Objective(s) and scope
Strand 2a 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. The objective 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.
The focus is on technology transfer and highly specialised advisory support for the implementation of experiments and demonstration cases in companies.
The call expects contribution to the creation of new value chains in less developed regions (LDRs), contribution to the twin transition and to the efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness of the EU manufacturing sector. Further a reduction of the innovation divide and reduction of disparities between more developed (MDR) and LDR is expected.
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 and transition 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 and transition regions;
- the interaction and collaboration of SMEs from less developed and transition regions in interregional/multi-national value chains and with innovation actors form more developed regions.
Financing value
Fixed amount per project is between EUR 2 million and EUR 10 million. Total amount available under this programme is EUR 24 million.
Low capital (EUR 0-5 million)
Mid capital (EUR 5-50 million)
Eligibility criteria (if available)
One of the thematic priorities:
- Digital transition
- Green transition
- Smart manufacturing Energy
Conditions:
- Be legal entities
- Be established in one of the participating countries
- Minimum TRL of 6
- 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:
- Public body
- Non-for-profit organisation
- Entity entrusted by national or regional governments to develop or implement innovation and investment actions for SMEs26 (i.e. cluster organisations, public-private partnerships, development agencies, innovation agencies, etc.)
- Proposals must relate to activities taking place in the eligible countries (see above) and regions covered by the consortium.
Technology readiness level (TRL)
Medium TRLs (i.e. 5-7): Prototype validation
High TRLs (i.e. 8-9): Market readiness
Additional information
Information on activities that can be funded is included in section 2:
ERDF Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instruments (Strand 2a) – call document
