Abstract
Networking is an effective strategy for both economic and regional development, as the results of project management at the trans-regional level demonstrate. Cooperation between the Western Norway Training Partnership (WNTP) and Erfurt Technology Centre (TZE) shows that international teamwork is productive and that project administration is relatively low-cost. Both partners have carried out various projects within the European Commission's COMETT, Leonardo Da Vinci and Fifth Framework Research programmes. Seven years of cooperation between WNTP and TZE have resulted not only in increased awareness about both regions in political, academic and business circles, but also in the establishment of the Trade House, to increase exports, as well as the completion of a Bilateral Agreement of Regional Cooperation for further development of activities and contacts. Inter-regional and inter-sectoral links with local authorities, financial funds, research institutes, innovation centres and non-governmental organizations have been established to explore further possibilities for cooperation in training, research, business and culture. In this paper, the partners share experiences, analyse implications and discuss strategies that bring mutual benefits.
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