Call Description:
The I3 Instrument funds interregional innovation investments projects under shared smart specialisation priorities (S3) in the following thematic priorities: green transition, digital transition and smart manufacturing which take place in the S3 participating regions. Thus, the I3 Instrument will help to promote enhanced interregional connections among regional innovation ecosystem players organised around a shared smart specialisation area. It aims to use the untapped potential of investments in innovation where the public and private sectors, as well as research and business from different countries and regions, can work together. In order to accelerate market uptake of research results and stimulation of innovation, it supports companies in scaling up their ideas in the EU single market and address wider European political priorities – in particular the Green Deal and digital transition.

Consequently, the thematic priorities for the duration of the work programme for the call are (1) digital transition, (2) green transition, including climate neutrality, environmental sustainability and circular economy and (3) smart manufacturing. Specific objectives of the call are the creation of structured links between EU quadruple helix stakeholders, helping ecosystems to overcome market failures, supporting companies building interregional innovation investments, accelerating innovation and increasing the capacities of less developed regions to participate in EU value chains contributing to cohesion policy objectives.

Under this call the following strand of the I3 work programme will be implemented in 2023:

Financial and advisory support for investments in interregional innovation projects (strand 2a)
The call targets consortia of independent legal entities covering actors from both the demand and supply side of the quadruple-helix ecosystem, such as (non-exhaustive list):

Public authorities (national/regional/local)
Universities, Research and Technology organisations, Innovation agencies
Cluster organisations, SMEs, start-ups,
Research data alliances (RDA)
Any other entity that resembles the nature of the above mentioned entities.

WWW: https://eismea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/interregional-innovation-investments-i3-instrument_en

Call Opens: 17 May 2023  - Confirmed

Call Closes: 17 October 2023  - Confirmed

ERNACT Contact: Jose Manuel San Emeterio