I3-2026-INV1 - Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 1

I3-2026-INV1 Strand 1 is an EU ERDF call financing interregional projects to advance mature innovations from TRL 6 towards market deployment (TRL 9) in the thematic priorities of digital transition, green transition and smart manufacturing. The total call budget is €28.2 million, with individual grants typically between €2–€10 millionand an indicative EU co-financing rate of about 70% (with specific rules for financial support to third parties). Eligible applicants are consortia of quadruple-helix actors (companies, notably SMEs, research organisations, intermediaries and public authorities) from multiple EU regions that demonstrate Smart Specialisation (S3) alignment and geographic spread. The call is a single-stage electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal closing on 12 November 2026 at 17:00 CET and requires demonstrators, investment-ready business cases and action-oriented policy recommendations.

What it funds

Scope and objectives

Grants to support interregional investment portfolios that accelerate deployment, demonstration, replication and commercialisation of mature innovations (minimum TRL 6, aim TRL 9) across regions with shared or complementary Smart Specialisation priorities. Projects must address one or more thematic priorities: digital transition, green transition and/or smart manufacturing, and produce investment-ready business cases, follow-on investment pathways and policy recommendations.

Forms of support:Direct financial support to beneficiaries and/or cascade funding to third parties (FSTP) and non-financial advisory services (business and investment planning, IPR, certification, testing/demonstration, standardisation, etc).

Who can apply

Eligible applicants and consortium rules

Open to consortia of legal entities (public or private) established in eligible countries under the I3 instrument. Typical participants are SMEs, industry partners, research and technology organisations, clusters, innovation agencies, regional/municipal authorities and other quadruple-helix actors.

1. 1Consortium minimum: 5 independent entities established in 5 different regions of at least 3 eligible countries
2. 2At least 2 entities must be established in less developed regions
3. 3Coordinator must be a public body, non-profit or an entity entrusted by national/regional governments to deliver innovation/investment actions (e.g. cluster organisation, innovation agency, development agency)
4. 4Projects must demonstrate clear SME involvement and at least 70% of direct eligible costs allocated to companies (focus on SMEs)

How much and funding rules

Budget and typical award sizes

Call budget for I3-2026-INV1 (2026):€28.2 million. Project requests typically range from around €2 million up to about €10 million; amounts outside this range may be considered if justified. Funding rate: 70% of eligible costs for standard items; 100% reimbursement for financial support to third parties (FSTP). Projects must allocate at least 50% of eligible costs in less developed regions (directly or via FSTP where used).

Timing and administration

Deadline and process

Call opening:13 May 2026. Submission deadline: 12 November 2026, 17:00 CET via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (single-stage). Evaluation period runs after submission; grant preparation follows successful selection. Apply using the I3 standard application templates in the Portal.

Key compliance and delivery requirements:Projects must be S3-compliant, demonstrate an interregional investment portfolio with SME leadership in deployment activities, present credible follow-up investment pathways beyond project lifetime, and deliver action-oriented policy recommendations addressed to regional, national and EU policymakers.

1. 1Minimum consortium composition and S3 alignment (see eligibility)
2. 2Portfolio approach with concrete sub-projects for demonstration, testing and scale-up
3. 3If using FSTP: open selection call(s), max €100,000 per third party (unless higher amount justified and allowed by topic), FSTP limited to max 30% of total eligible costs
4. 4At least 70% of direct eligible costs must be allocated to company investments

Application and guidance documents, templates (application form, detailed budget table, S3 compliance declaration), the Model Grant Agreement and the I3 Work Programme are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal and EISMEA I3 webpages. For call support contact EISMEA-I3-INSTRUMENT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu.

Opportunity snapshot

Call identifier:I3-2026-INV1. Call title: Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 1. Call type: Open call for proposals under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument (ERDF). Submission deadline: 12 November 2026 17:00 CET. Managing authority: European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Type of action: I3 Project Grants (I3-AG Model Grant Agreement). Budget indicative (2026): €28.2 million for this topic; Work Programme 2025-2027 overall I3 envelope referenced. Project duration: typically 18–36 months. Project budget requests normally between €2 million and €10 million (other amounts may be considered if justified).

Purpose and core objective:The I3 Instrument Strand 1 finances interregional innovation investments to accelerate deployment, market uptake, scale-up and commercialisation of mature innovations (minimum TRL 6 progressing to TRL 9). The call targets consortia formed around shared or complementary Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) priorities, aiming to strengthen EU value chains, increase cohesion by integrating less developed and transition regions into deployment activities, and create credible follow-up investment pathways beyond the project lifetime ¹.

Detailed eligibility and applicant types

The call requires legal entities registered in eligible countries. Applicants must register in the Participant Register and be validated (PIC). Natural persons are NOT eligible except self-employed sole traders where the organisation has no separate legal personality. International organisations can participate. EU bodies (except the JRC) cannot be beneficiaries. Applicants from countries negotiating association may be eligible if association is concluded before grant signature and covers the call.

Eligible Applicant Types:Detailed list of organisations eligible to apply as beneficiaries or to participate: startups; SMEs; large enterprises; universities; research and technology organisations; clusters; innovation agencies; regional development agencies; public authorities (regional/national); non-profit organisations; public-private partnerships; NGOs; international organisations; sole-trader natural persons (only where the entity is a natural person and no distinct legal personality exists); affiliated entities to beneficiaries (where applicable). Associated partners, subcontractors and third parties giving in-kind contributions may participate but under the rules set out in the Call document and grant agreement.

1. 1Minimum consortium composition: at least 5 independent legal entities from 5 different regions across 3 eligible countries.
2. 2Consortium must include at least 2 entities established in a less developed region.
3. 3Coordinator must be a public body, not-for-profit organisation or an entity entrusted by public authorities to develop/implement innovation and investment actions for SMEs (e.g. cluster organisation, innovation agency, development agency).

Financial modalities and eligible costs

Grant type:budget-based mixed actual cost grant under the I3 Model Grant Agreement (I3-AG). Funding rates: 70% reimbursement for eligible costs (standard for this call) for all budget categories except Financial Support to Third Parties where the EU contribution is 100% for the cascade grants. Grant ceilings and eligibility of cost categories follow the I3 MGA and Annex 2 templates (personnel, subcontracting, equipment depreciation, travel & subsistence unit costs, other goods/services, financial support to third parties, and 7% flat-rate indirect costs). VAT rules, prefinancing guarantees, CFS thresholds and other financial compliance rules apply as per the MGA and EU Financial Regulation.

Funding Type:Primary financial mechanism: grant (EU action grant). The grant supports both direct financial support to beneficiaries and cascade funding/financial support to third parties (FSTP) to involve SMEs as recipients of small grants when justified and managed by the consortium.

Budget lines and main cost rules:Eligible cost categories: A Personnel (A1 employees/A2 natural persons under direct contract/A3 seconded persons/A4 SME owners and natural person beneficiaries – A4 calculated with unit-cost rules where applicable); B Subcontracting; C Purchase costs (C1 travel & subsistence — unit costs allowed under Commission Decision, C2 equipment — depreciation, C3 other goods/services); D Other (D1 financial support to third parties with maximum recipient amount normally €100 000 unless higher amount is justified in call documentation); E Indirect costs flat-rate 7% of eligible direct costs (A-D, excluding volunteers and exempted items). VAT: non-deductible VAT is eligible in general except where national rules or public authority status provide otherwise. At least 70% of total direct eligible costs must be allocated to investments in companies (focus on SMEs). At least 50% of total eligible costs must be incurred in less developed regions (direct costs by beneficiaries + FSTP combined for less developed regions).

Scope, thematic priorities and project expectations

Strand 1 supports interregional investment portfolios that bring existing mature innovations (minimum TRL 6) to demonstration, validation, replication and market uptake. Projects must tackle one or more of three thematic priorities: Digital transition; Green transition; Smart manufacturing. The action combines financial support (direct or cascade FSTP) and non-financial support (business and investment planning, IPR support, standardisation, certification, integration of KETs/deep tech, testing/demonstration). Projects must deliver: demonstrators/pilot deployments, an investment-ready portfolio, credible follow-up investment pathways, and action-oriented policy recommendations to regional/national/EU policymakers.

1. 1Digital transition examples: AI deployment for industrial processes or public services, cybersecurity solutions, digitalisation of SMEs, digital twins, cloud/data platform demonstrations, digital public services deployments.
2. 2Green transition examples: industrial decarbonisation demonstrations, circular manufacturing and secondary raw material use, renewable energy integration for industrial processes, sustainable mobility pilots, nature-based solutions linked to value chains.
3. 3Smart manufacturing examples: pilot lines and testbeds, digital & data-driven manufacturing (AI, robots, HPC), industrial deployment of advanced materials, interregional integration of testing facilities, circular manufacturing processes.

Project maturity and stage

Project Stage:expected maturity at submission: minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6. Projects must demonstrate ambition to move portfolio elements toward TRL 7–9 (demonstration, piloting, validation and scale-up). The focus is on late-stage validation, demonstration, replication and commercialisation leading to measurable investment mobilisation and integration into EU value chains.

Project Stage:Expected project maturity: TRL 6 at minimum at start, with the ambition to reach TRL 9 for the investment cases supported during the project lifetime. Demonstration, adaptation to market, industrial validation and early commercial deployments are core activities.

Geographic scope and beneficiaries

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Eligible beneficiaries must be established in EU Member States and countries associated to the I3 Instrument (EEA/associated countries as listed in the call documentation). The call explicitly prioritises participation of less developed and transition regions and encourages inclusion of outermost regions, with minimum financial and participation thresholds to ensure cohesion-focused outcomes. Third parties receiving cascade funding must be SMEs established in EU Member State regions (including OCTs where allowed).

Mentioned Countries:Explicit countries listed: EU Member States and associated countries to the I3 instrument. The call text refers generically to EU, EEA and associated countries; no specific non-EU countries are singled out in the topic extract beyond the statement that entities from non-EU countries may participate in non-funded roles or may exceptionally be funded when essential. Refer to the call documentation for the full list of associated countries for this instrument.

Consortium and consortium requirement

Consortium Requirement:This opportunity requires a consortium. Minimum: 5 independent entities established in 5 different regions of at least 3 eligible countries. At least 2 entities must be established in less developed regions. The coordinator must be a public body, not-for-profit organisation or an entity entrusted by national/regional governments to implement innovation/investment actions for SMEs. Quadruple helix composition (companies, public authorities, research organisations, intermediaries, and end-users) is expected and evaluated.

Application process and modalities

Application type and submission:Single-stage call, electronic submission through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (Electronic Submission System). Applicants must complete Part A (online administrative forms), Part B (technical description, PDF uploaded, max 70 pages), Part C (online KPI data), and mandatory annexes (consolidated budget table, S3 Compliance Declaration signed by the coordinator, CVs, detailed budget table template, S3 Compliance Declaration template). Proposals must comply with call-specific page limits and formatting rules in the Application Form templates. The submission session is available on the portal. Contact for call help: EISMEA-I3-INSTRUMENT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu. IT and Portal help via IT Helpdesk and Online Manual.

Application Type:Open call — single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; proposals submitted electronically only. Deadlines strictly enforced; no paper submissions allowed.

Application Stages:Single-stage submission with one-step evaluation (admissibility/eligibility check, evaluation by external experts and evaluation committee, ranking and award). Applicants passing evaluation are invited to grant preparation; final signature requires legal and financial checks (legal entity validation, financial capacity, exclusions).

Evaluation, award criteria and success metrics

Evaluation:independent external experts evaluate eligible proposals against award criteria: Relevance (max 5 points), Quality (5), Cost-effectiveness (5) and Impact (10). Thresholds: minimum per criterion 2.5/5 for first three criteria and 5/10 for Impact; overall pass score 17.5/25. Projects are ranked and selected up to the available budget. Tie-break rules: higher Impact score, then Relevance, then gender balance among personnel, then geographical diversity and portfolio synergies.

Success Rates:Official success rates for the call are not provided in the call text. Historically I3 selection rates have been competitive; expected success rates vary by call and year and depend on the number and quality of proposals received. No definitive percentage is guaranteed.

Key performance indicators and expected impact

Project-level KPIs to be reported include:number of regions involved; interregional character; types of participants (SMEs, start-ups, universities, public authorities, intermediaries); TRL progression (start and end TRLs); number of value chain investments in the portfolio; companies and SMEs involved; jobs created (FTE); investment mobilised (private/public/total); IPR outputs (patents, licences); persons reached by gender disaggregation. Expected impacts by project end and long-term include: market uptake of innovations, SME adoption of technologies, strengthened interregional value chains, investment readiness and leverage of follow-up finance, contribution to digital/green/smart manufacturing transitions, cohesion and territorial development.

Nature of Support:Mixed: monetary (grants and cascade financial support to third parties) and substantial non-monetary support (technical and business advisory, IPR assistance, certification, standards, testing and demonstration support, investment planning).

Cascade funding (Financial Support to Third Parties — FSTP)

FSTP is allowed where justified and only under strict conditions:open, widely published sub-calls of at least two months; selection procedures transparent and non-discriminatory; maximum direct financial support per third party normally €100 000 (call may specify), and the total FSTP cannot exceed 30% of total eligible costs. Direct recipients must be SMEs established in EU Member State regions (including OCTs if permitted). The proposal must explain the need for FSTP, management and governance, amounts per recipient, expected results and regional distribution including allocations for less developed regions.

Administrative and compliance checks

Grant preparation following successful evaluation includes legal entity validation, LEAR appointment, financial capacity checks, requirement for prefinancing guarantees in some cases, certificates on financial statements (CFS) for beneficiaries exceeding thresholds, and compliance with exclusion and conditionality rules. The Model Grant Agreement (I3 MGA v1.1) sets out detailed obligations on reporting, records retention, audits, recoveries, visibility, IPR and open science/data management plan requirements.

Co-funding Requirement:Co-funding: The call requires beneficiaries to contribute their share of eligible costs. The EU share reimburses eligible costs at the funding rate (e.g. 70%). Projects must demonstrate stable and sufficient resources to implement activities. Additional co-financing sources (public, private, EIB loans, venture capital) are expected to be identified as part of investment readiness and follow-up investment planning; I3 does not provide 100% coverage of total investment needs beyond grantable costs in most cases.

Templates and application structure

Applicants must use the Application Form standard templates available in the Portal Submission System. Key templates and annexes: Application Form Part A (online), Part B (technical description PDF — max 70 pages), Part C (online KPIs), Consolidated budget table (Excel), Detailed budget table (I3 template XLSX), S3 Compliance Declaration (coordinator-signed template confirming alignment with national/regional S3 priorities), Model Grant Agreement (I3 MGA), Data Management Plan template and other forms listed on the topic page. Part B narrative structure follows the I3 Application Form template with sections: Relevance, Quality, Cost-effectiveness, Impact, Workplan and WP details, Ethics and Security. CV annexes, previous project lists and procurement/subcontracting justification must be provided as requested.

1. 1Application structure (Part B): Cover page and project summary; 1. Relevance (background, needs analysis, S3 compliance, complementarity with other actions); 2. Quality (concept, methodology, consortium set-up, teams, management, risk mitigation); 3. Cost-effectiveness (budget justification, resource allocation); 4. Impact (expected impact, target groups, environmental and territorial effects, dissemination/exploitation plan); 5. Workplan and WPs (detailed WP descriptions, deliverables, milestones, Gantt/timeline); 6. Ethics & Security; 7. Declarations and annexes (detailed budget table, CVs, S3 declaration).

Success factors and evaluators’ expectations

Key strengths that evaluators will look for:clear interregional value chain logic and EU added value; concrete investment portfolio with near-term deployable sub-projects and demonstration plans; strong SME leadership and practical role for companies in deployment; evidence of S3 alignment across participating regions; clear allocation of at least 70% eligible costs to companies/SMEs and at least 50% of eligible costs incurred in less developed regions; credible business and investment plans and evidence of investor outreach; robust management, quality assurance and risk mitigation; measurable KPIs and credible follow-up investment pathways; practical policy recommendations addressed to policymakers with clear actions and responsibilities; compliance with call templates and mandatory annexes.

Success rates, timelines and process milestones

Timetable:Call opening 13 May 2026; submission deadline 12 November 2026; evaluation Nov 2026–Apr 2027; information on results May 2027; grant agreements signature targeted August 2027. Success rates for the specific call are not published in the call text; selection depends on quality of submissions and available budget. Applicants invited to grant preparation must pass final legal/financial validation before signature.

Application tips and mandatory checks

Checklist highlights:register all beneficiaries and affiliated entities in the Participant Register and ensure LEAR validation; include S3 Compliance Declaration signed by the coordinator; adhere to the 70-page Part B limit and formatting rules (Arial 9 minimum, margins), attach consolidated budget and the detailed budget XLSX I3 template; justify and document FSTP design if used (calls, selection criteria, amounts by recipient and region); demonstrate involvement of ERDF managing authorities and S3 competent bodies and explain engagement during implementation; prepare a DMP and dissemination/exploitation plan; plan for at least 70% of costs to companies/SMEs and 50% of eligible costs in less developed regions; provide CVs for key staff and evidence of operational capacity; verify VAT and national procurement compatibility for subcontracting/purchases.

Templates: structure and guidance for applicants

Application Form templates available in the Portal Submission System must be used. The I3-specific detailed budget table provides line-by-line resources and personnel effort tables (person-months per WP). The S3 Compliance Declaration template must be uploaded by the coordinator to confirm alignment with all represented regional/national S3 strategies. The model grant agreement (I3 MGA) defines legal obligations, deliverables (mandatory include data management plan, annual report on engagement with ERDF managing authorities and S3 bodies, business and investment plan, project-level KPI reporting, and assessment of innovation readiness at project end) and reporting/payment details. Use the Portal templates exactly as provided and keep annex naming consistent with submission slots.

1. 1Standard application form (I3) — Part A (online) / Part B (I3 PDF template) / Part C (online KPIs).
2. 2Detailed budget table (I3 XLSX) — use the provided resources sheet, person-month and cost breakdowns.
3. 3S3 Compliance Declaration (I3 DOCX) — signed by the coordinator and uploaded as annex.
4. 4Consolidated budget table (online Excel/Submission System template).
5. 5Model Grant Agreement (I3 MGA) and Annex templates for reference — consult during grant preparation.

Success metrics and how projects are expected to demonstrate sustainability

Projects must provide credible exploitation and follow-up investment plans that outline how results will be scaled beyond the project lifetime. This includes investor engagement strategies, expected public/private funding mixes, partnerships with managing authorities or national programmes to mobilise mainstream ERDF/ national funds, and targeted steps to replicate results in less developed regions. Projects must deliver action-oriented, evidence-based policy recommendations with concrete responsibilities and suggested instruments for implementation at regional, national and EU levels.

Co-funding Requirement (revisited):Co-funding is required: beneficiaries must show stable and sufficient own resources or third-party co-financing. The grant reimburses eligible costs up to the funding rate — applicants must demonstrate how remaining investment needs will be addressed (e.g. PPPs, venture capital, EIB loans), particularly for follow-up deployment after I3 grant funding.

What this opportunity is about — summary and final explanation

The I3-2026-INV1 Strand 1 call finances interregional investment projects that bring mature innovations to market through coordinated demonstration, validation and deployment across regional ecosystems aligned with Smart Specialisation Strategies. The projects must be consortium-driven, company-led (strong SME participation), and targeted at strengthening EU value chains in Digital transition, Green transition and Smart manufacturing. The support can be both financial (direct grants and cascade funding to third parties) and non-financial (business & investment planning, IPR, certification, testbeds, standards and investor readiness support). A focus on cohesion is central: proposals must include and benefit less developed and transition regions, aim to mobilise follow-up investment and deliver policy recommendations for regional, national and EU policymakers. Successful proposals will combine technical maturity (TRL >= 6), commercial readiness, a clear interregional value chain logic, measurable KPIs and a credible pathway to scale-up and market uptake.

Eligible Applicant Types (concise list):Startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, nonprofit organisations, public authorities, public-private partnerships, clusters, innovation agencies, development agencies, investors (as partners), international organisations, sole traders where applicable, affiliated entities (where linked to beneficiaries).

Quick Reference — Practical next steps for applicants

1. 1Register coordinator, beneficiaries and affiliated entities in the Participant Register and validate PICs well before the deadline.
2. 2Check S3 alignment for all participating regions and prepare the coordinator-signed S3 Compliance Declaration template.
3. 3Build a consortium with the minimum required geographic spread (5 entities in 5 regions of 3 eligible countries) and ensure at least two entities are located in less developed regions.
4. 4Complete the I3 Detailed Budget XLSX and ensure that at least 70% of direct eligible costs are allocated to companies and at least 50% of eligible costs are incurred in less developed regions.
5. 5If using FSTP, design open calls (>=2 months) with clear eligibility/selection criteria, ensure transparency and cap per-recipient amounts as required, and include FSTP budget lines in the detailed budget table.
6. 6Prepare Part B narrative (max 70 pages) following the I3 template: Relevance, Quality, Cost-effectiveness, Impact, WP schedule, Risks, Ethics/Security, and Annexes (CVs, detailed budget, S3 declaration).
7. 7Plan DMP and dissemination/exploitation roadmaps and provide clear investor engagement and follow-up funding strategies.
8. 8Submit electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal before the deadline and retain records of submission confirmation.

For full legal, financial and procedural details consult the Call Document, the I3 Model Grant Agreement and the Application Form templates available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Portal links and submission entry points are on the topic page.

Reference:This summary is based on the I3-2026-INV1 topic description, the I3 call fiche and annexes, the I3 Work Programme 2025-2027, the I3 application templates and the Model Grant Agreement (I3 MGA). For specific legal clauses, financial rules, and templates consult the official calls page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and the I3 call documents I3 Topic page Call fiche (PDF). ¹

Footnotes

1. 1The call document, application templates and I3 Model Grant Agreement provide the authoritative rules, templates and eligibility lists. Applicants must follow the official topic page and submission system templates on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal when preparing an application.

Funding Opportunity Overview

The Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument Strand 1 is a European Union funding programme implemented under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of Cohesion Policy for the 2021-2027 programming period. This call for proposals I3-2026-INV1 supports interregional cooperation in innovation by connecting regional strengths, aligning complementary capabilities and strengthening EU value chains. The programme focuses on bringing mature innovations into deployment across regions, moving from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 to TRL 9, with the ultimate goal of market uptake and commercialisation.

Strategic Context and Alignment

The I3 Instrument aligns with the European Union's broader policy agenda on competitiveness, industrial transformation, innovation, security and resilience. It directly supports key EU strategic initiatives including the Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal, the Single Market Strategy, the proposed European Competitiveness Fund, the Start-up and Scale-up Strategy, and the forthcoming European Innovation Act. The programme is designed to address Europe's productivity gap, support the twin green and digital transitions, and strengthen manufacturing capabilities across the continent.

Core Objectives

Strand 1 seeks to increase the competitiveness and resilience of EU value chains through interregional cooperation in shared or complementary smart specialisation areas. The primary objective is to support interregional innovation investments by providing consortia of innovation actors from quadruple helix ecosystems with financial and advisory support to bring innovations to a mature level, ready for scale-up and commercialisation. A core aim is to bridge and reduce the innovation divide in Europe by integrating all regions, particularly less developed regions, into European value chains with a strong cohesion policy focus.

Thematic Priorities

Proposals must tackle one or more of three designated thematic priorities. These are digital transition, green transition, and smart manufacturing. Across these thematic priorities, projects are expected to contribute to strengthening resilient and competitive European value chains through concrete interregional investment cases with clear deployment and scale-up potential.

Eligibility and Applicant Requirements

Eligible Applicants

The I3 Instrument supports consortia of innovation actors from quadruple helix ecosystems. This includes companies (particularly SMEs), research institutions, universities, intermediaries, public authorities and other innovation actors. Projects are expected to demonstrate a clear role for enterprises, particularly SMEs, in driving deployment, market uptake and scale-up activities. Consortia must include partners from multiple regions across the EU, with particular emphasis on collaboration between innovation actors from less developed regions and those from more developed regions.

Project Scope and Requirements

Projects must facilitate one or more of the following:development and expansion of already existing interregional and cross-border value chains and stronger connection between regional innovation ecosystems; collaboration between innovation actors, especially SMEs, from less developed regions and those from more developed regions, contributing to cohesion policy objectives; support of innovation actors with investment ideas ready to evolve into mature business cases; identification of new regional technological domains and market opportunities aligned with EU priorities, bridging the gap between supply and demand sides to help innovation ecosystems overcome market failures.

Technology Readiness Level

I3 Instrument business investment cases start with a minimum TRL 6 and have the ambition to facilitate demonstration and accelerate market uptake and commercialisation. Projects are expected to move innovations from validated solutions and investment ideas towards market uptake and economic impact, progressing towards TRL 9.

Funding Details

Total Call Budget:The total budget available for I3-2026-INV1 is €28,200,000.

Estimated EU Contribution per Project:Individual project grants are estimated to range between €2,000,000 and €10,000,000, though this represents an estimate and actual amounts may vary based on project quality and available budget.

Funding Rate:The EU co-financing rate is between 70 and 100 percent of eligible project costs, depending on the specific project characteristics and regional context.

Types of Support

The I3 Instrument provides support in one or both of the following forms:(a) financial support, through direct funding to consortium beneficiaries or through cascade funding and financial support to third parties (FSTP); and/or (b) non-financial support, such as business and investment planning, protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), certification, commercialisation, standardisation, tailored support for the integration of key enabling technologies (KETs) and deep tech in production processes, and support for testing, demonstration and piloting of new solutions.

Expected Project Outcomes and Impact

Short-term Impact (at Project Closure)

• Innovative technologies tested and adopted by the market
• Innovative solutions deployed improving business confidence, competences and means to digitalise and grow
• Contribution to digitisation and health systems transformation through various types of innovation and IT services
• Uptake of technologically and economically reliable and viable solutions on the market
• Deployment of new technologies fostering growth of Europe's manufacturing sector
• Innovative technologies adopted by SMEs
• Identification of possible sources of funding and funding mix to cover residual investment needs
• Strengthening of innovation diffusion channels
• Reinforced capacity of regions to co-invest together on common smart specialisation investment priorities

Long-term Impact

• Increased companies' productivity and efficiency
• Improved user-friendly, accessible and interoperable public services
• Improved level of digital skills
• Improved EU innovation capacity and competitiveness
• Creating new market opportunities for EU companies
• Making EU industry more efficient and sustainable
• Improved way of living and doing business
• Increased social and territorial cohesion and personal well-being
• Improved education and vocational training systems
• Reinforced and reshaped EU value chains with increased EU competitiveness in global markets
• Unlocked innovation potential of EU regions and countries
• Contribution to European Green Deal objectives
• Positive impact on environment, health, climate, social and economy
• Economic growth and job creation

Project Requirements and Deliverables

Investment Readiness and Follow-up Investment

Projects must strengthen the investment readiness of participating innovation actors and create credible pathways for follow-up investment beyond the project lifetime. At the end of project implementation, all involved regions and partners must have a clear perspective on how to exploit and build on I3 project results, including through broad introduction of new products, services or production processes. This must include a credible perspective for follow-up investment, wider deployment and long-term integration of project results into European value chains.

Policy Recommendations

Projects are expected to deliver action-oriented policy recommendations addressed to policymakers at regional, national and European levels. Recommendations must be clear, practical and evidence-based, drawing on the project's implementation and deployment experience, including barriers, enabling conditions and market uptake constraints. They must explain how each recommended action addresses identified needs and indicate where uncertainty remains. Recommendations must link to relevant policy initiatives and strategic frameworks at regional, national and European levels and connect project results to proposed actions. A manageable number of recommendations, prioritised by impact or urgency, must clarify who shall act, at which level, and through which instruments, including practical conditions for implementation and potential resource needs. Where relevant, recommendations must identify conditions needed to support follow-up investment, wider replication and stronger participation of less developed and transition regions in European value chains.

Application Timeline and Submission

Call Opening Date:The call opened on 13 May 2026.

Submission Deadline:The single-stage submission deadline is 12 November 2026 at 17:00 CET.

Submission Procedure:This is a single-stage call for proposals. Applicants must submit proposals through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal using the Electronic Submission Service. The submission system requires confirmation of the type of action and model grant agreement, which cannot be changed after confirmation. Applicants can access existing draft proposals by logging into the Funding and Tenders Portal and selecting the My Proposals page in the My Area section.

Grant Agreement and Conditions

The I3 Instrument uses the I3 Action Grant Budget-Based model grant agreement (MGA). The grant is budget-based, meaning funding is provided based on eligible costs incurred by beneficiaries. Detailed conditions are described in the call document (section 5), with proposal page limits and layout specified in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Additional conditions are outlined in sections 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the call document and the Online Manual.

Required Documentation and Compliance

Applicants must complete the Standard Application Form (I3), provide a Detailed Budget Table (I3), and submit an S3 Compliance Declaration (I3). All proposals must comply with the ERDF Regulation 2021/1058, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and the Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment. The EU Grants Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA) provides detailed guidance on grant conditions and requirements.

Smart Specialisation Strategy Alignment

The I3 Instrument uses Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) as a guiding framework to connect regional strengths and align complementary capabilities. Proposals must demonstrate alignment with the smart specialisation strategies of participating regions. The S3 Compliance Declaration is a mandatory requirement for all applications, confirming that proposed projects align with the smart specialisation priorities of the involved regions.

Support and Guidance

For help related to this call, applicants should contact EISMEA-I3-INSTRUMENT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu. The Funding and Tenders Portal provides a comprehensive FAQ on proposal submission. The IT Helpdesk is available for technical questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights, roles and technical aspects of proposal submission. The Online Manual provides step-by-step guidance through Portal processes from proposal preparation and evaluation to reporting on ongoing projects and is valid for all 2021-2027 programmes.

Broader EU Policy Context

The I3 Instrument operates within the broader EU policy framework aimed at strengthening European competitiveness. The Competitiveness Compass, adopted by the European Commission in January 2025, identifies closing the innovation gap as a transformational imperative. The I3 Instrument directly supports this objective by facilitating innovation diffusion and industrial deployment through coordinated interregional investments. The programme also aligns with the Clean Industrial Deal, which aims to accelerate decarbonisation, reindustrialisation and innovation simultaneously across the continent, with particular focus on energy-intensive industries and clean technology sectors ¹.

Key Success Factors for Applicants

1. 1Strong interregional consortium with clear roles and complementary capabilities across multiple EU regions
2. 2Demonstrated involvement of enterprises, particularly SMEs, in driving deployment, market uptake and scale-up
3. 3Clear alignment with one or more of the three thematic priorities: digital transition, green transition, or smart manufacturing
4. 4Innovation at minimum TRL 6 with credible pathway to market deployment and commercialisation
5. 5Concrete investment cases with clear deployment and scale-up potential
6. 6Strong focus on bridging the innovation divide by integrating less developed regions into European value chains
7. 7Comprehensive business and investment planning with identified follow-up investment pathways
8. 8Action-oriented policy recommendations with clear implementation mechanisms
9. 9Alignment with regional smart specialisation strategies
10. 10Realistic budget and timeline with appropriate risk management

Connection to EU Funding Landscape

The I3 Instrument complements other EU funding mechanisms. Projects may identify possible sources of funding and funding mix to cover residual investment needs, including public-private partnerships, venture capital collaboration and European Investment Bank (EIB) group loans. The programme is designed to strengthen investment readiness and create pathways for follow-up investment through other EU instruments such as Horizon Europe, InvestEU, the Innovation Fund and the proposed European Competitiveness Fund. The I3 Instrument thus serves as a bridge between research and innovation support and larger-scale industrial deployment funding.

Regional Development and Cohesion

A core objective of the I3 Instrument is to strengthen EU and regional value chains through interregional cooperation that brings together less developed, transition and more developed regions. The programme has a strong cohesion policy focus, aiming to integrate all regions, particularly less developed regions, into European value chains. This approach contributes to reducing regional disparities and promoting more balanced economic development across the EU while simultaneously strengthening overall European competitiveness and resilience.

Footnotes

1. 1The Clean Industrial Deal, adopted by the European Commission in January 2025, identifies six business drivers for industrial transformation: affordable energy, lead markets, financing, circularity and access to materials, global markets and international partnerships, and skills. The I3 Instrument supports these drivers through interregional innovation investments in digital transition, green transition and smart manufacturing, directly contributing to the EU's industrial decarbonisation and competitiveness objectives.