Our priorities

Digitalisation is a clear strategic priority in the North Sea Region at both national and regional levels. We encourage projects to make use of advanced digital technologies, implement smart and digital solutions, and build digital skills. Increasing the connectivity of the region may help reduce rural-urban gaps. And there is a clear need to raise the level of digital skills in most parts of the North Sea Region.

Could your project help reduce rural-urban divide? Ageing populations, skills gaps, lack of digital infrastructure, and poorer mobility are just some of the ways rural areas risk falling behind. Creating links that connect urban and rural areas therefore supports an inclusive and socially cohesive North Sea Region.

The North Sea basin is a vital asset for our region. Its potential for blue growth is tremendous. However, there is a need to balance many interests and needs, such as offshore energy production, marine conservation, fishing and aquaculture, shipping, tourism, and others. Transnational cooperation helps pursue blue growth with due concern for all aspects of sustainability.

Small-scale projects allow kick-starting the VIB programme through the establishment of small partnerships that involve: 

• Organisations new to the programme; 
• New territories to the programme, including a new Member State, France.
• Addressing new thematic fields and setting the scene for bigger initiatives (projects) in and/or outside the North Sea Programme. 

At a later stage of implementation, the programme may use the small-scale project scheme to cover needs identified at that stage. For example: 

• Attract more projects within a specific priority and/or spotlight theme; 
• encourage projects that include measures to increase citizen involvement; 
• or invite applicants to focus on social innovation, etc. 
• In the second half of the programme period, the small-scale project scheme may serve capitalisation purposes.