JTP with in-depth analyses and knowledge management. Read more Efficient use of EU funding in Germany and France 2024 | Project On behalf of the European Commission, we worked with partners to examine how EU-funded financial instruments support regional development in Germany and France. Read more Just Transition Platform Conference: Carbon-Intensive Regions 2023-04-27 | Event Stakeholders of the European chemical industry exchange on their activities for a just transition towards climate neutrality. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more Evaluation of the European Green Deal 2025 | Project How effective are EU cohesion and structural policies in driving green change in Europe? We examined this and other questions together with COWI, Milieu and CSIL on behalf of the European Commission (DG REGIO). Read more 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. Read more Just Transition Platform: Meeting of the Working Group on Chemicals 2022-10-26 | 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. Read more Zukunftsatlas 2022 Ranking for Germany’s regions Read more 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. Read more Evaluation Network Meeting of DG REGIO 2022-05-19 | Event Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer presents first results of a study for DG Regio. Read more Just Transition Platform Meeting: Coal Regions in Transition 2022-05-11 | Event Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer speaks at the fifth Just Transition Platform Meeting. Read more Circular economy potential for rural development 2022 | Project Equal living conditions in the city and in the country are a federal government goal. We are looking into how the circular economy can contribute to this for the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Construction (BMWSB). Read more Clusters as drivers of regional development – Lithuania 2022 | Project Our input paper for the European Cluster Collaboration Platform’s second “Clusters meet Re-gions” event, presents the cluster landscape of Lithuania. Read more European Regional Development Fund: Evaluation of RTD-Investments 2021 | Project Evaluation of investments in Research & Technological Development infrastructures and activities supported by the ERDF from 2007 to 2013. Read more Cluster Initiatives Follow-up 2021 | Project For the European Commission, we evaluated the impact of the EU cluster initiatives Read more Innovation region Central Germany 2040 – Socio-economic perspective 2021 | Project The population in Central Germany is shrinking, aging, and requires increasing levels of care. However, the industries in focus have leverage – especially in cities. Read more Climate-Neutral Germany 2045 2021 | Project Together with the Öko-Institut and the Wuppertal Institute, we have investigated how Germany can achieve its climate targets even before 2050. Read more Evaluation of the cluster initiatives 2021 | Project For the EU Commission, we evaluated the EU cluster programmes together with CSES and IDEA Consulting Group. Read more Needs analysis of funding for Groningen 2020 | Project On behalf of the province of Groningen, Prognos calculates the possible allocation share of funding for the region from the Just Transition Fund. In particular, the possibilities of green hydrogen in the northern Netherlands are emphasised. Read more National Policies and Cohesion 2020 | Project Together with experts of the Politecnico di Milano and the Technopolis Group, Prognos researched trends of national and regional disparities. Read more Southern Upper Rhine future strategy 2020 | Project Prognos took a closer look at the region on behalf of the Southern Upper Rhine’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Read more ZDF Germany Study 2019 2019 | Project On behalf of ZDF, we examined the external living conditions for families and senior citizens in Germany's 401 districts and independent cities. Read more Prognos Zukunftsatlas® Project Note: The next edition of the Prognos Zukunftsatlas® will be published in Read more Prognos Zukunftsatlas® 2019 2019 | Project How well equipped are Germany's districts and cities for the future? Who is ahead in the ranking, who needs to catch up? The Prognos Zukunftsatlas 2019 provides answers (in German). Read more Impact Area Analysis Regions Düsseldorf-Kreis Mettmann / Rheinisches Revier 2019 | Project The impact analysis outlines the spatial links between the two regions. Read more Main Determinants of Regional Economic Resilience 2019 | Project What was the impact of the great recession on EU regions? Prognos Consultant Neysan Khabirpour contributed to a recent European Commission Working Paper. Read more Coordination and harmonisation of ESI Funds and other EU Instruments 2018 | Project Has harmonization of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) and other EU instruments improved? This is the subject of a study by KPMG and Prognos commissioned by the European Commission. Read more ZDF Germany Study 2018 2018 | Project Where is the best place to live in Germany? Prognos investigated this question on behalf of ZDFzeit. Read more Fields of action for lignite regions 2018 | Project How can structural change in lignite mining areas succeed? A Prognos study commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Economics reveals possible approaches and instruments. Read more Prognos Zukunftsatlas® 2016 2016 | Project How are Germany's regions positioned for the future? The 2004 study in cooperation with Handelsblatt. Read more Evaluation of Cohesion Policy programmes: Work Package 12 – Delivery Systems 2016 | Project Prognos and KPMG analysed the effectiveness and efficiency of cohesion policy implementation during the 2007-2013 period and identified the main underlying success factors and areas in need of development. Read more Support to large enterprises through the EU Cohesion Policy 2016 | Project On behalf of the EU Commission, Prognos and KPMG have investigated whether the financial aid for large enterprises through the EU Cohesion Policy between 2007 and 2013 had the desired effect. Read more Do you have questions? Your contact at Prognos Ralph Rautenberg Principal View profile Holger Bornemann Partner, Director View profile Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer Partner, Head of EU Services View profile 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. Learn more