Between February 2009 and December 2011 the Centre for Cross Border Studies will undertake five major new research, development, training and information projects funded by the EU cross-border programme INTERREG IVA. These have been packaged under the collective title: the Ireland-Northern Ireland Cross-Border Cooperation Observatory (INICCO).

The aim of this package of four closely inter-related research projects is to find ways of understanding and increasing the accessibility, size, transparency, competitiveness and profitability of Irish border region markets in a context where peace and normality have finally arrived in Northern Ireland and the Southern Border Region. The added element of an international economic recession has been added since the application was first written in 2007. This overall project - in which the Centre will be partnered by InterTradeIreland - will begin in autumn 2009. Tenders for research applications will be issued in early summer 2009.