A high-performance Highlands and Islands economy hinges on carving out global markets and relationships. That means internationalising our perspectives and multiplying the number and range of international business activities. These include exporting of products and services, through research, development and commercialisation, to joint-venturing, licensing, and co-operative manufacturing.

People, businesses and capital are increasingly mobile, influenced by factors including earnings, lifestyle, skills or communications standards. Modern amenities, from visitor attractions to business premises, and high living standards must complement distinctive natural and built environments.

Eliminating economic and social remoteness requires intelligent solutions to geographic and market-failure challenges. Our population is widely scattered and short of scale-economies to acquire higher bandwidth telecoms, capital-intensive infrastructure and efficient transport networks. EU funding has made a vital contribution to development and we will continue to make effective use of HISTP funding, as well as pressing the case for further Structural Funds post-2006.

Localised losses need to be addressed as part of that overall growth, including age-balance and skills availability. Challenges include increasing the range and accessibility of high-quality employment, educational and social amenities.

The HIE network can help your business or organisation face up to many of these challenges. Use the links here to find out how.