Dissemination and external validation are key to the development of shared indicators.
UNDERSTAND aims at involving a large number of non-partner regions especially in the final validation to assess goodness-for-fit of the toolkit and database, in order to support decisions for future development and project sustainability.

During the first year of Understand Project, joining regions have cooperated with partners in different ways:

• By providing input in the first definition of indicators
• By using the draft Benchmarking Tool-kit to carry out surveys in their own region and compare with UNDERSTAND partner regions
• By providing feedback to improve indicators and methodologies
• By Using the complete Benchmarking tool-kit and uploading data in the on line database to benchmark with other EU regions

The UNDERSTAND Steering Committee decided on March 18th 2005 that joining regions should be treated as full partners. This means that joining regions :

• a) can join the project mailinglist and participate to partners' activities;
• b) have full access to the internal project on-line repository;
• c) will carry out surveys in the chosen domains and publish the results in the on-line database, thereby accessing all other partners data.

To use Understand tools and methodology, please fill in the form for the Memorandum of Cooperation.

For further information contact info@understand-eu.net or the project coordinator cmancini@regione.emilia-romagna.it