Gelderland International We do it together Working internationally is a joint effort
Gelderland is not an island but part of the global community. International components come into play in everything we undertake. Straightforward but clear examples are the river Rhine, crossing our border at Lobith, exporting companies and international freight traffic. Operating in the international arena is not a solo endeavour but is only effective in close cooperation with municipalities, organisations, institutes and businesses.
Provincial tasks
1 1. Sustainable spatial development (including water management) 2 2.Environment, energy and climate 3 3.Lively rural areas, nature management & development of nature 4 conservation areas 5 4.Regional accessibility and regional public transport 6 5.Regional economy 7 6.Cultural infrastructure and preservation of listed buildings and sites 8 7.High-quality public administration 9
As second administrative level of government (between the central and municipal authorities), the province is responsible for a number of tasks, see the list above. These tasks are executed most effectively in close contact and cooperation with our neighbours.
Gelderland has had a strong focus on good international relationships for centuries. This open attitude has produced many benefits through the years: good trade relations, a positive trade balance and internationally renowned universities. Nowadays, the European Union is the number one forum for international cooperation. The Province of Gelderland is well represented in that arena.
Province Gelderland holds an internationally strong position
Gelderland has a central location between two major urban centres: the Amsterdam-Rotterdam conurbation Randstad and the Ruhr area in Germany. Two big rivers flow through the province and there are two important European transit routes between the gateway ports and the European hinterland (Rhine- Alpine and Northsea-Baltic Corridors).
With the universities of Wageningen (WUR) and Nijmegen (RU), Gelderland houses knowledge institutes with an international reputation, a driving force behind innovation.
2 Gelderland International | We do it together The international innovation profile of East Netherlands (Gelderland and Overijssel)
Together with - and for - our partners is the basic principle
Outside Europe
This mainly concerns stimulating trade relations and putting Gelderland on the map as attractive investment region. The trade missions to China are a good example of our commitment in that area. In a country like China with a strong control government, mutual contacts with the authorities have proven to be very valuable for the business community. The province is well-geared to take up that role. Of course, this can only be realised if the business community plays an active role in these missions.
Long-term relationship with Chinese provinces
Since 1999, the province has participated regularly in economic missions to China. The objective of these economic missies is to support the business community (particularly SMEs) and knowledge institutes in securing a position on the Chinese market, which is strongly dominated by the authorities.
Thanks to the long-lasting relationship with China, the Province of Gelderland is on good terms with the Chinese authorities. This has proven to be quite an advantage in opening up contacts at the right level for economic mission participants to initiate talks with Chinese businesses, authorities and knowledge institutes. Gelderland maintains bonds of friendship with three Chinese provinces: Hubei, Shandong and Fujian. There is close cooperation with the Netherlands Business Support Offices in these provinces (part of the Netherlands diplomatic network).
Martijn Enter (Novolanguage): “In 2015, we joined the mission to China. This trip has provided long-term value; we have established productive contacts in China but we also embarked on a collaboration with a fellow mission participants. One of the main eye-openers was that we experienced ourselves the importance of gaining access to the right authorities and contacts in the proper manner. The support provided by the Province of Gelderland was excellent.”
Gelderland International 3 Within Europe
Involvement in legislation and regulations Gelderland has permanent representation in Brussels. By our active involvement - and being recognised for our contributions - we increase our level of influence. PE member Michiel Scheffer of the Province of Gelderland is appointed as Rapporteur with the Committee of the Regions. In this position, he can give direct advise on mobility on behalf of all regions and cities
Realising projects with funds from Brussels The EU is strongly committed to international cooperation between the European regions by subsidising initiatives in this area. The Province of Gelderland is the management authority for the regional ERDF fund OP Oost (Operational Programme East Netherlands) and actively contributes to the Interreg Programmes Germany-Netherlands and North-West Europe (NWE).
The EU also has thematic funds in place. These finance projects also contribute to the province-specific tasks. For example for promoting the manufacturing industry (Manunet II), SMEs (KISS-ME) or cooperation in the area of Health and SMEs (Boost4Health).
Act together as a reliable partner Successful projects require a proactive attitude, which starts with participating. In networks, with partners and in projects. We do so by establishing new and personal relationships. We want to create valuable networks with organisations, entrepreneurs and authorities. This will enable us to jointly acquire a position as reliable and interesting partner
European networks The Province Gelderland has joined various European networks, such as the Assemblage or European Region (AER), the Association or European Border Region (AEBR), the EGTC RhineAlpine and the innovation network Vanguard. Through such networks the province seeks out partners for projects, shares knowledge and experience and joins forces towards Brussels. There are also networks with other Gelderland parties and authorities in which the province is not involved. The ERRIN network for example in which Food Valley, Cleantech and the Arnhem-Nijmegen region participate. In Gelderland we work closely together and we make use of each other’s networks..
4 Gelderland International | We do it together One-on-one partnerships Partnerships mostly concern one-on-one cooperation with a single partner. At this time, this holds good for the German Federal State North Rhine- Westphalia and the Polish district Lubelskie. In the future, bilateral cooperation with new regions may be added
Gelderland as border region Together with the Province of Overijssel, Gelderland has set up a Germany strategy. We want to strengthen our relationship with our German neighbours and jointly draw up a policy agenda for border-crossing cooperation. Themes contributed by Gelderland in this respect are: employment market, improved public transport, enhanced economic cooperation, water issues
The cooperation with North Rhine-Westphalia is implemented in the Interreg VA programme. This leads to new initiatives. We are planning to start a campaign to celebrate the fact that we are neighbours. The slogan is: ‘Hello Europe’ Blick über die Grenze - Looking across the border.
International cooperation within the Netherlands Together with the Province of Overijssel, the Province of Gelderland constitutes the East Netherlands region. Together, we represent our interests in The Hague and Brussels. Limburg has also joined the joint representation in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia’s capital. Other authorities, knowledge institutes, the business community and social organisations from Gelderland have contacts abroad as well. The province stimulates cooperation and - where possible - works together with various partners in concrete projects.
Gelderland International 5 ParkinsonNet Meeting
ParkinsonNet in international cooperation
ParkinsonNet is a countrywide network of care providers specialised in the treatment and care of patients with Parkinson’s disease. The aim is to increase the quality of care by expanding the expertise of care providers. ParkinsonNet supports optimal cooperation between care providers and ensures that the quality of the registered care providers can be monitored. The Province of Gelderland contributes to bring the concept of ParkinsonNet to the attention of the international partners. The larger the number of countries that apply the ParkinsonNet approach, the stronger the network will become. This will eventually lead to better care and a higher quality of life for patients worldwide.ParkinsonNet has already been implemented in California and in 2017 the first steps are taken to set up the network in Norway.
Lonneke Rompen (Radboud UMC): “The Province of Gelderland has a wide network, just as we have. All the more reason to look for ways in which the province and we can support each other. A good example is an acquisition process in Sweden initiated from a lead with the province. In this way, the province’s network facilitated a further extension of the ParkinsonNet network.”
Safety without Borders
The volunteer fire brigades from Millingen aan de Rijn in the Netherlands and German Rindern want to improve their cooperation. This because of the increasingly demanding requirements to management, commanders and fire-fighters on both sides of the border. E.g.: increasing responsibility of senior staff, the introduction of new equipment and techniques, stricter documentation demands and training requirements. An extra challenge is the fact that there is increasingly less interest in voluntary work, whereas operational availability and response times must remain guaranteed.
6 Gelderland International | We do it together The teams of the volunteer Fire Brigade of the town of Kleve-Löschzug Rindern, and the Fire Brigade Millingen are confident that a large number of these problems can be solved by improved cooperation, especially by transcending the respective national interests. This has resulted in mutual arrangements, joint coaching and training and a process to arrive at a joint team and setting up a border-crossing tactical operational unit.
Project partners are: Voluntary Fire Brigade Kleve-Löschzug Rindern, Fire Brigade Millingen aan de Rijn, Gelderland South Safety Region.
Peter Heijmen of the Safety Region: “Border-crossing initiatives such as this are in principle eligible for EU financial support. The Province of Gelderland plays an important role in actually qualifying. The Foreign Relations and Lobby team members ensure that the content of our plans is reviewed. Furthermore, the Province of Gelderland provides the financial foundation, a precondition for any contribution from Brussels.”
That is why we are happy to invite you to join us, the Gelderland institutes and parties to strengthen Gelderland International. This may concern an idea which we can help you translate into concrete plans, support in terms of expertise or budget, or working out plans together with us. And we are always open to learn from your experiences. Join the Forum Gelderland International and we can contact each other any time.
Want to know more about the role of the province in trade promotion or region marketing? Maybe you have this splendid idea or need advice? Want to know more about the role of the province in Brussels? Questions about the province’s role in European funds and projects? Looking for cooperation or a sparring partner, need any advice? Feel free to contact the International Affairs and Lobby (BBL) team via the forum https://internationaal.gelderland.nl. You will find the specialisms, email addresses and telephone numbers of the team members of the forum.
Current projects https://internationaal.gelderland.nl/projects++plans
Gelderland International 7 www.gelderland.nl [email protected] 026 35999 The Netherlands 6800 GXArnhem P.O. Box 9090 6811 HEArnhem Eusebiusplein 1-a Province ofGelderland
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