Specific Programme "Capacities": Research potential of Convergence Regions RESEARCH POTENTIAL OF CONVERGENCE REGIONS Europe needs to exploit its research potential, particularly in the less advanced regions that areremotely situated from the European core of research and industrial development. A strategy ofinclusiveness can potentially benefit the social fabric as well as the research community andthe industry, locally and at the level of the European Research Area.What's the benefit for citizens:Taking advantage of the knowledge and experience existing in other regions of Europe, thisaction seeks to upgrade research potential where needed by providing support in the form ofinvestment, staff, networking or advice.The effort is directed at researchers and institutions of these regions in the public or privatesector.What's the benefit for researchers:The research community in the convergence and outermost regions will be supported as follows:• Transnational two-way exchanges of research staff between selected organisationsin the convergence regions, and one or more partner organisations; support toselected centres of existing or emerging excellence for the recruitment of incomingexperienced researchers from other European countries.• Acquisition and development of research equipment and the development of amaterial environment enabling the exploitation of the intellectual potential to befound in the selected centres of existing or emerging excellence in the convergenceregions.• Organisation of workshops and conferences to facilitate knowledge transfer;promotional activities as well as initiatives aiming at disseminating and transferringresearch results in other countries and international markets.• "Evaluation facilities" through which any research centre in the convergenceregions can obtain an international independent expert evaluation of the level oftheir overall research quality and infrastructures.What's the benefit for industry and SMEs:To fully realise the European Research Area in the enlarged Union, all regions must take partand must be supported if necessary. This strategy directly benefits SMEs and industrialorganisations in the convergence regions.Strong synergies will be sought with the Community regional policy. Actions under this headingwill identify needs and opportunities for reinforcing the research capacities of emerging andexisting centres of excellence in convergence regions which may be met by Structural andCohesion funds.Synergies will also be sought with the Competitiveness and Innovation programme in order topromote the regional commercialisation of research and development in collaboration withindustry