Regional Competitiveness and Employment 2007-2013 (RCE)

The RCE 2007-2013 program is the official successor to the so-called Objective 2 program of 2000-2006. RCE has been endowed with €145 million in EU co-financing means from the ERDF, or European regional development fund; these must be matched by national funds. Thanks to the discontinuation of the former target area plan, it is possible for the first time to submit funding projects from across the entire province. Favored priorities involve R&D, technology, and innovation.

The program is managed by the EU office in the Lower Austrian Department of Regional Planning & Policy (in German, "RU2"). ecoplus has again taken on the role as "intermediary funding provider" and covers the following topical areas and/or measures:

• Commercial and technological infrastructure
• Clusters & networks
• Technopols
• Tourism-related initiative projects
• Flood control and prevention (responsible for handling only)

When utilizing these EU financial support opportunities several conditions must be heeded: ecoplus requirements regarding regional support guidelines; general obligations for the recipients of structural funds/operational programs; and national funding eligibility rules. For operational investments, funding limits in accordance with EU financial assistance laws also apply. In this case, the so-called regional support plan (see map), which exempts large firms from the general aid ban, must also be considered.

Important downloads (in German only):

• How to submit a project (PDF)
• General Obligations of Recipients of Structural Funds – Operational Programs (PDF)
• National Funding Eligibility Rules(PDF)
• Tables and map of regional funding areas (incl. maximum funding levels)(PDF)

Links:

• Overview of EU funding in the province of Lower Austria
• Lower Austria Liaison Office in Brussels 
• Austrian Conference on Spatial Planning (ÖRÖK) 
• Europa Server
  
• EURADA