Interregional Innovation Investments Instrument Open Calls 2023

Introduction

I3 Instrument’s Strand 1 and Strand 2a open calls were launched on 17 May 2023 and remained open until 17 October 2023. These calls were introduced as part of the Regional Innovation Valleys Initiative and are designed to complement the Horizon Europe call on European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE).

An additional I3 Instrument Strand 2b call for financial and advisory support in capacity building was published in the EC Funding & Tender Portal in November 2023 and remains open. The first cut-off date of the call was on 15 February 2024, and the second cut-off date will be on the 14 November 2024. Each cut-off has a budget of EUR 13 million.

Funding targets consortia of innovation actors from regions with different levels of development and innovation performance and with shared or complementary smart specialisation areas. These interregional investments can consist of a portfolio of coordinated and interlinked investments within the participating regions.

Strand 1 focused on supporting interregional innovation investments to strengthen, connect, or expand existing value chains while creating local innovation and smart economic transformation opportunities.

Strand 2a focused on supporting interregional innovation investments as described above but in particular aiming instead at developing value chains in less developed regions and reinforcing the integration of innovation actors in EU value chains.

Applications had to address one of the following thematic priorities:

• Digital transition
• Green transition
• Smart manufacturing

With a view to stimulating innovation and in turn opportunities for high skills jobs, the situation of regions facing difficulties in retaining and attracting talent were duly taken into account.

The remaining Strand 2b focuses on capacity building. This call aims to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems in less-developed regions and build their capacity to develop business cases for interregional innovation projects. The call also focuses on improving the capacity of public authorities and innovation intermediaries to support companies in identifying investment portfolios at an interregional scale.

For further information, you can consult the documents below:

• Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2b call document
• Endorsement letter
• Presentation and recording of the Call "Strand 2b Capacity Building in Less Developed Regions" - Informative session - 23 November 2023

How to apply

Consortia can apply for the I3 calls published via the EC Funding & Tender Portal.

Apply here to the I3 Instrument Strand 2b call.

Find more information about the application to Strand 2b here: Informative session call for proposals May 2023.

Who can express interest?

I3 Instrument Calls are targeting consortia of innovation actors from the quadruple helix ecosystems (companies, SMEs, academia, public authority, civil society).

Consortium compositions vary between strands and must include stakeholders from a minimum number of EU regions and Member states, with a strong emphasis on interregional cooperation. Consortium coordinators must be non-profit entities. More detailed information can be found in both call texts.

What support will be provided

The objective of the I3 Instrument is to support interregional innovation investments by offering consortia the necessary financial and advisory support to bring their innovations to a mature level, ready for commercialisation and scale-up, while bridging and reducing the innovation divide in Europe.

For Strand 1 and Strand 2a calls an equal budget was allocated for a total of 67 Million EUR. Projects costs are reimbursed at the following funding rates:

• 100% for the costs of providing financial support to third parties
• 70% for all other cost categories

For both strands, projects durations can vary from 18 to 36 months and the EU contribution can be 2-10 Million EUR.

For Strand 2b, a budget of 26 million EUR has been allocated, with 13 million for each cut-off date.

Selection/Timeline

For both Strand 1 and 2a calls for proposals, the timeline foreseen is:

1. 17 May 2023

   Call opening
2. 17 October 2023 at 17:00 CET (Brussels)

   Deadline for submission
3. October 2023 – February 2024

   Evaluation
4. March 2024

   Information on evaluation results
5. June 2024

   Grant Agreement signature

Contact

Links to pages on DGs website and email address where questions can be asked.

I3 Instrument calls are managed by EISMEA (European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency).

For help related to these calls, please contact: EISMEA-I3-INSTRUMENT@ec.europa.eu.

Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – Submission of proposals.