The proposal focuses on the public research spending and policy mixes and comprehensively the SMEs and research target areas. The partnership represents a high value-added as well. The RDAs as operative bodies of the Regional Development Councils are directly involved in the preparation of the policies and the decisions and thus in the decision making process as well. The stakeholders have been also selected to ensure equal opportunities and equilibrum. The expected results will be the - development of coherent and effective research policies in the participating regions, by better information on policy mixes and financial coordination for the decision makers, and strengthened R&D support mechanisms to SMEs, - a transferability model of best practices, - by the coordination of the priorities and pilot projects concerted actions, joint policy initiatives and EU level recommendations with special respect to the ERA-NET process and the 7. Framework Programme. The advantages of a systemic approach by inter-programme relationships ensures a unique opportunity to create optimal linkage to other related activities of the EU (e.g. Innovation Strategies, Structural Funds) and other international bodies (e.g. IRE) and a sustainable, coordinated use and structured availability of this high value knowledge and information databases.