CPA aims to create a portfolio of climate adoption strategies for the North Sea Region. This will be done by carrying out multi-focused pilot projects across the NSR in order to analyse the impacts of climate changes as a first step. Subsequently, diverse climate adoption strategies will be developed, implemented and tested. In addition, the project will foster political support established by the Memoranding of Understanding (MoU) of the North Sea Commission, triggering future investments on a transnational level.

CPA is also represented in the WaterCAP cluster.

The project will focus on the effects of climate change for groundwater systems. CLIWAT aims to identify the challenges caused by the higher water levels and to develop climate scenarios focussing on surface water and water supply as well as the impacts of it on buildings. This will enable the North Sea Region to react more efficiently to the consequences of climate change.

The project will build on and improve existing geo-physical methods and these will be tested in the partner regions in order to be able to develop recommendations for the North Sea Region on how to deal with the consequences of increased groundwater levels.

CLIWAT is also represented in the WaterCap cluster.

The project will focus on the development of new and sustainable energy-related technologies and strategies on islands around the North Sea Region. C2CI will develop and implement the cradle-to-cradle (C2C) methodology for NSR islands, i.e. designing intelligent products and materials that can be used over and over again and thus replace the concept of waste.

Three development clusters that focus on sustainable energy in relation to mobility, water and materials will create relevant networks and deliver sustainable innovations for the islands' environments. Incubator centres on the partner islands will foster further development and implementation.

C2CI is also represented in the WaterCAP cluster.

The project activities consider cultural and natural heritage, as a means to improve public health, the development of SME's and the demographic profile of the region.

The project builds on the results of two former Interreg IIIB project; Nave Nortrail and Cycle-on, using the trails set up by these projects as a basis for activity. The project will carry out a number of transnational field studies within the partner countries, the results of which will feed into a toolkit.

The work will be supported by three universities, the UK organisations, Federation of Small Business and British Ramblers Association, the North Sea Commission and a Political forum. The project results (toolkit) will be promoted through the projects own website and also the North Sea Commission website.

While the NSR deals with the effects of climate change, transport-related CO2 emissions continue to increase. We face an urgent need to develop and implement carbon reduction strategies and to secure an ongoing energy supply for transport. The NSR has a huge potential for innovative transport strategies which could improve the economic performance of its regions and cities in a post-fossil economy (see Lisbon Agenda).

Transnational collaboration will be used in terms of building political support and momentum, as well as in concrete terms of establishing uniform standards and infrastructure across the region. CARE-North has developed and plans to implement, innovative carbon reduction strategies for urban and regional transport in order to maintain and improve accessibility in a more carbon-responsible way and overall make the NSR a leader in carbon-efficient accessibility.

CCC aims to build and implement an integrated evidence-based strategy for cities to strengthen their innovative capacity. This will be done by means of a methodology of joint development and pilot testing of new tools and instruments in the fields of skills development, business cooperation and the development of urban creative clusters. CCC focuses on the catalyst role of creative industries in building and strengthening the innovative capacity of these urban economies through the use of a transnational triple helix of government, education and business.

Project outcomes include instruments for skills development for entrepreneurs, masters’ classes and a network for NSR business cooperation. Urban showcases will demonstrate instruments on how to establish creative clusters.

CCC is also represented in the DANS Cluster.

ClimaFruit will establish transnational cooperation between research institutions and the NSR berry fruit industry in order to maximize the implementation of innovative technologies. Thereby, the project will secure, sustain & grow the economic value of the industry under by developing a world leading Berry Fruit Cluster in the NSR to ensure investment opportunities, sustainable use of resources & the production of healthy food.

The project will produce methods to reduce the carbon footprint of the industry, superior plant material and future production strategies better suited to the NSR climate, as well as a virtual Soft Fruit Climate Change and Environment Centre, ensuring the continuous uptake of methods by the berry fruit industry.

Cruise Gateway will increase the maritime accessibility by developing the NSR as a cruise destination of its own and promoting it as a "lighthouse" for sustainable cruise. Main outputs are the creation of a brand for cruise in the NSR, the improvement of service quality in ports and environmentally friendly economic growth. Within the work packages, the brand will be jointly designed and best practices for a NSR cruise cycle will be identified and transferred. Cruise Gateway, at the end of the day, will have launched the "Green Cruise North Sea" and will have opened up "white spots", thus attracting more and new cruise passenger consumer groups to the NSR ports and their hinterland. 

Cruise Gateway is also represented in the MTC cluster.

CNSS will focus on emission and greenhouse gas reduction from ships, using studies to reveal the status of air quality in ports and surrounding areas. The partnership of CNSS (ports, business, regions, public authorities, NGOs, research institutes) will change this by creating transparency on cost-efficient technology solutions and develop and improve the introduction of successful air quality programs.

The present challenge is to develop and implement environmentally friendly, cost-effective concepts and practical solutions in line with upcoming standards.

Promoting the development of efficient and effective logistics solutions, the maritime transport system (ships, ports and surrounding areas) will step into a transition processes to meet the demands of enlargement and sustainable development at the same time.

The DANS cluster connects three projects funded under the Priority 1 - namely Creative City Challenge (CCC), Smart Cities and E-CLIC. These three projects will combine their expertise, contacts and networks and thereby build a base upon which the 'Digital Agenda for Europe' (DAE) can be implemented within the North Sea Region. The project will focus on the link between the local and regional strategies to the DAE, identify implementation barriers and will point at synergies. This will lead to a number of strategic outputs (e.g. an implementation strategy, the 'DANS model', 'Good Practices Guide') and dissemination activities by modern means of communication.

Related projects:

• Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany (Representing project CCC)

MTC will build a structure for exchanging information on the latest knowledge and experiences concerning maritime transport issues by establishing a network covering all transport related NSRP projects. MTC will identify synergies between NSRP project results and consolidate these into overall programme outcomes on transport. The results will be discussed with the business, public sector & research actors and matched with industry and research trends. Afterwards outcomes will be connected to policy developments with a focus on future transport and cohesion policy.

Related projects:

• Cruise Gateway
• StratMOS
• BLAST
• Ballast Water Opportunity
• NMU
• Dryport

As historical hydrological patterns can no longer be solely relied upon to forecast future water conditions, a new paradigm for water management is needed. The WaterCAP cluster connects six INTERREG IVB funded projects (CPA, Aquarius, SAWA, C2C-islands and CLIWAT) working with issues relating to water. It will focus on recommendations relevant to policy-makers on: 1) Water quantity/quality issues, 2) Climate change impact assessment on different types of water bodies and 3) Adaptation strategies including cross-sector involvement and participatory approaches.

Related projects:

• CLIWAT
• Aquarius
• SAWA
• CPA
• C2CI