Consultancy

Policy and practice of territorial restructuring in four non-European Union countries: USA, China, South Korea and Brazil

(March 2009) AEIDL has been assigned by the French Delegation on Competitiveness and Land Planning (DIACT - ex DATAR) a 9 month study to examine the state of the art on the international scene. Policies and practices of sustainable development, metropolitan growth and territorial competitiveness are being scrutinized in USA, Brazil, South Korea and China. Results of the study will take the form of 4 national monographies - French only - accompanied by an English summary, to be delivered during Autumn 2009.

Client: DIACT
Expected termination: 2009/12
Contact: Katalin Kolosy

Tools and guidebooks on renewable energy and energy efficiency

(February 2008) The Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) has awarded the contract for the development of an inventory of tools and guidebook on renewable energy and energy efficiency to a partnership which includes the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), AEIDL and Prospect C&S. The contract will focus on tools and guidebooks developed under the Intelligent Energy-Europe (IEE) programme, as well as other programmes (Structural Funds, LIFE, Altener/Save, FP6, etc.). There will also be a search for tools and guidebooks developed at national/regional level. By developing a database of this material, it is expected to avoid duplication and promote better sharing of knowledge and experience. AEIDL is responsible for the development of the online datbase and of the website), and is also contributing to other tasks (gathering and assessment of the tools and guidebooks, editing of short summaries of each product and the structure/classification of the content for each inventory).

Client: Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI)
Partners: AEIDL, Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), Prospect C&S Consulting and Services
Expected termination: 2008/12
Contact: Eamon O'Hara

Study on "The interaction between local employment development and corporate social responsibility"

(January 2008) AEIDL, in partnership with a network of researchers led by KMU Forschung Austria, an Austrian Institute for SME research, has been chosen by the European Commission's Employment DG to carry out a study on the links between local development and corporate social responsibility. The success of local employment initiatives largely depends on the level of involvement of businesses in their local community. The study covers the 27 EU Member States as well as Australia and Canada.

Client: European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
Partners: AEIDL and other stakeholders
Expected termination: 2008/12

Prefiguration study of the rural development network in France

As of 2007, each Member State must set up a national rural network which “gathers the organisations and administrations working in the field of rural development ". AEIDL is taking part in the prefiguration of this network with the consultancy, Res Publica. This activity will run from June to November 2006. The main tasks will be to conduct surveys of around forty participating organisations, the organisation of two working seminars, and the analysis of the situation with a view to drawing up recommendations for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing and the Interministerial Delegation of Land-Planning and Competitiveness of the Territories (DIACT). This project is financed by the European Union within the framework of the Community Initiative LEADER+ and by DIACT (FNADT), in collaboration with the CNASEA. A discussion forum is accessible at Respublica Conseil

Etude “Promouvoir la qualité de la vie en Europe rurale ”

AEIDL, in partnership with a network of researchers piloted by the Austrian Institute for SME research, has won a contract for the realisation of a study which will aim to clarify the part played by social capital in the improvement of the quality of the life in rural areas.  This study should influence the definition of rural policies intended to promote the creation of employment in these types of areas.  The study will cover the 25 Member States and the two acceding countries. This study is financed by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

 

EQUAL

Since December 2001, AEIDL has assisted the European Commission in the organisation of European networks promoting the exchange of experiences and the diffusion of innovative practices in terms of enterprise spirit.
This objective, which falls within the EQUAL Initiative, is aimed more specifically at:
- opening up the process for business creation to everyone, by providing the necessary tools to start up a business;
- identifying and making use of new job creation possibilities, in both urban and rural areas;
- promoting the social economy (the third sector), particularly services of public interest, by focusing on the improvement of the quality of employment.
By bringing together stakeholders in the field, project holders, experts and political decision makers, the thematic networks concerned should identify new methods to combat all kinds of discrimination and inequalities in relation to the job market, circulate best practices and contribute to the development of the European Employment Strategy (EES).
This framework contract runs for a period of eight years (2001-2008). The technical assistance provided to the EQUAL Unit of the Employment Directorate General of the European Commission (DG EMPL) takes the form of reports, drafting articles, coordinating workshops, collecting and analysing data on projects and taking part in meetings, etc.

Best practices in the field of energy

In the context of the European SAVE programme, AEIDL took part in the Bacchus project. The project involved a transfer of best practices between energy agencies and regional development agencies.
The project was undertaken in partnership with the EURADA network and the Italian company ECUBA.

http://www.bacchus.aeidl.be/

DG Environment: Targeted information and diffusion strategy

Between 2001 and 2004, AEIDL assisted the Environment Directorate General of the European Commission (DG ENV) in a targeted information and diffusion strategy. This notably involved expanding, compiling and updating DG ENV’s address list, creating a photo bank which can be used for publications and undertaking isolated public relations activities (help in launching new products, conducting satisfaction surveys, etc.).

LEADER I Coordination Unit and LEADER II European Observatory

After organising the LEADER I Coordination Unit between 1992 and 1995, AEIDL operated as European Observatory for Rural Development under the LEADER II Community Initiative (Links between Actions for the Development of the Rural Economy) from 1995 until 2000.

The main task of the Observatory was to facilitate innovation transfer and exchanges of experiences and knowledge between rural actors and territories in the European Union, notably by creating and diffusing methodological tools. In this context, European wide studies have been completed, a large number of seminars and conferences have been organised in rural areas throughout Europe and some thirty multilingual publications provide updates on various methodological aspects of interest to Local Action Groups and administrations, along with a monthly newsletter and a quarterly magazine.

Helpdesk for the relays and networks of the European Union

On behalf of DG X (Information, Communication, Culture, Audiovisual), AEIDL provided technical assistance to the relays and networks of the European Union ( Rural Information Carrefours, Info-Points Europe, Urban Forums and European Documentation Centres) over the period 1996 to 1999.

Territorial Employment Pacts

The territorial employment pacts were launched by the European Commission in 1996. AEIDL was responsible for preparing a methodology to analyse best practices, analysing best practices and creating the territorial employment pacts website which it managed between 1996 and 1999.

Pilot projects - Article 10 of FEDER

AEIDL was responsible for the selection and monitoring of pilot projects under article 10 of the European Regional Development Fund regarding the information society, as well as the production of network coordination and communication tools for the four themes of article 10: new sources of employment, culture, innovation and the information society.