This seminar lies on the ground of a PhD research which attempts to assess whether interventions financed in the framework of Objective 1 programmes in less developed regions, contributed to supporting regional structural change and to enabling adaptation to globalisation over the 2000 – 2006 period. The purpose is to compare through a systematic analysis the contribution of Structural Funds’ support to manufacturing firms performance in similar economic geography profile regions but with different technological level. For this reason, one region from UK (South Yorkshire) and one from Greece (Kentriki Makedonia) and their respective Objective 1 programmes will be examined thoroughly. On the basis of the analysis, the research will draw up recommendations for future investment by the Structural Funds expenditure in support of manufacturing firms in the assisted regions, exploring new forms of policy improvement.
