Encourage interregional investments in innovation by integrating actors from less developed regions into European value chains while promoting local economic and technological transformation through financial support and specialized advisory services, aiming at the commercialization and scaling of innovations.
Projects must address one of the following three priorities :
- Digital Transition: Boost the digital transformation of businesses and public administrations. Investment areas: business digitalization (AI, cybersecurity), SME adoption of ICT, digital transformation of public services, and digital skills training
- Green Transition: Promote innovation to address climate and environmental challenges and support a sustainable economy. Investment areas: decarbonization, renewable energy, natural resource management, circular economy, sustainable agriculture, and bioeconomy.
- Investment Sub-Projects: Identifying investment-ready sub-projects targeting bottlenecks in value chains.
- Financial Support: Planning and designing new products/processes/services, including demonstration, large-scale product validation, and market replication.
- Prototype Adaptation: Adjusting existing prototypes to meet specific company needs for real-world demonstration.
- Project Portfolio Development: Market-ready projects introducing new technologies or improved processes.
- Connectivity and Testing Facilities Utilization: Activities connecting testing and demonstration facilities to foster the adoption of innovative solutions.
- Innovation Services: Development of investments interconnecting value chains.
- Testing and Complementary Activities: Improving regulations and standards to overcome innovation barriers.
- Market Introduction: Activities claimed at bringing new ideas and standards to overcome innovation barriers.
- Investment Support: Advisory services for the development and implementation of interregional investment plans.
- Support Actions: Networking, testing new approaches for enhanced innovation support, particularly in less development regions.
Eligible Entities : must be a legal entity (public or private)
Eligible Countries : must ne established in an eligible country (EU Member States, including overseas territories, or certain non-EU countries such as EEA countries, those associated with the I3 instrument, or in negotiations for association agreements).
Minimum of 5 independent entities from 3 different regional ecosystems in 3 EU Member States;
The coordinator must be a public body or an entity mandated for innovation or SME investment actions.