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
This call for proposals is for Strand 2a and focuses on reinforcing the integration of innovation actors from less developed regions and transition regions in developing EU value chains while creating local opportunities for innovation and smart economic transformation in regions with shared (or complementary) smart specialisation areas.
Detailed Call Description
The objective of the present I3 Instrument Strand 2a call for proposals is to support interregional innovation investments by offering consortia of innovation actors from the quadruple helix ecosystems the necessary financial and advisory support to bring their innovations to a more mature level, ready for scale-up and commercialisation. The call specifically aims at reducing the innovation divide in Europe, with a strong cohesion policy focus on integrating less developed and transition regions into European value chains.
Thereby, applications under this call seek to facilitate:
- the support of innovation actors with investment ideas that are ready to be developed into mature business cases;
- the identification of new regional technological domains and market opportunities with the EU priorities and bridging the gap between the supply and demand sides to help innovation ecosystems overcome market failures;
- the creation of new value chains in less developed regions and the integration into interregional and cross-border value chains with more developed regions;
- the application and the deployment of innovative technologies and solutions in less developed regions;
- the interaction and collaboration of SMEs from less developed regions in interregional/multi-national value chains and with innovation actors form more developed regions.
The focus is on technology transfer and highly specialised advisory support for the implementation of experiments and demonstration cases in companies. The support to be provided shall be (a) financial support, through direct funding to consortium beneficiaries or through cascade funding/financial support to third parties (FSTP), and (b) non-financial support, such as coaching, mentoring, or matchmaking activities.
I3 Instrument business investment cases start with a minimum TRL 6 and have the ambition to facilitate demonstration and to accelerate market uptake and commercialisation. The development of the business and investment cases is facilitated by the regional innovation ecosystems with companies in the lead.
Proposals must address one of the following thematic priorities:
- Digital transition
- Green transition
- Smart manufacturing
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The costs will be reimbursed at the funding rates fixed in the Grant Agreement (100% for the costs of providing financial support to third parties and 70% for all other cost categories).
Project budgets (maximum grant amount) are expected to range between €2.000.000 and €10.000.000 per project.
Thematic Categories
- Environment and Climate Change
- Industry
- Information Technology
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- International Organisations
- Investment Funds
- Legal Entities
- Local Authorities
- Non Profit Organisations
- 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 EU Member States eligible or listed EEA countries and countries associated to the I3 Instrument (list of participating countries).
Consortium composition – Proposals must be submitted by a consortium composed of:
- minimum 3 independent entities from 3 different regions in 2 eligible countries.
The consortium must have at least one entity established in a more developed region.
The coordinator must be a:
- Public body or
- Non-for-profit organisation or
- Entity entrusted by national or regional governments to develop or implement innovation and investment actions for SMEs (i.e. cluster organisations, public-private partnerships, development agencies, innovation agencies, etc.).
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
EU Contact Point
Questions should be sent to the following email address: EISMEA-I3-INSTRUMENT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu