The Euregion Meuse-Rhine has become one of the most attractive Life Sciences’ cradles of Europe. It is situated at the conjunction point of 3 countries having one of the highest European GDP per capita and is benefiting from:

• a critical mass in terms of population;
• highly educated staff;
• a good provision of universities and research institutes;
• highly performing companies;
• and a unique living environment.

Its 670 biotechnological companies and laboratories are providing complementary competencies and specific equipments, especially in the Biomedical, Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Biomaterials fields. Further disciplines and trans-sector activities complete the competitiveness of the region.

The trans-regional development programmes are internationally driven.

The various languages and cultural aspects of the region are a real richness to its inhabitants but often remain a barrier to education and collaboration. Eighty percent of existing R&D and production co-operation is still restricted to sub-regional levels.

The Interreg IVA Skills³ programme aims to layer down the disparities that still exist between the regions, improve accessibility to information, highlight the respective competencies and feel the gaps between reciprocal demands and needs.

For instance, Skills³ will help:

• the Euregional workers to know their neighbours including, amongst other, their living, working, management, funding and negotiation arrangements.
• motivate them to live with their family in the region while benefiting from the high-level standard of living and working. This might also counter the braindrain of highly qualified workers to other attractive parts of the world.
• make the region more attractive for international fellows.