There have been many positive results from reforms made to the design and operation of the 2014–20 European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds, such as the introduction of the Common Provisions Regulation. Nevertheless coordination in implementation remains a challenge. This is the conclusion of a study by Prognos and KPMG for the European Commission. The study assessed the coherence, complementarity and coordination (3Cs) within the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds, and between these funds and other EU instruments, covering grants and financial instruments, under central and shared management. Three major strategies were identified that could improve the operation of the 3Cs: To further harmonise financial and implementation rules to realise more complementarities between funds and simplify the implementation process. To promote clearer demarcation between funds to increase coherence. To improve clarity in the information on funding opportunities available to beneficiaries, Managing Authorities and other stakeholders, in order to improve coordination. Furthermore, the report presents a set of key findings and options for consideration as part of the impact assessment for the post-2020 period. Method The report is based on evidence from some 238 interviews, 32 focus group meetings, over 250 documents and two expert workshops. Background The European Structural and Investment Funds contribute to strengthening the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the European Union and promoting growth and employment. They are supposed to make regions and cities more competitive, create new jobs and support sustainable development. Read the study (PDF) Read the Op-Ed by Prognos CEO "Was Brüssels Förderpolitik von Online-Reiseportalen lernen kann" (in German only) Website of the European Commission Authors: Dr. Jan-Philipp Kramer, Holger Bornemann, Moritz Schrapers, Mirjam Buck et al. (Prognos AG); Olaf Buske, Andras Kaszap et al. (KPMG), Paul Jeffrey und Jim Fitzpatrick (externe Experten) Our work on this topic Take a look at our latest projects and activities. C4T Conference: Driving Sustainability through Cohesion Policy 24. - 25. June 2025 | Event Prognos chairs the meeting of the Academic Sounding Board and the working group on climate adaptation. The aim is to further refine proposed measures on the path to a climate-neutral Europe. Read more Clusters meet Regions: Rzeszów 3. - 4. June 2025 | Event The Podkarpackie region has positioned itself as one of the leading locations for aerospace and advanced manufacturing. Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer presents an input paper. Read more Clusters meet Regions: Foligno 24. - 25. June 2025 | Event Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer presents an input paper: Clusters as drivers of green and digital transformation in regional innovation ecosystems. Read more Clusters meet Regions: Cluj-Napoca 1. - 2. July 2025 | Event At the Clusters meet Regions event in Romania, Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer will present an input paper on the cluster landscape in the region. Read more Prognos article in the European magazine TerritoriALL 2025 | Project update What impact do global crises have on regional labour markets? The 15th issue of TerritoriALL magazine reports on the OVERLAP project carried out by Prognos. Read more Design and implementation of the Resilience Expo ongoing | Project Prognos is supporting the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of the Environment in organising, implementing and establishing the world's first trade exhibition for the climate adaptation industry. 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 German industry’s resilience and sovereignty 2025 | Project German industry is heavily dependent on raw materials and intermediate products from abroad, especially from China. Prognos analysed supply chains and developed recommendations for action. Read more Evaluation of the ‘Innovative University’ funding initiative ongoing | Project How can innovations be implemented in practice? This is where the BMBF's ‘Innovative University’ funding initiative comes in. Prognos and Fraunhofer ISI are evaluating the programme. Read more Conference on Industrial Resilience 10. April 2025 | Event Michael Astor presents the results of the study on the resilience and sovereignty of the German industry, which we conducted on behalf of the Netzwerk Zukunft der Industrie e. V. (Future of Industry Network). The results will then be discussed by industry representatives. Read more Clusters meet Regions: Palma 14. - 15. May 2025 | Event The event examines how clusters are accelerating the transition to sustainable economic models. It shows how Palma and the Balearic Islands can act as key players for innovation in the circular economy. Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer will present an input paper. 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 Talent Booster Mechanism In Action 18. March 2025 | Event With the ‘Harnessing Talent Platform’, the EU is supporting regions that are most affected by demographic change. The event will present what has been achieved so far and where the regions stand. Prognos is part of the platform and provides support primarily in the area of knowledge generation. Read more Interregional Innovation Investment: The I3 Support Facility ongoing | Project The I3 Support Facility boosts interregional projects in smart specialisation, with Prognos leading the Capacity Building Hub. Read more Extra-high voltage line Ganderkesee – St. Hülfe 2023 | Project Grid operator TenneT has put an important power line into operation in Lower Saxony. Prognos supported the communication for the project. Read more Clusters meet Regions: Eindhoven 26. March 2025 | Event Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer will present an input paper on the Brabant cluster landscape at the Clusters meet Regions event. The South Netherlands region is one of the leading innovation centres in Europe. Read more Clusters meet Regions: Heilbronn 9. April 2025 | Event The region around Heilbronn is a leading location in the fields of automotive, mechanical engineering, artificial intelligence and hydrogen innovation. Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer will present an input paper on the Heilbronn cluster landscape at the event. Read more Public participation in the Rostock Südstadt district 2024 | Project What will the future look like in the Südstadt district of Rostock? In an innovative and co-creative public participation process, Prognos and the participants developed criteria for a planning concept its further development. Read more Circular Valley Convention 13. March 2025 | Event Marieke Eckhardt and Tim Bichlmeier will host a stage slot as part of the Green Economy Network.NRW (KNUW) on how innovative recycling solutions from NRW can ensure the sustainable supply of critical raw materials. Read more How far are the regions on the road to a circular economy? 2025 | Project update Prognos has developed a tool for the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) that supports cities and regions in monitoring their circular economy activities. Read more Economic potential of the green tech sector in Bavaria 2024 | Project How powerful is the green tech industry in Bavaria? What is its economic significance? We examined these questions on behalf of the vbw using our envigos model. Read more Promoting the use of electric buses in local public transport 2024 | Project The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has been funding the e-bus market ramp-up since 2018. Together with our partners, we have been investigating how effective this funding has been. 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 Digitisation strategy for Brandenburg 2021 | Project The digital transformation has long been underway in Brandenburg's economy as well. Prognos is developing a strategic framework for action to successfully exploit the potential of digitisation. Read more In dialogue – electricity grid expansion in Germany 2023 | Project Prognos supports transmission and distribution system operators in the planning and construction communication of the various power line construction projects at the extra-high and high-voltage level. Read more City of Cologne Urban Development Strategy - Economy 2024 | Project In order to secure and sustainably design commercial space in Cologne, Prognos developed a new urban development concept for the City of Cologne in exchange with stakeholders and members of the public. Read more North Rhine-Westphalia Green Economy Report 2024 2024 | Project The green economy is a driving force in North Rhine-Westphalia. Both gross value added and the number of people in employment are increasing at a faster rate than in other sectors of the economy. Read more Climate protection potential of the recycling economy 2024 | Project If Germany is to achieve its climate targets, additional efforts will be necessary. We calculated the potential for climate protection in the recycling economy on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Economy. Read more C4T final forum 7. November 2024 | Event The Cohesion for Transitions (C4T) platform aims to support structurally weak regions on the path to climate neutrality. The forum will take stock of the programme: What has been achieved so far and where do we go from here? Read more ADAC Mobility Index 2024 2024 | Project Mobility in Germany is becoming increasingly sustainable. However, the transport sector is yet to achieve its national and international climate targets. The ADAC Mobility Index looks at the reasons why. Read more Clusters meet Regions: Charleroi 27. - 28. November 2024 | Event As part of our work for the European Cluster Collaboration Platform, Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer presents an input paper on the on the Walloon Region and its clusters. Read more Impact of global crises on regional labour markets ongoing | Project A shrinking workforce, digitalisation and decarbonisation: Prognos examines the specific effects of global trends on regional labour markets. 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 Network Klimaanpassung & Unternehmen.NRW ongoing | Project The network Klimaanpassung&Unternehmen.NRW (NKU) offers exchange, knowledge and market information on climate adaptation in North Rhine-Westphalia. Prognos is leading the network together with partners. Read more Monitoring and evaluation of the North Rhine-Westphalian innovation strategy (RIS3) ongoing | Project As part of ERDF funding 2021-2027, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia has developed a regional innovation strategy (RIS3). Prognos is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the strategy. 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 Evaluation of the "Smart Cities Model Projects" funding programme ongoing | Project Prognos evaluates the "Model Projects Smart Cities" (MPSC) funding programme as part of the Coordination and Transfer Office under the direction of the DLR Project Management Agency. Read more Germany Potential Index: Digitalisation to counter the skilled-worker shortage 2024 | Project The skilled-worker shortage is only due to get worse in the future. Our Potential Index shows: Increased digitalisation can help to cushion the negative consequences of the skilled-worker shortage in Germany. Read more European Cluster Panorama Report 2024 2024 | Project update Cluster organisations have a significant positive influence on the green and digital transformation. This is a key finding of the Cluster Panorama Report 2024, which Prognos compiled for the European Commission. Read more Situation analysis of the mobility sector in the Braunschweig-Wolfsburg region 2023 | Project We examined an economic challenge of transformation for the mobility region. Read more Regulatory requirements for carbon accounting 2024 | Project Which carbon accounting requirements will businesses have to be aware of in the future and what, specifically, will present the greatest challenge? Read more European cluster ecosystems united 2024 | Project update The European Cluster Conference is a key element of cluster collaboration. It focuses on political priorities, the exchange of best practices and practical contacts across a comprehensive EU-wide network. Read more 2nd Cohesion for Transitions Conference & Meetings 4. - 5. June 2024 | Event Our colleagues are travelling to the conference as part of their work for the Cohesion for Transitions (C4T) platform and are chairing both a meeting of the science network and a working group. Read more Scenarios for calculating the cost of Germany’s transport transition 2024 | Project What level of investment will be required to ensure a climate-neutral transport sector by 2045? We calculated this on behalf of Agora Verkehrswende, based on three scenarios. Read more Clusters meet Regions: Graz 18. - 19. June 2024 | Event As part of our work for the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer presents a paper on the cluster landscape in Styria, with a focus on the green and digital transformation in the region. 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 Decarbonisation of the automotive industry 2024 | Project Digitalisation, decarbonisation, electrification: The German automotive industry faces major challenges. Prognos led the accompanying research to the carbon assessment of the auto industry value chain, on behalf of the BMWK. Read more Training On The Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) & Governance Of Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) 15. - 19. April 2024 | Event Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer will be a speaker on the opening panel on "The role of the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) in smart specialisation" and will give input on the positioning of the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process in politics and on EDP-related communication in two further presentations. 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 Harnessing Talent Platform: Technical support in progress 2024 | Project update The Harnessing Talent Platform supports selected regions within the EU that are particularly affected by demographic change and the brain drain. The technical support that Prognos is providing in some regions has now been launched with kick-off meetings. Read more Adobe Stock - CleverStock 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