Microregion Hranicko

The voluntary association of 24 municipalities from Hranicko region was established in 2001, however, main activities started to develop in 2004, when the microregion became one of 4 partners (along with Friuli Venezia Gulia and Umbria from Italy, and the region of Western Greece) of big international project called INNOREF („Innovation and Resource Efficiency as Driving Forces for Sustainable Growth“, www.innoref.net) co-financed from INTERREG IIIC programme.

The operation aims at achieving a higher added value by improving the use of local resources, setting up and promoting sustainable product lines, establishing cooperation between different sectors and suitable regional marketing structures, all through a participatory process aimed at developing resources efficiency and innovation. Aside from the INNOREF Office, (4-member team providing free technical assistance and help desk services), there were 8 sub-projects focused on various areas of regional development (tourism development, eco-management systems, renewable energy and biomass, local products certification, recon-version of rural villages, strategic spatial planning etc.). INNOREF as non-investment project prepared a number of analyses, studies, strategic documents, workshops and meetings, which all partners can use for future development in investments and follow-up projects from European funds. The project was implemented in years 2004 – 2007 and had profound impact on the development of the region.

Other activities and projects co-financed from grants are Mills Bike Trail, Working Teams (solution of long-term unemployment through the creation of working groups), Week In Life Of Hranicko Region (exhibition of photographs created in the region during the workshops of art-photography students). In terms of regional activities planned for the nearest future, following projects are prepared: Network of horse trails, Cultural cooperation, Business development support, GIS, Tourism destination management.