Past virtual events
#1 Financial reporting & communication for I3 Instrument projectsDate: 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
- #4 Financial support to SMEs in I3 Instrument: practical applications
Date: 30 April 2025
Time: 14:00-15:30 CETThe fourth I3 Support Facility virtual event focused on the practical application of financial support to SMEs through the “financial support to third parties” (FSTP) mechanism within I3 Instrument projects.
The session began with a presentation from EISMEA representatives Milena Stoyanova and Valentina Pinna, who explained the rationale, rules, and expected outcomes of applying FSTP in I3 projects. They clarified the key elements of the mechanism and addressed common concerns related to its implementation, particularly in the context of state aid compliance.
The second part of the event showcased practical examples from ongoing I3 projects. Speakers from INSHAPE (ACCIO), DEREMco (Meta Group), and I4GREEN (ICAMCYL Foundation) shared their experiences with FSTP in their respective initiatives. These real-life cases illustrated how the mechanism can successfully integrate additional SMEs into interregional innovation value chains, highlighting both achievements and challenges.
An interactive discussion, moderated by Roberta Dall’Olio (I3 Support Facility), allowed participants to delve deeper into the practical barriers and opportunities presented by FSTP. The exchange provided valuable insights into how FSTP can strengthen cooperation and innovation capacity across regions.
- #5 Fostering joint innovation investments across EU regions: public funding for interregional innovation
Date: 7 May 2025
Time: 14:00-15:30 CETThe fifth I3 Support Facility virtual event explored the wide range of public funding instruments available to support interregional innovation collaboration across the EU. The session opened with a welcome and introduction by Isabel Schöfl (Prognos AG), followed by an update on the I3 Instrument in 2025, presented by a speaker from EISMEA. These opening remarks set the stage for understanding how different funding mechanisms can contribute to innovation ecosystems at various stages—from early strategic cooperation to advancing prototypes towards market readiness.
The central presentation, delivered by Dr. Jan-Philipp Kramer (Prognos AG), offered a comparative overview of funding initiatives such as Interreg Europe, Interreg macroregional programmes, the I3 Instrument, and Horizon Europe’s European Innovation Ecosystems. He highlighted their thematic focus, practical applications, and how they align with different phases of the innovation journey, equipping participants with a strategic framework for engaging with public funding at interregional level.
The event then featured practitioner insights, beginning with Iris Reingruber (Business Upper Austria) who introduced the Innovation Express Call Scheme 2024, followed by Ricardo Simões (Head of the Innovation Unit, Norte Region) presenting the VInnovate Call 2024. These examples demonstrated how regional actors are already leveraging ERDF-supported instruments to foster joint innovation investments, offering practical lessons on both opportunities and implementation.
An interactive discussion, again moderated by Isabel Schöfl, invited participants to engage directly with the speakers, exploring real-life challenges and successful strategies in navigating EU funding instruments.
- #6 Building Interregional Corridors
Date: 21 May 2025
Time: 14:00-15:30 CETThe sixth I3 Support Facility virtual event focused on introducing practical frameworks and tested methodologies for establishing long-term, structural interregional innovation collaboration beyond the typical project lifecycle. The session centred around the emerging concept of “interregional corridors”—a strategic and structured approach to building sustainable partnerships between European regions.
The event opened with welcoming remarks and context-setting by Justina Ivanova (I3 Support Facility), followed by a keynote from Maurits Butter (TNO), who explained the strategic importance of EU interregional collaboration and the core aims of the corridor concept. He then presented the Interregional Innovation Corridors framework, detailing its key elements such as shared vision, robust governance, and sustainability mechanisms, supported by a clear visual structure to guide implementation.
Participants engaged in a guided reflection and practical exercise, led by Maurits Butter, using interactive tools such as Mentimeter to explore their own regions’ collaboration needs and the potential roles they could play in an interregional corridor. This segment enabled attendees to link theoretical concepts with real-world priorities in their innovation ecosystems.
A case study presentation by Charlotte Edzard (DHM) followed, showcasing how corridor-building is being implemented in practice, including lessons learned and challenges encountered during the process. The session continued with an overview of corridor support tools and services, presented again by Maurits Butter, highlighting actionable resources and guidance available to help regions establish more continuous and strategic cooperation pathways.
- #7 How to build a successful I3 proposal?
Date: 19 June 2025
Time: 14:00 -15:30 CETThe seventh I3 Support Facility virtual event focused on guiding future applicantsthrough the key elements of preparing a successful proposal under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument. With the recent launch of the 2025 calls for Strands 1 and 2a, the session providedtimely and practical insightsinto how to navigate the application process, form strong partnerships, and align project ideas with I3’s strategic objectives.
The event opened with welcoming remarks from Justina Ivanova (I3 Support Facility), who introduced the objectives of the virtual event and the support activities offered through the I3 Support Facility. Reesi Lepa (Civitta) then delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining the rationale, structure, and scope of the I3 Instrument, comparing it to other EU funding mechanisms (e.g. Horizon Europe, Interreg) and highlighting what makes I3 unique.
The virtual event continued with an interactive discussion featuring two I3 project representatives: Loora Salurand (Digilung) and Diana Vertelkienė (IRHIS), moderated by Reesi Lepa. Drawing from real-life experiences, they shared practical advice on consortium building, project development, and proposal preparation, offering valuable lessons on what to consider at different stages of the application process.
Anita Tregner, an experienced I3 evaluator, then provided an insider’s view of how proposals are assessed. She shared concrete examples of what evaluators look for-clarity, strategic alignment, well-definedroles, impact pathways-and offered tips for avoiding common pitfalls.
- #8 The Role of Clusters and Networks in Interregional Innovation Investments
Date: 25 June 2025
Time: 14:00-15:30 CETThe eighth I3 Support Facility virtual event explored the strategic role of clusters and networks in advancing interregional innovation investments. With clusters involved in nearly 70% of I3-funded projects to date, the session examined how these organisations contribute to building interregional value chains, mobilising key innovation actors, and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
The event opened with welcoming remarks and audience interaction via Slido by Antonio Novo (European Clusters Alliance), who introduced the session's objectives and invited participants to reflect on their knowledge of clusters' roles within the I3 framework.
Three case studies showcased how clusters are actively engaged in I3 projects across different sectors and regions:
- Veerle De Graef (Flanders’ Food, Belgium) presented the cluster’s coordination and participation in projects such as HIGHFIVE, Biotech4Food, and Value4Pack, illustrating how the food processing sector is advancing green and digital transformation through interregional cooperation.
- Santiago Cuesta (Iberian Sustainable Mining Cluster, Spain) shared experiences from BATMASS and I4-GREEN, highlighting how clusters support circularity and raw materials resilience in the mining sector.
- Patrick Vuillermoz (Polymeris, France) discussed the cluster’s involvement in INCIRCULAR and Value4Pack, reflecting on the synergies between plastics, packaging, and circular economy goals in interregional projects.
Each case study underlined the different roles clusters can play - as coordinators, partners, or facilitators - and the added value they bring in terms of ecosystem mobilisation, industrial engagement, and regional impact.
The event concluded with a moderated discussion featuring all speakers and representatives from their respective regional authorities. The discussion focused on how to enhance cluster participation in the I3 Instrument moving forward, including challenges, success factors, and practical recommendations for both clusters and public authorities.
- #9 Access to finance and investors
Date: 16 July 2025
Time: 14:00-15:30 CETThe ninth I3 Support Facility virtual event addressed one of the most pressing challenges in innovation project implementation: connecting publicly funded initiatives with private capital. Focusing on access to finance and early-stage investor engagement, the session provided strategic guidance for I3 beneficiaries aiming to scale their solutions beyond the project phase.
Sander van der Molen (Civitta) opened the virtual event with welcoming remarks and an overview of the funding landscape relevant to I3 project teams, including typical financing channels, types of investors, and how to integrate investment logic into project planning. He also introduced tools and approaches to help consortia better align with market uptake requirements. A short interactive Slido poll followed, collecting insights on participants’ prior investment engagement and expectations.
The virtual event then welcomed two early-stage deep-tech investors from different European regions, each offering unique insights into how innovation projects can align better with private finance:
Riivo Anton (Specialist VC, Estonia) shared his perspective on what makes publicly funded innovations attractive to venture capitalists, emphasising the importance of clear business models, compelling market potential, and strong leadership.
Jens Kristian Damsgaard (Science Ventures A/S, Denmark) spoke about the challenges and opportunities in financing science-based ventures, highlighting the need for scalability, timing, and team dynamics.
The virtual event’s second half featured a moderated discussion and open Q&A, where the audience engaged directly with the investors. The exchange addressed topics such as how to pitch I3 outcomes to private funders, how to involve investors from the proposal stage, and how to build trust and traction throughout the project lifecycle.