Call I3-2026-CAP2b – Capacity Building Strand 2b (Interregional Innovation Investments Instrument – I3)

BENEFICIARY ENTITIES

• Consortia composed of at least two independent legal entities from two eligible countries, representing at least one less developed region and one more developed region.

• The coordinator must be based in a less developed or outermost region and be one of the following:

  • Public body;

  • Non-profit organisation;

  • Entity mandated by a national or regional government to implement innovation/investment actions for SMEs;

  • Or eligible European/international organisation.

• Consortia must include actors from the quadruple helix (public administration, businesses, academia, and civil society) and innovation intermediaries (clusters, development agencies, etc.).

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA

• EU Member States (including outermost regions) and countries associated with the I3 Instrument.

ELIGIBLE ACTIONS
Interregional capacity-building actions focused on regional ecosystems, SMEs, and smart specialisation:

• Ecosystem building and connection: mobilisation of innovation intermediaries, creation of resilient networks, and development of innovation and SME internationalisation support policies.

• Investment project identification: definition of interregional value chains, feasibility studies, financing analysis, and technical/legal support.

• Support actions: regional performance mapping and benchmarking, skills gap identification, promotion of business missions, staff exchanges, ecosystem “twinning,” and capacity building in innovation management.

• Cross-cutting activities: dissemination and exploitation plans, linkage to programmes such as ERDF, Interreg Europe, Horizon Europe, Enterprise Europe Network, and S3 platforms.

MINIMUM MATURITY REQUIREMENTS

• Complete technical and financial plan aligned with the regional S3.

• Endorsement letter from the competent S3 authority of each partner.

• Proven previous experience of partners in territorial innovation projects.

• Effective involvement of SMEs and local actors in implementation.

SPECIFIC CONDITIONS

• Project duration: between 18 and 24 months.

• Must include at least one “core action” and may add complementary support actions.

• Must integrate gender equality and talent retention dimensions.

• Projects involving outermost regions or regions facing specific challenges (industrial transition, demographics, climate, etc.) are encouraged.

• Evaluation criteria: Relevance, Quality, Cost Efficiency, and Impact (minimum total score: 17.5/25).

ELIGIBLE COSTS

• Personnel (employees, contractors, secondees, and SME entrepreneurs).

• Subcontracting and procurement of goods, services, and equipment (depreciation applicable).

• Travel and accommodation (unit costs).

• Indirect costs: flat rate of 7% on eligible direct costs.

• Non-deductible VAT is eligible.

• In-kind contributions are permitted but cost-neutral.

• Financial support to third parties and pure scientific research funding are not allowed.

• Non-eligible costs include activities outside ERDF scope, infrastructure maintenance, unsubstantiated expenses, and creation of project-specific websites.

ELIGIBILITY PERIOD

• Eligible expenses start from the project’s official start date (after application submission) until the end date set in the grant agreement.

IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD

• Between 18 and 24 months, extendable upon justification and EISMEA’s approval.

SUPPORT

• Fund: ERDF.

• Co-financing rate: 100% of eligible costs.

• Grant type: based on actual costs, unit costs, and flat rates.

• Initial pre-financing: up to 70% of the approved amount (subject to financial assessment).

CALL BUDGET

• €9,800,000, with grants expected to range between €500,000 and €1,500,000 per project.