International
strategy
New knowledge for increased
competitiveness
www.regionostergotland.se
www.regionostergotland.se
Contents
1 Background ................................................................................... 4
1.1 Starting points ................................................................................................... 4
1.1.1 Region Östergötland Yearly Strategic Plan ................................................... 4
1.1.2 Regional Development Programme ............................................................. 4
1.1.3 EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region ......................................................... 4
1.1.4 EU2020 .................................................................................................... 5
1.2 Aim .................................................................................................................. 5
1.3 Objectives ......................................................................................................... 5
1.4 Geographical priorities ........................................................................................ 5
1.4.1 Baltic Sea Region ...................................................................................... 5
1.4.2 EU ........................................................................................................... 5
1.4.3 Other countries ......................................................................................... 5
2 Implementation ............................................................................ 6
2.1 Success factors .................................................................................................. 6
2.2 Influence ........................................................................................................... 6
2.3 Operational development .................................................................................... 6
2.4 Cooperation ....................................................................................................... 7
3 Governance process ...................................................................... 7
3.1 Governance ....................................................................................................... 7
3.2 Responsibility and roles....................................................................................... 7
3.3 Follow-up .......................................................................................................... 8
3.4 Appendixes ........................................................................................................ 8
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1
Background
The Region Östergötland International Strategy was adopted by the Regional Executive Committee on 6
April 2016. The strategy is a result of the review adopted by the executive committee on 30 September 2015.
The strategy is comprehensive and covers all activities within Region Östergötland.
1.1
Starting points
The Region Östergötland International Strategy is based on the following steering documents and strategies.
1.1.1
Region Östergötland Yearly Strategic Plan
Region Östergötland’s international cooperation will contribute to the realisation of the vision and objectives
of the yearly strategic plan, which sets out the overall strategic direction for Region Östergötland. The plan
includes visions, challenges and strategic objectives within five different perspectives: society, citizens,
processes, employees and finance. In addition, the plan sets out success factors that are crucial for achieving
positive development within each of the objective areas.
Region Östergötland’s international cooperation relates to several of the perspectives in the yearly strategic
plan. International activities carried out within the organisation will contribute to the achievement of set
objectives and success factors.
The Society perspective describes how the development potential in Östergötland is realised. Continuous
learning and the ability to implement new knowledge within the own organisation are important
prerequisites for further development of Region Östergötland’s activities. An international commitment
offers opportunities for influence and can lead to cooperation within different areas. Influence strengthens
the region’s capacity for action, which in turn increases the attractiveness and competitiveness of
Östergötland.
The Process perspective describes the main aims of Region Östergötland’s working methods and processes,
where knowledge-based activities form an essential part. International exchange and participation in
international networks generates new knowledge, which contributes to the development of health care.
The Employee perspective describes how human resources are utilised and developed. Active international
exchange strengthens Region Östergötland’s attractiveness as an employer and increases opportunities of
recruiting people with valuable skills.
1.1.2
Regional Development Programme
International cooperation will also contribute to the realisation of the vision and objectives of the
Östergötland Regional Development Programme. The following three objectives for regional development
have been established: good living conditions for the region’s inhabitants, a strong business sector and high
employment rate, and sustainable use of natural resources. Action-oriented strategies based on set targets
are linked to the objectives, addressing the challenges facing Östergötland.
1.1.3
EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is a cooperation between the countries around the Baltic Sea. The
aim of the strategy is to meet the common challenges of the countries in the Baltic Sea Region today. The
strategy has three main objectives: to save the sea, connect the region and increase prosperity. The objectives
will be achieved through a number of measures and projects. Östergötland is a Baltic Sea region and actively
participates in the Baltic Sea cooperation through EU-funded projects that contribute to achieving the
objectives of the strategy.
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1.1.4
EU2020
Europe 2020 is the EU’s ten-year growth strategy, aimed at creating smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
The strategy contains five principal objectives to be reached by 2020. The objectives deal with employment,
climate/energy, innovation, education and social inclusion. Regional development is a central issue in the
strategy, and local and regional commitment is crucial for reaching the set objectives. The Östergötland
Regional Development Programme is based on EU2020, and initiatives for local and regional development,
financed through EU funds and programmes, will contribute to the achievement of the EU2020 strategy
objectives.
1.2
Aim
The aim of the Region Östergötland International Strategy is to create a common platform for international
cooperation with other actors at local, regional, national and international level. The strategy sets out the
guide for Region Östergötland’s international cooperation and advises on issues relating to the organisation’s
international commitments.
1.3
Objectives
The objectives of Region Östergötland’s international cooperation are to:
1. Strengthen Östergötland’s competitiveness and position
2. Reinforce Region Östergötland through new applicable knowledge from other international
stakeholders
3. Develop the regional leadership in collaboration with other actors at national, regional and local
level.
The objectives set out a common direction for Region Östergötland’s international cooperation, where strong
regional leadership in collaboration with other stakeholders creates the conditions for a smart, sustainable
and inclusive economy.
1.4
Geographical priorities
Region Östergötland’s international cooperation is mainly carried out in three different arenas: the Baltic Sea
Region, EU and other countries.
1.4.1
Baltic Sea Region
Östergötland is part of the Baltic Sea Region, and the development of this region affects the growth and
development of Östergötland. Most of the municipalities in Östergötland have long-established partnerships
in the Baltic Sea Region, through town twinning. The Department for International Relations has special
focus on the Baltic Sea and is also responsible for a secretariat within the EU cross-border Central Baltic
Programme.
1.4.2
EU
Municipalities and regions in Sweden are directly or indirectly affected by decisions made by the EU.
Regional and local levels can also influence decisions made at EU-level. EU regional policy aims to reduce
differences in development between the regions, and local and regional levels can finance development
initiatives via the EU structural funds to strengthen the region’s competitiveness and contribute to the
achievement of the objectives in the EU2020 strategy.
1.4.3
Other countries
Region Östergötland has also established cooperation with countries outside the EU, e.g. China, Kenya and
Bosnia. These partnerships are regulated by cooperation agreements or letters of intent based on the mutual
exchange of knowledge and have clear links to Region Östergötland’s activities within health care and
regional development.
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2
Implementation
Region Östergötland’s international cooperation has three focus areas: influence, operational development
and cooperation.
2.1
Success factors
For Region Östergötland to reach the objectives of international cooperation, the following criteria shall be
met:
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2.2
Clear-cut priorities based on Region Östergötland’s strategic steering documents
Clear links to Region Östergötland’s activities, based on operational needs
Commitment from political committees with appointed contact persons
Strive for long-term, enduring and active commitment
Create strategic alliances with the municipalities in Östergötland, as well as with other Swedish or
international regions
Continuous evaluation and follow-up
Influence
The EU has an increasing impact on local and regional levels. Region Östergötland will therefore work
actively to influence and actuate change within the EU regarding issues that affect Östergötland’s
competitiveness and position. This can be done jointly in strategic alliances with other regions in Sweden or
with the EU as a whole, in cooperation with the municipalities in Östergötland, or separately. The work will
always be carried out in close unison with Östergötland’s policies and officials and the EU office in Brussels.
In order to successfully influence issues that affect the whole region, Region Östergötland will take on the
regional leadership in collaboration with the municipalities. By creating regional commitment and consensus
on common priority issues, the region together with the municipalities can actively exert influence on the EU.
Region Östergötland’s membership in international networks and partner organisations offers special
opportunities to work and act from a larger political platform. Collaboration within East Central Sweden and
the South-East Health Care Region can also provide a platform for influence.
Region Östergötland will be an active part of the Baltic Sea cooperation and participate in strategic alliances
in order to influence the development of the Baltic Sea Region, forming partnerships that lead to increased
competitiveness in the region.
Decisions to enter into new networks or cooperation agreements/letters of intent with other regions will be
based on the following principles:
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•
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There will be a clear link to Region Östergötland’s prioritised issues and needs
Cooperation will be marked by clear added value, mutual benefit and have clear objectives
Both a politician and an official will be appointed to be responsible for each new membership or
cooperation agreement
Cooperation will be based on collaboration with other actors in the region or in Sweden
Membership and cooperation agreements will be continuously reported back and evaluated in order
to follow up added value and results.
Region Östergötland will also work strategically to obtain positions regarding contexts and issues that affect
regional development.
2.3
Operational development
External monitoring and exchange of experience with other regions generate new knowledge that
strengthens Region Östergötland and creates good conditions for the region’s inhabitants. It is therefore
important to integrate the international perspective in all of Region Östergötland’s activities.
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Active international exchange is crucial for developing and maintaining the quality and competitiveness of
health care, and can take the form of international research, educational initiatives in other countries, or
cooperation projects. Within regional development, international cooperation projects offer increased
opportunities for gearing up and implementing already planned initiatives, which also strengthens the effects
of the region’s own efforts. The selection of cooperation projects will be governed by Region Östergötland’s
steering documents, such as the yearly strategic plan, regional development programme, and the action plans
of the executive committee and other committees. It is also important to consider the needs and objectives of
Region Östergötland’s activities in order to ensure that the results of international exchange lead to the
desired development.
Region Östergötland’s membership in international networks is also an important part of the development of
activities. Participation offers good opportunities for the exchange of experience, new contacts, new methods
and working procedures that can strengthen and develop Region Östergötland.
International contacts and exchanges also strengthen Region Östergötland’s attractiveness as an employer
and increases opportunities of recruiting people with the right skills, especially within health care.
2.4
Cooperation
A prerequisite for Region Östergötland’s international activities is good cooperation with other actors at
local, regional, national and international level.
In cooperation at local level, mainly with the municipalities, Region Östergötland functions as knowledge
support on issues of funding and communicates EU-related information. Cooperation can consist of joint
efforts to influence prioritised issues, joint development projects, seminars, skills development for politicians
and officials, and regional networks. In order for the region’s joint work on international cooperation to
succeed, it is important that Region Östergötland and the municipalities are in agreement on which issues to
prioritise for international cooperation, both regarding influence and development of activities. This assumes
that the municipalities have a strategy for their international work, absorptive capacity at the level of
officials, and clear commitment among politicians.
At regional level, cooperation is carried out with other regional actors, such as Linköping University and the
County Administrative Board, or in larger geographical regions such as the South-East Health Care Region
and East Central Sweden.
Cooperation with other regions in Sweden and national level includes a range of different areas both within
health care and regional development.
Internationally, Region Östergötland cooperates with local and regional actors both within the EU and in
other countries by way of participation in international networks, exchange of experience with partner
organisations, projects, training initiatives for medical staff, etc.
3
Governance process
3.1
Governance
The Regional Executive Committee, as well as the Health Care Committee, Regional Development Committee
and Transport and Urban Planning Committee have the task of carrying out the mission described in the
strategic plan. This means that the executive committee and the other committees work towards the same
goal, but from different starting points.
3.2
Responsibility and roles
The Regional Executive Committee coordinates Region Östergötland’s international cooperation and has
responsibility for international issues that concern the executive committee’s area of expertise. The
committees for health care, regional development and transport and urban planning have the responsibility
for international issues that concern their respective areas of expertise.
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The Regional Executive Committee decides on the election of political representatives to international
assignments, both regarding board memberships and permanent participation on committees and working
groups. The principle is than only political representatives on the executive committee or the committee
chairs are eligible for international assignments.
The Department for International Relations, which also includes Region Östergötland’s EU office in Brussels,
assists the regional executive committee and the other committees in their work on international
cooperation.
3.3
Follow-up
The follow-up process which includes interim reports and annual reports will highlight Region
Östergötland’s international cooperation and make clear results and added value gained from the initiatives
that have been carried out.
3.4
Appendixes
List of Region Östergötland’s international networks.
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Appendix 1 – List of Region Östergötland’s international networks
AER - Assembly of European Regions
AER provides a political voice and a forum for interregional
cooperation for its 260 member regions from 33 countries. AER
was formed in 1985, and the main purpose then was to
acknowledge the position and role of the regions in the
construction of a democratic Europe. AERs approach is that the
regions are the basis for democracy in Europe since they are
close to the citizens, thereby enabling them to represent their
interests and solve economic and social problems. Promoting
regionalism and establishing the regions’ participation in
European politics has from the start been one of the
organisation’s main aims. The conviction is that political
decisions should be taken at the lowest possible level, and the
principle of subsidiarity is highly valued.
ERLAI (European Regional and Local Authorities
on Asylum and Immigration)
ERLAI is a Brussels-based network for local and regional
organisations working with asylum and immigration issues. The
network is led by the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy. The main
purpose of the network is to enable the exchange of experience
between regional and local levels in Europe, to spread
information and share good practices. The network also creates
opportunities for joint EU projects with focus on asylum and
immigration issues. Some 30 regions and municipalities from a
total of eight EU member states currently form the network.
ERRIN (European Regions Research and
Innovation Network)
ERRIN is a Brussels-based network for regions and cities. Its
mission is to support regional stakeholders to engage in and
shape EU research and innovation policy. More than 90 regions
are members of the network. Membership gives regions the
opportunity for knowledge exchange on research and
innovation at EU level. The network also functions as a tool for
dialogue between regions and EU institutions, and as a basis for
collaboration with other networks.
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EUREGHA (European Regional and Local Health
Authorities)
EUREGHA is a Brussels-based health network consisting of 14
European regional and local health authorities. EUREGHA
promotes collaboration amongst regions and local authorities
within public health and health care with the aim to improve
regional strategies for care and health care throughout Europe.
The network also collaborates with EU institutions and
international stakeholder organisations on initiatives within
health care.
Healthy Cities Network
The European Healthy Cities Network focuses on public health.
The network is part of the WHO. Region Östergötland is part of
the Swedish Healthy Cities Network. Members are Swedish
regions, municipalities and cities working at a strategic level
with public health issues. The network focuses on strategic work
for good health and sustainable development for all.
The International Network of Health Promoting
Hospitals & Health Services (HPH)
The International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals and
Health Services (HPH) consists of more than 40 national
networks. The HPH network, initiated by the WHO in 1993,
aims to drive the development of a health promoting health
service with focus on good care and equal health for patients,
co-workers and the population. The HPH network has a
number of international thematic groups on different issues, as
well as working groups addressing broader themes. The
secretariat of the Swedish HPH network (HFS) has its
organisational location at Region Östergötland.
Nordic Archipelago Cooperation
The archipelago cooperation of the Nordic Council of Ministers
is a cross-border cooperation between authorities, including the
archipelago regions in the counties of Stockholm, Uppsala and
Östergötland; Southwest Finland and Uusimaa; and the six
archipelago municipalities of Åland.
REVES (European Network of Cities and Regions
for the Social Economy)
REVES is a European network for cities and regions working
actively within the field of social economy. The network has 75
members from twelve countries. The mission of the network is
to establish a dialogue with EU and other international
institutions in order to create positive conditions for the
development of social economy. The network also strives to
make clear the importance of partnerships between
private/public/social economy actors in order to develop the
local economy.
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SERN (Sweden Emilia-Romagna Network)
In mid-2008, Region Östergötland joined the Sweden EmiliaRomagna Network, SERN, which aims to facilitate the exchange
of experience and participation in cooperation projects between
Italian and Swedish actors – in particular within the areas of
the environment, education and culture, social economy,
entrepreneurship and tourism. The network currently gathers
around 50 municipalities, regions and organisations in Sweden
and Italy for different joint development initiatives.
S3 platform
Region Östergötland participates in the European Commission
S3 platform, a European network for regions working with
strategies for smart specialisation. Smart specialisation is a
process whereby regions analyse and indentify their strengths
in order to increase competitiveness and growth. The network
assists European regions by providing information, expertise,
methodologies, exchange of knowledge and experience in their
efforts to develop and implement strategies for smart
specialisation.
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Region Östergötland, kommunikationsenheten 2016