These flagship projects need to be brought to life following the positive funding decision from the state. The first concrete projects are to be implemented with the help of regional management, and new project ideas are to be found and developed. The central aim is to further deepen the involvement and participation of economic and social partners and to give citizens the opportunity to play an active role. They should also be involved in shaping the region. They are also important partners in the forward-looking development of the South-East Lower Saxony region.

The Lower Saxony Ministry for Federal and European Affairs and Regional Development (MB) would like to use a new regional policy instrument to ensure attractive living conditions in all parts of Lower Saxony in the long term. It has therefore launched a new instrument to promote and support regional development processes in the 2021 - 2027 funding period: The Zukunftsregionen. The aim is to develop and implement projects to strengthen regions in up to two fields of action. To this end, municipalities that have joined together to form a Zukunftsregion will receive financial support from the ERDF and ESF+ for regional management (up to €300,000 per year - 70% funding). Funding (40% project funding) is available for six years for the implementation of projects.

Zukunftsregionen are selected and recognized in a two-stage procedure. In the first stage, interested regions should express their interest by the end of September 2021. The city of Braunschweig has submitted an expression of interest as the lead municipality for all project partners that have joined together to form the Zukunftsregion SüdOstNiedersachsen.

In the second stage, the regions are to draw up a future concept by 30.06.2022 at the request of the MB. The Zukunftsregion is to be recognized and established in the 3rd quarter of 2022.

In an iterative process involving administrative staff from all partner municipalities as well as economic and social partners, the region's development potential for the three described flagship projects was developed in various workshops. Goals, tasks and initial project ideas were defined for each topic.