The Regional Offensive Strategies is a collaborative development project between ministries and municipalities in Iceland. The purpose of the project is to shift power and responsibility to individual regions in terms of project prioritization and administration of state funds that are not legally bound to be allocated by other institutions or organizations. The aim is to improve the utilization of public funds and shift decision making closer to locals.
The aim of the Regional Offensive Strategies is to ensure that capital allocated to projects in particular regions in the employment, development and cultural sectors are based on regional emphases and goals. The goal is to support positive community development, strengthen cultural foundations and increase individual regions' abilities to be competitive, as well as strengthening the nation's competitiveness overall. Equally it aims to simplify the communication of the Icelandic State and its municipalities as well as ensuring transparency in financial allocations and the general administration of public funds.
Structural Funds are part of the Offensive Strategies. These are intended to provide regional support for projects involving culture or innovation. The office of the Regional Offensive Strategy manages the Funds, with a special committee in every region choosing the assignments that receive funding based on a professional evaluation. Priority projects are contractual and temporary and have a direct implication to the relevant region's strategy. They can, among other things, be consultancy or campaign projects in the fields of innovation, culture and marketing.
The project increases effectiveness in the distribution of public funds in all regions of the country. Through the fund, numerous opportunities are created for cultural professionals and innovators. Projects can prove incredibly beneficial to regions, both by the individual support provided, as well as overarching economic and cultural gains, both locally and nationally.
8,648,213 USD was allocated cumulatively from the State Treasury to the Regional Development Plan and Regional Offensive Strategies in 2019 (1,181 million ISK).