The counselling scheme is the heart of the IMIS. It is designed to facilitate the bridging between the RIS-NACs regions that are ready to implement regional initiatives. It also includes an advisory scheme for regional authorities and other key organization of the RIS-NACs regions in order to develop specific innovation actions.

Fields of Counselling Support

The counselling scheme process (Basic)

• Analysis of the relevant information and the assessment of the regions’ needs. The maturity level of the initiatives is very important since it will determine the amount of effort that needs to be put.
• Personal contacts with the key individuals in the regions. These are important in order to define the requests for the counselling schemes according to the exact needs of the region.
• Verification of the request from the regions by the management team. The agreements with the regions will then be concluded in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to be signed between the relevant regional organizations and IMIS.
• Counselling Schemes that may last up to 70 days of experts work per region. These can be divided also into smaller assignments.
• At the beginning of an assignment, experts nominated to perform the work will provide IMIS management team with an assessment of the planned work. The f ina l confirmation will be given by the management team after agreement with the relevant region and the expert will proceed with the assignment.
• Regular progress reports will be provided by the experts during the course of the assignments.
• After the end of the assignment the relevant regional contact will be asked for an evaluation of the work performed

The Counseling Schemes are fully funded by the European Commission. No financial contribution from the regions is expected