To implement urban renewal and urban developmentinitiatives, within the framework of initiatives for deprivedareas, small and medium-sized enterprises and theappropriate investors are needed. These developmentdrivers need to study and improve different approachesto urban renewal and development.A seminar was held in Rostock to launch the study, in June2007 and another seminar, on the theme: public procurementcontracts, a strategic driving force for economic developmentin the regions, was held in Lyon on 5-6 September 2007.The objectives were as follows: to establish consensusbetween public procurement professionals, to demonstratethe role played by public procurement services in regionaleconomic development and suggest possible improvementsfor each city.The seminar was organised into 6 workshops:>Inventory of public procurement in the public authoritiesobserved>What resources are available to improve access to publiccontracts by very small, small and medium-sized companies?>Examples of public contracts dealt with by vSMEs>What does making public procurement moreprofessional mean?>What stakes are involved and what added value can begenerated by making public procurement moreprofessional?>What would the ideal organisation be for regional publicprocurement services? Achievements: Please refer to the 'Description' field, which also includes the achievements of this project.