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Cross-border
economic
development 58 Cross-cutting themes in cross-border economic development
Different facets of cross-border
economic development
Cross-border territories along France’s borders have highly diverse
economic structures. The territory portraits highlight framework
conditions, sectoral specialisation and economic structures that are
particular to each side of the border, which therefore interact in a specific
manner with the territory on the other side. For all economic players,
be they private, public or semi-public, participation in a partnership
or project is dependent on structural and cyclical factors particular to
each border, or even each portion of the border.
While this diversity makes all cross-border economic dynamics
unique, there are nonetheless a number of elements common to
the different facets of cross-border economic development. The
practical recommendations provided in the guide are based on these
common elements.
As this analysis focuses on France’s borders, each sub-section of this
part goes into more specific detail on the elements concerning France
in a context of reform of public action.
Working on the knowledge
and innovation economy
The Lisbon Strategy and Europe 2020 have made the knowledge
and innovation economy one of the objectives in the economic
development of European territories. This approach can and should
be applied to cross-border territories. In a study on cross-border
innovation,98 the OECD explores a few European cross-border territories
and highlights the main reasons why the regions should cooperate
across borders to encourage innovation. These include economies
of scale, complementarities of resources and the economic fabric
and the different positive externalities resulting from the cross-border
flows created. One of the main shortcomings in the identification and
justification of public policies in this area remains the lack of cross-
border statistical data.
98 Regions and Innovation: Collaborating Across Borders,
regions-and-innovation-collaborating-across-borders.htm
Tandem project © Réseau J’innove en Nord – Pas de Calais - MatthiasVanOost