Competitiveness is at the heart of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs which was re-launched in 2005.   The European Commission not only wants to improve the competitiveness of individual enterprises but also improve regional competitiveness.

The total budget of the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP)  is €3.62 billion from 2007 to 2013 and it is divided into three:-

-  The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme
-  Information Communication Technologies Policy Support  Programme (ICT PSP)
-  Inteliigent Energy Europe

The Regional Competitivess and Employemnt Objective makes up Objective Two of the current EU Structural Fund programmes in the United Kingdom.  According to the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG), the Programmes aims are to:-

-Promote innovation and knowledge transfer
-Stimulate enterprise and support successful business
-Ensure sustainable development production and consumption
-Build sustainable communities