Jan 19, 2017: Members of the EU Commission Directorate-General for Regional Policy and Urban Development (DG REGIO) visited the ATB today. They were particularly interested in research infrastructure at the ATB, which had been succussfully realized through funding from the European Structural Fund (ERDF).
The guests from Brussels visited the boundary layer wind tunnel and the pilot plant for the production of lactic acid from biogenous raw materials and residues - two from a series of successful measures carried out at the ATB since 1991 under the European Structural Funds.
With the help of the ERDF measures, the ATB has succeeded in creating a research infrastructure that is unique in Europe and beyond, which allows both research into fundamental contexts as well as their implementation in practice-oriented solutions and contributes decisively to the international visibility of the institute. On this basis, numerous international projects have been successfuly carried out and international cooperation has been strengthened.
In addition to the boundary layer wind tunnel (opening in 2012) and the pilot plant for the production of lactic acid for biopolymers (since 2006), the pilot plant fiber plant processing (since 2007) and the freshness laboratory (since 2013) are part of the larger research facilities funded by ERDF funds. The most recent funding measure valid from the end of 2016 on is the extension of the infrastructure for research in the area of Precision Agriculture at the ATB under the AgroBat measure.
Funding from the EU Structural Funds is an integral part of European structural and regional policy. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is designed to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union by eliminating inequalities between the various regions. The EU Commission is particularly involved in the planning of the central budget at the beginning of a funding period, approves the necessary planning documents and controls the central budget.
At the national level, EU funds - supplemented by national resources - can be used for projects that contribute to make regions fit for the future. The decision on which projects are eligible is taken at the regional level, in Germany it is within the responsibility of the 'Länder'. In the State of Brandenburg, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy is responsible for the administration of ERDF funds. Funding is planned, coordinated and monitored here.
In the State of Brandenburg, projects are funded within the framework of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) since 1991, during the funding period 2014-2020 with a total budget of € 846 million Euro.