Funding available for interregional innovation projects
Two EU calls under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) instrument seek to fund projects to scale up their solutions and integrate innovation actors into EU value chains. Regional authorities, SMEs, clusters, innovation agencies, research organisations, and universities are invited to apply by 13 November 2025.
© European Union, 2025
The calls, managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) in cooperation with DG REGIO, will allocate EUR 47 million under two strands:
- Strand 1: supports consortia of innovation actors from regions with shared or complementary smart specialisation priorities, which are ready to make investments in interregional innovation projects and scale up or commercialise their solutions.
- Strand 2a: aims to better integrate innovation actors from less developed regions into EU value chains, contributing to a more cohesive and balanced innovation landscape.
Proposals are expected to support the market uptake of innovative solutions and demonstrate strong interregional cooperation.
Access the I3 Instrument Support Facility for guidance on building consortia, sharing knowledge, and aligning with EU and regional priorities.
Look out for the Strand 2b call on capacity building, expected in October 2025.
The I3 instrument contributes to the European Commission’s Talent Booster Mechanism, helping regions retain and attract skilled professionals, by fostering regional innovation ecosystems.