Summary

Project COOPeR will tackle common cross-border needs resulting from a lack of investment in R&D, scarce capacity and resources, inability to access the international market and poor cooperation between the private, public sector and the R&D. The project approach is based on 3 steps in relation to the 3 specific objectives: S1-Develop a formal network of olive-related stakeholders in order to accelerate the competitiveness and development of a business environment in the programme area. S2-Develop and established a center for olives with a laboratory to enhance institutional infrastructure and services. S3-Develop a cooperation between enterprises (olive related) and business support institutions with research in order to accelerate the competitiveness of the programme area. The main objective of the project is to establish a center for olives with a laboratory that will directly contribute to the program goal by strengthening the competitiveness and business environment development in the program area. Project outputs are: one cross-border business network developed, one olive center with laboratory established, one sustainable cooperation agreements signed. Public authorities, sectoral agencies, NGO’s, SME, higher education and research and business support organizations will be part of the mapping process in CR, BH, and MN; result of the mapping process will be olive stakeholder network which will be incorporated into the olive center and laboratory. The olive center will be addressed for all listed target groups and the general public. One of the main reasons for cross-border cooperation is to exchange experience and apply common solutions. The joint network of olive growers from the CR, BH, and MN together with the olive center with laboratory will add value to cross-border cooperation and economy in all three countries as it will produce positive effects through increased resource utilization, new employment, increased production, and new income creation.