The Interregional innovation investments initiative as part of the European Regional and Development Fund (ERDF) aims at supporting interregional innovation projects in their commercialisation and scale-up phases giving them the tools to overcome regulatory and other barriers and bring their project to investment level.

The agency will implement two strands of the programme in 2021:

• Financial and advisory support for investments in interregional innovation projects;
• Financial and advisory support to the development of value chains in less developed regions.

The I3 work programme (annex) aims at promoting innovation through Smart Specialisation and interregional collaboration. The I3 supports stronger interregional cooperation in investments and makes sustainable connections by linking regional ecosystems in shared smart specialisation areas vital to accelerate market uptake of research results and stimulate innovation. Therefore its focus is on:

Strand 1 - Financial and advisory support for investments in interregional innovation projects

Strand 1 targets mature partnerships to help them accelerate market uptake and scale-up of innovative solutions in shared smart specialisation priority areas, as well as to develop a portfolio of investment projects.

Strand 2a - Financial and advisory support to the development of value chains in less developed regions

Strand 2a focuses on increasing the capacity of regional innovation ecosystems in less developed regions to participate in global value chains, as well as the capacity to participate in partnerships with other regions.

Budget (both strands)

• 2021: EUR 75 800 571
• 2022: EUR 77  316 583

Deadlines: 

• 22 February
• 20 April (only Strand 2a - check the call corrigendum)
• 18 October 

In order to clarify the conditions for financial support to third parties (FSTP) schemes, the call text has been updated. It ensures that the single co-funding rate for these calls is 70% for all cost categories and all beneficiaries directly implementing the project. This implies that in order to receive the maximum funding amount from FSTP (EUR 60 000), the total cost of the SME investment needs to be higher than the EUR 60 000.

Please consult in the section below "Guidelines for applicants" the FAQ on Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).

General FAQ 

For your kind reference, please do regularly consult the FAQ of the Sedia Funding Tender Portal as well.

FAQ on Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP)

Under I3-2021-INV1-DIGIT/GREEN/MANU and I3-2021-INV2a-DIGIT/GREEN/MANU Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) is allowed. Please see the following explanations on how to fulfil the corresponding call conditions.

For your kind reference, please do regularly consult the FAQ of the Sedia Funding Tender Portal as well.

On 9 December, the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) has organised an online  Info Day to learn more about the funding opportunities under the  Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) Instrument. The video is available below.

The Interregional Innovation Investment Instrument (I3) financed from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF represents an opportunity to support interregional portfolios of companies’ investments bringing innovation to the market at high technology readiness levels (TRL 6-9) and reshaping EU interregional value chains.

It funds interregional innovation investments projects under shared smart specialisation priorities (S3) in the following thematic areas: green transition, digital transition and smart manufacturing which take place in the S3 participating regions. It aims to use the untapped potential of investments in innovation where the public and private sectors, as well as research and business from different countries and regions, can work together.