Public organisations, for example, can be local or regional authorities, universities or chambers of commerce. If interested in one of the four topics (see above), they must identify other organisations in other countries in the NPA area who are also interested. The common solutions must be international in character, tangible and measurable. They could relate to:
1) Working together to produce a new product or service that has an international character
2) Facilitating the transfer of economic development solutions, and their practical application, from one country or region to another
3) Working together to develop new or innovative economic development solutions that can be applied in practice in more than one country/region
4) Exchange of ideas, experience and good practice that improves the stock of organisational knowledge.
Groups of around 6 organisations from different NPA countries that have identified sufficient common interest around a particular solution can then develop a "proposal".
A proposal is a commitment by the interested organisations to work together for around 3 years to develop and implement the common solution. The project's workplan is quite intensive requiring substantial input in time and working with the other organisations in the project.
The proposal can be submitted to the NPA Programme for funding. Submission occurs as a result of open public "calls for proposals" by NPA programme management. Organisations in successfully approved proposals can receive upto 65% of their cost of participation.