POWER aims to boost the development of off-shore wind energy in the participating coastal regions. It will focus on improved planning, participation and decision-making processes regarding offshore wind farms; supporting the establishment of off-shore wind energy industries and positioning the North Sea Region as a global hot spot for off-shore wind energy; and providing education and training courses to fulfil the need of the off-shore wind energy sector for specialist knowledge and a skilled workforce.

The project aims to increase the share of biomass in local energy production. The main focus is therefore on informing and raising awareness about the potential of bio-energy. Local networks will be established involving a wide range of relevant actors and linked up in a North Sea region wide network. The regional focal points will carry out two joint marketing campaigns. To reach out to possible producers and consumers as efficiently as possible will RES (renewable energy sources) implementers be recruited among SMEs and farmers. They will receive training and their activities will be coordinated trans-nationally. Some partners will also identify sites for new small-scale district heating plans and prepare plans for their implementation. An important transnational feature of the project is the development of a virtual market place for bio-energy trade. A first version will be launched by the end of the project.

Pure aims to develop the various spatial functions of water catchment areas in the urban-rural fringe, focusing especially on public participation, water quality and flood risks. Pilot projects and guidelines developed by the project will address various issues such as integrating water management into spatial planning, improving the multifunctionality of water, discovering water related identities, restoring water systems and storm water management.

The project addresses the integration of waterborne transport into intermodal transport and logistic chains with the aim of shifting cargo from road to waterborne transport. Partners will work with logistics competencies, optimisation and marketing in the regions involved.

The aim of the project is to improve the image of the participating small urban port settlements by creating a more balanced spatial structure. This includes improving the connections be-tween the waterfronts and the town centres and involving the public in this process through a bottom-up approach. Each of the partner will carry out sub-projects where three will lead to renewed waterfronts and the fourth to new methods for increasing the involvement of the public and businesses in landscape improvement strategies.

The project aims at harmonising risk management strategies for the North Sea region and at transforming these strategies into practical methodologies for spatial planners, decision makers and operational entities dealing with safety at sea. The strategies will be put into practice in six demonstration projects, including ?classification and risk assessment of oil transport in the North Sea?, ?practical tools on risk management for offshore wind farms?, ?coastal zone management, places of refuge and preparedness? and ?decision making for a maritime rescue coordination centre.?

Coastal lowlands may be defined as coastal areas prone to flooding during extreme storm surges, assuming that no coastal defence structures exist. In the North Sea Region, approximately 12 million people, i.e. 20% of its total population, live in such lowlands areas with particular flooding expose. These areas are also home to major economic activities such as the ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg. An appropriate costal defence is therefore a prerequisite for social and economic development of the region. Higher sea levels and a greater risk of storm surges as a consequence of global climate changes require adaptation of proper coastal planning and management systems. SAFECOAST has been set up to face these challenges.

The main objective of the project is to improve knowledge, research and information about maritime litter in the North Sea aiming to change attitudes and behaviour of key groups using the North Sea and its coasts. Activities include networking, promotion, education and research.

The aim is to strengthen regional airports and the air transport network between them and thus improve the accessibility of peripheral regions. Activities include analysing passenger travel needs, proposing new transport routes, improving airport safety and presenting a policy paper on airports to relevant EU institutions. The project builds on a successful Baltic Sea Region project.

The project work will concentrate around three themes: The implementation of new economic activities in maritime areas, the improvement of conditions to stimulate economic regeneration there, and the management and promotion of the project. All partners work together on one North Sea related promotion plan, one toolkit for economic regeneration of seaport towns and one strategic action plan for maritime heritage buildings that can be used by all small and medium-sized seaport towns in the North Sea Region. The results will be a state of the art report of successful waterfront development and a guideline for waterfront development. All small and medium-sized seaport towns in the North Sea Region can use these documents. Also included are project management actions and promotion activities to facilitate networking and knowledge exchange between the partners of the SEAPORT project and other interested seaport towns.

SHARED SPACE explores and exploits the potential for integrating infrastructure and traffic engineering, safety and spatial planning in transnational context to prevent erosion of social and environmental quality of the public realm. The approach has identified different types of road users with problems arising in a 'crushable zone'; integrating infrastructure and traffic engineering instruments into a cross-sector planning and designing process shall prove to reconcile the demands of the different types of road users and improve the quality of landscape and the built surroundings, pedestrian movement and social activities.

The SmartLIFE project will deliver networked business centres in three participating regions. These will dispense training, advice and practical technical support to address skills and capacity shortfalls in the construction industry in three North Sea growth areas. Activities include the establishment and delivery of transnational training programmes for modern methods of construction and self-builders and community outreach programmes. It is foreseen that up to 3,500 people will complete these courses and programmes. The project will also cover general growth area management issues and includes a comprehensive communications campaign.

Nowadays, many river basins within the North Sea Region face lots of problems that affect the natural processes of the areas. Among these problems the most significant are declining bio-diversity and loss of historic landscape character, which result from previous inappropriate water management policies and flood plain development as well as from increasing demands of agriculture. The aim of the SPARC project is to promote an integrated management of river corridors in the North Sea Region. Such common approach is needed for appropriate regeneration and reconstruction of the river basins as well as for the enhancement of their natural, cultural and historic environment.

The coastal regions of the North Sea are frequently haunted by storms that cause wind damage to the forests. Changing practices in forest and landscape management have potentially added to the vulnerability of these regions. According to some predictions, the effects of global warming will further exacerbate those problems.The STORMRISK project has natural landscape conservation and resilience concerns at its core. This will be achieved through implementing measures for improved planning, restoration and management of forested landscapes in wind-exposed areas around the North Sea.

The overall aims of SustAc-cess are on the one hand to make gateways more accessible from their hinterlands and on the other to support an increased use of more sustainable modes of transport. It covers both goods and passenger transport and includes partners ranging from gateway cities to smaller towns in hinterland areas. Partner activities and pilot projects include a wide variety of activities such as supporting the development of different gateway cities and their connection to their hinterland or improving public transport and making it more accessible.

Sutranet aims to improve the knowledge base for decision-making regarding transport networks and intermodal transport around the North Sea. The partnership mainly consists of universities and research institutions and target groups are ports and other infrastructure providers, transport operators and public authorities. The project will try to put research into practice by developing innovative solutions, an environmental impact model and a curriculum for training modules relating to intermodal transport. Policy-makers and practical implementers will follow project activities through a User Group.

The project includes different work packages in the field of mobility management to facilitate the use of alternative modes of transport to the car. The work packages address the following issues: Travel to work, mobility education, travel to visitor attractions and transport in urban areas.

The project aims at the realisation of an ecological water corridor network linking Natura 2000 and other wildlife sites. The project includes the direct implementation/creation of some corridors as well as work on further implementation plans. A training course will also be held. The enhanced watercourses should increase biodiversity and provide a basis for improvements in other fields such as tourism development.

The partnership wants to achieve consensus about the sustainable management of fish stocks in the North Sea area through improved co-operation of fishers, researchers and other vital actors such as fishery managers, conservation groups, and fish processors and merchants.

The ToLearn project aims to address the gap identified and the requirements set out in the Focused Call on the theme of developing a sustainable tourism framework for the NSR.