The Interregional innovation investments instrument 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 call strands:

• 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 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

Ongoing calls

December 2022

In the framework of the I3 Instrument, a new “Capacity Building - Strand 2b” call was published in December 2022 with deadline 16 March 2023.

The objective of the call is to test new approaches in order to increase the capacity of regional innovation ecosystems in less developed regions participating in EU value chains. Actions under this call shall facilitate the cooperation between regions which want to develop and increase their capacity to participate in the Interregional Innovation Investments prorgramme, e.g. for the submission of proposals under the I3 Instrument Strands 1 and 2a calls.

Apply

Calls in preparation

Work programme 2023 - 2024

The I3 work programme for 2023 - 2024 is currently under preparation.

It is expected that new calls under different strands will be published in 2023.

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.

Information day 23 June 2022

On 23 June 2022, a second Info Day  about the funding opportunities under the  Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) Instrument call (deadline 18 October 2022) was held. Did you miss it?  No problem - the recording and the presentation are available now.

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.