Upcoming events
#4 Financial support to SMEs in I3 Instrument: practical applicationsDate: 30 April 2025
Time: 14:00-15:30 CETThe Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument, under the European Regional and Development Fund ERDF, supports interregional innovation projects and value chains in their scale-up and commercialization phases.
So far, more than 50 projects have been funded through the I3 instrument, covering both investments in innovation and capacity building. Some of the investment projects are expanding the value chain by including additional SMEs through the mechanism called financial support to third parties (FSTP).
The objective of the webinar is to explain the financial support to third parties’ mechanism in the I3 Instrument, clarify state aid rules related to financial support and showcase good examples of why and how I3 projects included additional SMEs through the financial support to third parties.
Objectives of the Session
- Present the general rules on FSTP application in I3 Projects
- Present the financial support to SMEs, that are not directly included in the project as beneficiaries.
- Better understanding of successful practices, challenges and outcomes in FSTP applications in I3 projects to facilitate the implementation of ongoing and future projects.
- #5 Fostering joint innovation investments across EU regions: public funding for interregional innovation
Date: 7 May 2025
Time: 14:00-15:30 CETJoin our virtual event to explore the range of public funding instruments designed to support interregional innovation collaboration.
Learn how these instruments align with different stages of the innovation journey, from early strategic cooperation to advancing prototypes towards market readiness.
We will provide a comparative overview of initiatives such as Interreg Europe, Interreg macroregional programmes, the I3 Instrument, and Horizon Europe’s European Innovation Ecosystems, highlighting their objectives, thematic focus, and practical application. Participants will also gain insights from real-world examples, including the Innovation Express Call Scheme and the VInnovate Call 2024, and discover practical guidance on navigating available opportunities to drive impactful joint investments across Europe.
Objectives of the Session
- Familiarise participants with various funding sources available for supporting interregional innovation projects.
- Share the experiences of practitioners involved in interregional initiatives focused on joint innovation investments using ERDF funds.
- Showcase novel ERDF-supported instruments, such as the Innovation Express Call 2024 and the VInnovate Call 2024 that promote collaboration across EU regions.
- Explore how practitioners can effectively navigate and leverage these funding opportunities to drive interregional innovation.
Past virtual events
- #1 Financial reporting & communication for I3 Instrument projects
Date: 29 January 2025
Time: 14:00 -15:30 CETThe first I3 Support Facility virtual event focused on financial reporting and communication strategies for I3 Instrument projects.
In the first part of the session, Jana Dobiasova (EISMEA) covered key aspects of financial management, including mid-term reporting, the eligibility of unit travel costs, transferring funds between partners, and the process for revising detailed budget tables.
The second part, led by Communication Advisor at EISMEA Marie Faturová, explored effective communication strategies for I3 projects. She provided insights on increasing project visibility on social media and shared practical tips for improving outreach and engagement.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, giving participants the opportunity to seek clarification on both financial and communication topics. This ensured they left with a clear understanding of how to efficiently manage and promote their projects for maximum impact.
- #2 Quadruple Helix – Key actors and how they operate
Date: 5 March 2025
Time: 14:00-15:30 CETThe second I3SF Virtual Event explored the Quadruple Helix model, focusing on the collaboration between policymakers, industry, academia, and civil society in driving innovation. The session began with an introduction to the I3 Instrument Support Facility, followed by a presentation on the key roles of stakeholders within the Quadruple Helix, delivered by Sander van der Molen (I3 Instrument Support Facility, Civitta), highlighting the challenges and opportunities in these partnerships.
Next, Marko Hren (Slovenia’s Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development) then discussed the role of national and regional authorities in developing regional innovation ecosystems, sharing examples of successful innovation policies that foster Quadruple Helix collaboration.
Following this, Ints Viksna (Project Coordinator of Strand 2b), explored the contributions of technology parks, clusters, and innovation agencies in strengthening regional innovation ecosystems and enhancing the uptake of research.
The event concluded with a discussion on real-world applications and case studies, focusing on successful collaborations within the Quadruple Helix model and the importance of involving all actors to create impactful project proposals.
- #3 From Thematic Platforms to I3 Instrument projects
Date: 31 March 2025
Time: 14:00–15:30 CETThe third I3Support Facility Virtual Event, "From Thematic Platforms to I3 Projects," explored how Thematic Smart Specialisation Partnerships (TSSPs) and I3 projects foster interregional innovation ecosystems.
Maja Ferlinc (EISMEA) opened the event with an introduction to the I3 instrument and Support Facility. Els Van de Velde (S3 CoP Secretariat & IDEA Consult) then presented the Smart Specialisation Community of Practice (S3 CoP) as a hub for guidance, networking, and peer learning, highlighting support for TSSPs.
René Wijlens (I3 Project Inshape, Sport & Vitality TSSP) discussed how TSSPs can leverage I3 projects to strengthen interregional innovation. Jasmina Solecka (I3 Project Value4Pack, Food Packaging TSSP) examined how I3 projects help establish sustainable partnerships and long-term collaboration.
The event concluded with an interactive discussion on challenges, financing models, and opportunities for TSSPs to expand interregional networks through I3 projects