Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The programme provides financial and advisory support in form of grants to mature joint innovation projects in shared smart specialisation areas structured in value-chain investment portfolios.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
General objective
The overall objective of the I3 Strand 2b is to build capacity in less developed regions to develop and strengthen their regional innovation ecosystems and value chains through coordinated and interlinked investments in several regions.
This call for proposals aims to improve the capacity of public authorities and innovation intermediaries (e.g. clusters to support companies in the identification of investment portfolios at an interregional scale
The purpose of this activity is to build capacities for a successful participation in Strand 1 or Strand 2a calls, enhancing interregional cooperation with a view to identifying and sharing good practices, deriving actionable policy recommendations, strengthening institutional capacities, and experimenting new approaches. This will also help public authorities and agencies to design evidence-based and targeted policy interventions in the long-term, including updates to regional Smart Specialisation Strategies and related innovation policy frameworks.
Detailed Call Description
Proposals submitted under this call for proposals shall:
- Help create connected and well-performing regional innovation ecosystems, establishing the right framework conditions for interregional cooperation. This improved connectivity should support regions in aligning their innovation capacities and governance models to enable joint interregional innovation activities.
- Contribute to the preparation of interregional innovation projects in shared smart specialisation areas. Proposals should lay the groundwork for future cooperation, in particular under Strand 2a, by focusing on areas of common interest and complementary strengths.
- Facilitate the validation process of investment ideas through improved knowledge and practical skills in business and investment planning. This should include building concrete capacities by working with companies, in particular SMEs, in a specific value chain and defining a clear path towards developing I3 application(s).
- Identify and address gaps and business opportunities that may hinder or enable the reinforcement of existing value chains or the creation of new ones. A clear link to smart specialisation priorities and value chain positioning is expected.
- Experiment “out-of-the-box” approaches to deliver validated solutions and tested models that can increase the capacity of regional actors to engage effectively in interregional innovation processes.
- Ensure that the knowledge and capabilities gained during the project can be replicated, adapted, and embedded in the regional ecosystem. This should contribute to long-term institutional learning, inform updates to Smart Specialisation Strategies, and support policy and ecosystem development beyond the project’s lifetime.
- Ensure the active involvement of companies and civil society, alongside public administrations, academia, and other quadruple-helix stakeholders.
Eligible activities include coordination and support actions targeting regional actors – such as small and medium-sized enterprises, research infrastructures, clusters, innovation agencies, ERDF managing authorities, and other organisations active in business development, territorial cooperation, or innovation. These activities aim at strengthening regional innovation ecosystems and improving the ability to identify relevant investment portfolios for future applications under the I3 Instrument (Strands 1 and 2a) or other EU funding schemes. To promote a balanced approach and ensure a broader impact, proposals must include at least one core action and may be complemented by support actions. There is no obligation to cover all actions listed below, as these are indicative groupings to help structure the scope of activities.
For more information about the scope of the activities to be funded, we advise you to visit the call document, pages 8-11 (the link can be found under the “Further information” section in the present email).
The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) will organise an Online info session on 3 December 2025, 10h00 (Brussels time) to explain the funding opportunity and the application process. More information’s here.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
100%
The total available call budget is €9.800.000. Project budgets (maximum grant amount) are expected to range between €500.000 and €.1.500 000 per project, but this does not preclude the submission/selection of proposals requesting other amounts, if duly justified in the proposal. The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.
Projects are expected to range between 18 and 24 months. Proposals with a different duration can be considered. Extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment of the grant agreement.
Thematic Categories
- Industry
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
Eligibility for Participation
- Central Government
- Educational Institutions
- International Organisations
- Investment Funds
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Eligibility For Participation Notes
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must be legal entities (public or private bodies), established in EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)) eligible or listed EEA countries and countries associated to the I3 Instrument or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature (list of participating countries).
Consortium composition
Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities), which complies with the following conditions:
- minimum 2 independent legal entities representing two regional ecosystems from two different eligible countries,
- representing at least 1 “less developed region” and 1 “more developed region” of an EU Member State,
- include quadruple-helix innovation actors such as public administrations, research and academia, industry, and end users,
- include innovation intermediaries with an umbrella role (e.g. clusters representing companies, universities, RTOs) to maximise the representation of quadruple helix stakeholders from less developed regions,
- the coordinator must be established in an EU Member State from a “less developed region” or “outermost region” and either be a public body, or a non-profit organisation, or entity entrusted by a national or regional government to develop or implement innovation and investment actions for SMEs (i.e. cluster organisations, public private partnerships, development agencies, innovation agencies etc.), or a Member State Organisation acting under indirect management, or European association or international organisation.