Innovation investments 2a

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Interregional Innovation Investments Instrument (I3)

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.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

I3-2021-INV2a

Call

Innovation investments 2a

Summary

The three (3) topics that opened for the submission of proposals, under the present call, are the following:

  • Innovation investments Strand 2a – DIGIT (Digital transition)
  • Innovation investments Strand 2a – GREEN (Green transition)
  • Innovation investments Strand 2a– MANU (Smart Manufacturing)

Detailed Call Description

  • Innovation investments Strand 2a DIGIT (Digital transition) – I3-2021-INV2a-DIGIT. This call for proposals targets investments in businesses and administrations. In order to unlock digital growth potential and deploy innovative solutions (both for businesses and citizens), to improve the accessibility and the efficiency of services and bridge the persisting digital divide, it will support interregional investments projects: a) Digital economy and innovation b) Digitalisation of the public administration c) Digitalisation of healthcare.
  • Innovation investments Strand 2a – GREEN (Green transition) – I3-2021-INV2a-GREEN. This call for proposals targets in turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities is the ambition of the green transition. The European Green Deal has the goal to make Europe a resource-efficient and competitive economy. In this framework, the EU sets its targets to reach climate-neutrality by 2050, therefore this will require substantial investments. I3 intends to support innovative value chain investments, to boost the economy through green technology and to create sustainable industry/transport. It also intends to provide support to interregional investments in sustainable food systems, sustainable agriculture, clean and efficient energy, sustainable industry, building and renovating, sustainable mobility, eliminating pollution and climate action.
  • Innovation investments Strand 2a – MANU (Smart Manufacturing) – I3-2021-INV2a-MANU. This topic focuses on improving the delivery of new or improved products, processes or services in the manufacturing industry. In the context of advanced manufacturing; knowledge and innovative technologies are used to produce complex products and improve processes to lower waste, pollution, material consumption and energy use. Robotics, 3D and 4D printing, artificial intelligence as well as high performance computing for modelling are important elements in advanced manufacturing.

 For more information about each topic please click on the respective ID number or visit the call document. 

Consortium CoordinatorGeographical Consortium CompositionType of Consortium / Partners
The Coordinator must be a non-profit organisation:

  • A public authority or

  • A research body or - A non-profit innovation intermediate organisation (i.e. a cluster organisation, an innovation agency etc.)


And
The Coordinator must be established in a more developed EU region/country.
Minimum 5 entities from 5 different regions in 3 eligible countries.The consortium must involve various components of the quadruple-helix and must always cover both, the demand and supply side, such as (non-exhaustive list):

    Public authorities (national/regional/local)
  • Universities, Research and Technology organisations (RTOs), Innovation agencies

  • Cluster organisations, SMEs, start-ups,

  • Research data alliances (RDA)

  • Any other entity that resembles the nature of the abovementioned entities.


At least 1 partner must be established in a less developed, transition or outermost region/country.

Call Total Budget

€36,005,271 for 2021 and € 32,897,448 for 2022.

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

70%

Project budgets (maximum grant amount) are expected to range between € 2,000,00 and € 3,000,000 per project.

Thematic Categories

  • Other Thematic Category
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Eligibility for Participation

  • Central Government
  • Investment Funds
  • Large Enterprises
  • Local Authorities
  • Private Bodies
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
  • State-owned Enterprises

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 one of the Member States eligible for funding from the 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.

 The consortium must be composed as follows:

  1. Consortium Coordinator: The Coordinator must be a non-profit organisation:
  • A public authority or
  • A research body or
  • A non-profit innovation intermediate organisation (i.e. a cluster organisation, an innovation agency etc.)
  • The Coordinator must be established in a more developed EU region/country

2. Geographical Consortium Composition: Minimum 5 entities from 5 different regions in 3 eligible countries.

3. Type of Consortium / Partners: The consortium must involve various components of the quadruple-helix and must always cover both, the demand and supply side, such as (non-exhaustive list):

  • Public authorities (national/regional/local)
  • Universities, Research and Technology organisations (RTOs), Innovation agencies
  • Cluster organisations, SMEs, start-ups
  • Research data alliances (RDA)
  • Any other entity that resembles the nature of the abovementioned entities. At least 1 partner must be established in a less developed, transition or outermost region/country.

Call Opening Date

23/11/2021

Call Closing Date

01/02/2022

EU Contact Point

For individual questions on the Portal Submission System, please contact the:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/helpdesks/contact-form

Non-IT related questions should be sent 3 working days before the submission deadline to the following email address: EISMEA-I3-INSTRUMENT@ec.europa.eu