OpenMed: Cooperation and Development in the Mediterranean basin

OpenMed is a group of professionals that has a long experience in the development of project management in all its phases, from conception to implementation and management of projects implemented with EU, national and regional fundings. OpenMed staff decided to pool its experience, its expertise and its network of institutional partners to support:

• Local and National Authorities,
• Research centres, Universities, Vocational training institutions,
• Museums, Technologic and Scientific parks, Enterprises incubators,
• Enterprises, Professional organizations and associations,
• Development Agencies, Environment Agencies, Port Authorities,
• Trade Unions and Consumers organizations, NGOs and Associations

in the planning and subsequent management of projects funded by the European Union to support cooperation between the countries that belong to the Mediterranean basin.

The main working tool is the Web portal www.open-med.eu, based on a open source and open content vision and methodology, and hence the maximum participation of all the users to the development of contents. The portal is the result of a research and development project financed by the EU Structural Funds (POR 2000 - 2006, measure 3.13 "Research and technological development in enterprises and territory") and is designed in an innovative way. The aim is to create, in each of the thematic areas of intervention, communities of potential partners who can talk through various interactive tools and share specific information functional to operational planning and subsequent implementation of joint project ideas.

OpenMed intends to offer its customers a complete list of services that includes consulting and technical assistance activity, information, training and project conception, designed to better meet the needs of each recipient.

The strategic sectors of OpenMed are:

Innovation and Enterprise

There is a very close link between investment in research and innovation and competitiveness of the territory and the productive sector. Supporting local development and strengthening the economic sectors are issues common to both shores of the Mediterranean. This area offers a comprehensive view of the issue and encourages the participation and cooperation between the interested subjects, not only through the forum, but also through the implementation of the projects.

Environment

Over the last few years interest and sensitivity to pollution and environmental problems, climate change and impoverishment of natural resources has undoubtedly grown in Europe and the Mediterranean. Actions are essential to promote the common natural heritage and diffusion of renewable energy and energy efficiency. This space provides the opportunity to keep oneself updated on the subject and at the same time to share one’s interest in forums, where one can discuss his/her project ideas and then put them into practice.

Mobility

The removal of national barriers and the free movement of persons, goods and capital within the new Euro-Mediterranean context is one of the issues of the greatest importance. The commitment to establish a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area will lead to the creation of a greater prosperity and more jobs, but will also highlight a number of problems common to both shores of the Mediterranean. In this section we intend to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic and an area of confrontation (ideas and projects) for stakeholders.

Education and Culture

Contributing to the creation of a united Euro-Mediterranean area does not mean only supporting the development of the cultures of countries in respect of their national and regional diversity, but also highlighting the common cultural heritage, fostering the exchange of ideas and best practices in the fields of education, training and accessibility to work. This area aims to be a space of deepening and sharing of ideas and projects related to the topic.

Local governance

The need for a revival of territorial planning as an appropriate organization of the various factors that make up the social and environmental and permanent system of government of the territory has become increasingly important in the European and Euro-Mediterranean context. This area is rich in information and clarification on the issue, and offers more opportunities to exchange ideas in forums and implementing projects.

The location of OpenMed is in Sardinia, in the middle of the Mediterranean, in a strategic position which is a bridge between the north and south shores of the Mediterranean, and contributes to the opening of relations and the construction of networks of collaboration between partners in different countries. OpenMed intends to become an important instrument of but also an instrument of relationship among its customers and the Managing Authorities of funding programmes.