The International Lake Constance Conference (ILCC) is a cooperative amalgamation of the states and cantons bordering Lake Constance and connected with it: Baden-Wuerttemberg, Schaffhausen, Zurich, Thurgau, St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, the principality of Liechtenstein, Vorarlberg and Bavaria. ILCC has set the objective of maintaining and promoting Lake Constance as an attractive area for living, countryside, culture and the economy, and for strengthening regional solidarity. ILCC is making a sustainable contribution to overcoming the borders in the region through political coordination and joint projects. The border area at Lake Constance and the Rhine requires efficient governance structures so that it can realise its potential over the long term. Platforms have to be created for this in order to coordinate strategies for territorial development cross-border. Coordination and support structures are also required for the partnership and for the implementation of joint measures. In the SWOT analysis for the Alpine Rhine - Lake Constance - High Rhine partnership programme, it was identified that there is already a well developed network for institutional cooperation, from the administrations in particular, but also via universities and associations. However, it is apparent in the cross-border partnership structure that there is a need for action, for example, with regard to the cross-border reconciliation of interests, where there is a considerable lack of institutionalised cooperation at the small regional level, and in the sense that cross-border cooperation is often not particularly transparent and does not engender very high acceptance in many cases. The SWOT analysis also records the risk of increasing strain in partnership relationships, for example, due to area conflicts, higher-level political issues, or the insufficient inclusion of civil society. There is also the chance that knowledge that is customised to the requirements of the border region can be generated and made available here. ILCC is pursuing the following objectives through the project: • Extension of skills within the ILCC through interdisciplinary exchange, projects and the optimised provision of information on the ILCC website • Further development of existing capacities in public administration for better handling of joint challenges and new tasks • Supporting the development of common objectives and strategies in the border area as well as their realisation in model projects • Strengthening contacts between neighbours at the level of civil society • Increasing transparency and the acceptance of partnership structures through notification to the public of existing partnerships in ILCC with other parties, for example the network agencies in the towns, economic and social partners and environmental associations • Improved external presentation of the activities or cross-border governance structures • Increased public participation in future projects to intensify the dialogue with civic players in the Lake Constance region The following activities are planned as part of the project: • Further development and further operation of the ILCC office according to the agreement regarding the ILCC office (ILCC heads of government conference resolution of 12/12/2014) • Restructuring of the consultation and service capabilities for the cross-border partnership, e.g. information services, general funding advice, the small project fund and notification of cooperation partnerships • Organisation, execution and support of platforms for networking parties on matters that are relevant cross-border from the fields of activity of the ILCC mission statement https://www.bodenseekonferenz.org/leitbild , and the topics with increased requirement for action from the Interreg V ABH SWOT analysis • Preparation and notification of information regarding cross-border challenges and activities in this respect (e.g. reports, statistics and maps) • Involvement in processes and projects to raise awareness of the border region, and for developing the model and intensifying the dialogue with civic players in the Lake Constance region • Further development of public relations and targeted communication by ILCC, including the instruments required for this