L'hinterland di Berna è stato oggetto di un processo di urbanizzazione

Cohesion between town and country has strengthened in Switzerland

The multi-year program 2016-2023 of the New Regional Policy (NPR) already makes an important contribution to the development of the country’s regions

On February 17, 2022 SECO published an evaluation of the multi-year program 2016-2023 of the New Regional Policy (NPR). The text concludes that the NPR makes an important contribution to the development of Switzerland’s regions.
The New Regional Policy mobilizes actors and investments for peripheral regions, strengthening innovative capacity and competitiveness in these areas, as well as cohesion between town and country.
According to the evaluation, the NRP fulfills its purpose, is effective and promotes a wide range of value-added projects in the regions.

Swiss cantons improve their fiscal attractiveness

La Svizzera è formata da 26 Stati: i Cantoni — Switzerland consists of 26 states: the cantons

1614 federally supported projects totaling 391 million

Between 2016 and the end of 2020, 1614 federally-supported projects were implemented with a total of 391 million francs, generating total investments of 2.2 billion francs.
Every franc paid by the federal government generated five times as much investment for Swiss regions. The vast majority of NPR projects and activities continue or are further developed, with long-term impact.
The goals have been achieved in many areas and also very well in the case of industrial projects, particularly in Regional Innovation Systems (RIS).
Also noteworthy is the success of cableway projects or regional marketing platforms. Cross-border Interreg programs enable the exchange of knowledge in border areas.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic could jeopardize the continuation of projects in the tourism sector.
In addition to project promotion, the NPR makes a substantial contribution to the coordination of the promotion instruments of the various federal offices.
The cantons use the NPR in various ways to test new ideas, promote innovations, and strengthen inter-agency networks.

Forty years of the Conference of Alpine Cantonal Governments

Il celeberrimo Palazzo Federale di Berna — The famous Federal Palace in Bern

Doubts about exporting financed services from the region

Most of the actors express doubts about the previous approach of so-called “export”, according to which the services financed should be exported from the region.
This is because the attractiveness of a location, especially in peripheral regions, is increasingly determined by aspects of the local economy, such as housing and employment.
On the basis of these results, the authors of the evaluation formulate 15 recommendations aimed at improving the approach and strategic focus of the NPR as well as optimizing its operational implementation.
Thanks to these recommendations, the NPR should become simpler and, above all, even more effective for the inhabitants of the areas concerned.