The priorities of a plan provide a strategic framework of orientation. However, the decisive factor is the manner in which those priorities are specified and translated into particular action and projects. This relationship between priorities and projects is not a linear one; in fact, it is quite possible for different sets of projects to be associated with the same priorities. In this sense, the transition from priorities to projects is a process of evaluation by which specific projects are rejected or accepted. A system of evaluation, according to which a project may or may not be included within a priority, is thus required.

The formulation of a plan thus demands three components: (1) priorities; (2) projects to specify the priorities, and (3) evaluation to select the projects which best express the priorities. In the case of the Regional Technological Plan in Central Macedonia, the priorities resulted from the analysis of the regional innovation system, the projects emerged "from below" (in the form of proposals submitted by political and economic agencies in the Region), and evaluation of the projects was based on the investigation of the technological demand involved in them.

The procedure for assembling the projects which specified the priorities was relatively simple. The political and economic agencies of the area had been informed on the Regional Technological Plan and on its objectives and priorities, they were asked to propose appropriate projects. Each project was supposed to determine a set of services to support the technological and innovative capacity of the Region (e.g. funding of innovation, technology transfer, dissemination of research, etc.) and an implementing agency as well.

Using this method, a large number of proposals were assembled. They were then systematically evaluated and discussed at successive meetings of the Steering Committee. The proposals fell into a large number of categories, and concerned:

• The funding of enterprises for the development of new products and production processes, either from venture capital funds or from European Union resources.
• Pilot applications of technologies so as to foster an understanding of their usefulness and increase business investments in new technology.
• Training in new technologies of business managers and personnel; training of entrepreneurs in managing innovation and investment in SE Europe.
• Technological co-operation among enterprises; setting up of co-operation networks to link the suppliers and users of technology; collaboration between the primary sector and manufacturing; technological co-operation between local and multinational enterprises.
• Establishment of technology transfer agencies, of technological companies in the various industries, of local centres of technological services in the Prefectures of Central Macedonia.
• Co-operation between the research and production; promotion of links between research units and enterprises; dissemination of research results; creation of data bases on matters of innovation and development.
• Attraction of technology-intensive activities to the Region; decentralisation of the productive system through the Prefectures of the Region, with the hosting and housing of high-technology enterprises.
• Reinforcement of the intra-regional supply of technology; exploration of the regional market for technological services and products.

These proposals were evaluated on the criterion of their feasibility and the interest which businesses in Central Macedonia might display in the services which they could offer (see Section 12). The proposals selected are described in the Action Plan.