This publication was produced by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions, and Cities (CFE), led by Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, Director, in accordance with the programme of work of the Regional Development Policy Committee and with the support of the Technical Support Instrument of the European Commission (EC) Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM) .
We extend our deepest appreciation to the project counterparts in the ten beneficiary regions, including Rosa Onofre (Alentejo), Jesus Portillo and Manuel Vázquez Mora (Andalusia), Roula Kechri (Central Greece), Jyrki Kaiponen and Teppo Rekila (Central Ostrobothnia), Antonio Simao (Centro), Paivi Ekdahl, Ida Paaso and Sari Peltoniemi (Lapland), Jouni Ponnikas and Eero Vilhu (Kainuu), Maarit Siitonen, Ilkka Nykanen and Mervi Kontturi (North Karelia), Lotta Sartz and Olle Jonson (Örebro) and Saija Tikkanen (Oulu). Kristiina Jokelainen (Smart North) and Luis Martins (Cluster Mineral Portugal) provided relevant guidance to the project. Special thanks to Kaspar Richter, Panagiotis Markantonatos and Zinovia Tsikalaki from SG REFORM for the excellent and smooth co‑operation.
In the OECD, the report was co-ordinated by Andres Sanabria, under the guidance of Jose Enrique Garcilazo, Head of the Regional and Rural Policy Unit in the Regional Development and Multi-level Governance Division, led by Dorothée Allain-Dupré. The report was drafted by Fernando Riaza (Chapter 2), Andres Sanabria and Bridget Donovan (Chapters 3 and 5), Antonela Miho (Chapter 3) and Katarina Svatikova with the support of Giulia Galli (both OECD Environment Directorate) (Chapter 4), Kristiina Jokelainen from Smart North. Sinead Teevan (CFE) provided relevant inputs to the draft. Nadim Ahmad (CFE) and Peter Börkey and Irène Hu (OECD Environment Directorate) provided valuable feedback and comments. Evangelina Thanasi (CFE) co-ordinated the organisation of meetings and missions and Jack Waters (CFE) led the publication process. The report was copy-edited and formatted by Eleonore Morena.
The OECD appreciates the invaluable input and support from numerous individuals, companies and institutions who provided their time and views during the visits to the ten beneficiary regions. We also want to extend our appreciation to Maria Nyberg (EC Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, DG GROW) for the opportunity to present preliminary findings in the EU Raw Materials Week 2024, as well as to Joan Canton (DG GROW), Benoit Esmanne (EC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) and Elena Kostadinova (EC Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy) for insights included in the report’s assessments and recommendations.