I3-2026-INV2a - Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a

I3-2026-INV2a (Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a) is an EISMEA-managed ERDF call providing financial and advisory support to interregional consortia to bring near-market innovations (minimum TRL 6) to demonstration, scale-up and market uptake with a cohesion focus on less developed and transition regions. Call budget €30.2 million, typical project grants €2–€10 million, funding rate up to 70% of eligible costs for beneficiaries and 100% for financial support to third parties, submissions via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal open 13 May 2026 with deadline 12 November 2026 at 17:00 CET. Eligible applicants are consortia from quadruple-helix ecosystems across eligible countries and must allocate at least 70% of direct eligible costs to companies (SME focus) and ensure at least 50% of total eligible costs are incurred in less developed regions. Projects must address one or more thematic priorities (digital transition, green transition, smart manufacturing) and deliver business and investment plans, exploitation strategies and action-oriented policy recommendations.

What it funds

Scope and objectives

I3-2026-INV2a (Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a) funds interregional investment portfolios and advisory support to bring close-to-market innovations (minimum TRL 6) to demonstration, scale-up and commercial deployment across EU regions. Projects must target one or more thematic priorities: Digital transition, Green transition and Smart manufacturing. Support can be financial (including cascade funding/financial support to third parties) and/or non-financial (coaching, mentoring, matchmaking, specialised advisory). The call prioritises integration of less developed and transition regions into European value chains.

Forms of support:Direct funding to consortium beneficiaries, cascade funding to SMEs (FSTP), and specialised non-financial advisory services for investment readiness, pilot and demonstration actions.

Who can apply

Consortia of legal entities (public or private) established in eligible countries under the I3 Instrument. Lead applicants recommended: public bodies, non-profit organisations or entities entrusted by national/regional authorities to develop or implement innovation and investment actions (clusters, innovation agencies, development agencies). Participation must follow Smart Specialisation (S3) alignment and show balanced involvement of regions at different development levels.

1. 1Minimum consortium: at least 3 independent organisations from at least 2 eligible countries (with at least one from a more developed region)
2. 2Quadruple-helix participation encouraged: SMEs, public authorities, research organisations, intermediaries/clusters
3. 3Affiliated entities, associated partners, subcontractors allowed under standard I3 rules

Key facts & finances

This call is managed by EISMEA under the ERDF I3 Instrument with a strong cohesion focus on creating new value chains in less developed regions and enabling their integration into interregional value chains. Projects must deliver exploitation and follow-up investment perspectives and action-oriented policy recommendations.

Funding available:This topic shows €30.2 million allocated for 2026. The broader I3 Instrument envelope in 2021-2027 is around €490 million. Typical project requests are commonly in the €2 million to €10 million range (justification required for other amounts).

Competitive & administrative highlights

Evaluation uses award criteria:Relevance, Quality, Cost‑effectiveness and Impact. Projects must demonstrate: clear interregional investment portfolio, minimum TRL 6 start and ambition to reach demonstration/market uptake, balanced budget with at least 70% of direct eligible costs allocated to companies (focus SMEs), and at least 50% of eligible costs incurred in less developed regions. FSTP (cascade funding) is allowed under strict conditions (max €100 000 per third party unless higher amount justified and announced in call).

1. 1Mandatory submission via Funding & Tenders Portal; Part A (online) + Part B (PDF) + annexes
2. 2Page limit for Part B: 70 pages
3. 3Projects typically 18–36 months duration
4. 4Funding rate: 70% for eligible costs (100% for financial support to third parties)

Where to get help

Contact EISMEA-I3-INSTRUMENT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu for call-specific questions. Use the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Topic Q&A and IT Helpdesk for submission guidance. Consult the I3 Instrument Support Facility and S3 Community of Practice for partner search and proposal development support.

Call snapshot

Call title:Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a I3-2026-INV2a. Call type: Call for proposals under the I3 Instrument (ERDF). Managing authority: European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Opening date: 13 May 2026. Submission deadline: 12 November 2026 (17:00 CET Brussels). Call model: single-stage electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Budget for this topic (2026): €30.2 million. Indicative programme budget for I3 Instrument (2025-2027): €176 million; total I3 envelope for 2021-2027 noted in material: over €490 million. Action type: I3 Project Grants (I3-PJG) under I3 Action Grant Budget-Based (I3-AG).

Primary purpose of the call:Provide financial and advisory support (direct funding to beneficiaries and/or cascade funding to third parties plus non-financial support such as coaching, mentoring and matchmaking) to consortia from quadruple-helix innovation ecosystems to bring mature innovations (min TRL 6) to demonstration, replication, scale-up and market uptake across regions, with a strong emphasis on integrating less developed regions and transition regions into EU value chains.

Detailed eligibility and applicant types

This section summarises who can apply, the required consortium structure, geographic scope and what kinds of activities are eligible under I3-2026-INV2a.

Eligible Applicant Types:Eligible applicants are legal entities established in eligible countries (EU Member States including overseas countries and territories; EEA countries and countries associated to the I3 instrument as listed in the programme). Eligible applicant types explicitly supported in call documents include: SMEs (including SME owners treated as personnel cost unit under rules), start-ups, large enterprises, universities, public research organisations, research and technology organisations, clusters, innovation agencies, regional and local public authorities, development agencies, non-profit organisations, public-private partnerships and other innovation intermediaries. Associated partners and subcontractors from non-EU countries may participate in specific roles. Natural persons are generally not eligible except self-employed sole traders where allowed by call rules.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required. Minimum: at least three independent legal entities established in three different regions of two eligible countries. The consortium must include at least one entity from a more developed region and must demonstrate balanced participation of regions with varying development and innovation performance. Coordinator must be a public body, non-profit, or an entity entrusted by national or regional governments to develop or implement innovation and investment actions for SMEs (e.g., cluster organisations, innovation agencies, regional development agencies).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic eligibility):Eligible applicants must be established in participating countries: EU Member States (including OCTs), EEA countries and countries associated to the I3 Instrument. The call places strong emphasis on involving less developed regions, transition regions and outermost regions to reduce the innovation divide and to integrate them into interregional EU value chains. Activities funded should take place in eligible countries/regions represented by consortium partners; FSTP recipients must be SMEs established in EU Member States regions (including OCTs).

Funding, modalities and financial rules

This section extracts the funding type, eligible cost categories, funding rates, FSTP rules, budget thresholds and templates applicants must use.

Funding Type:Action Grants (budget‑based mixed actual cost grant). Funding through direct grants to consortium beneficiaries and/or financial support to third parties (cascade funding / FSTP). Grants reimburse eligible costs and may include unit costs, flat rates and lump sums where applicable; the call uses the I3 Action Grant Budget-Based model grant agreement (I3-AG).

Funding rates and ceilings:Standard funding rates indicated for the instrument: 70% funding rate for eligible costs across beneficiaries (call documentation states 70% for all beneficiaries and cost categories) and 100% EU contribution for costs representing financial support to third parties. Individual project grant amounts normally range between €2 million and €10 million per project (projects requesting other amounts may be accepted if well justified). Call budget for this topic in 2026: €30.2 million. Overall I3 work programme 2025-2027: €176 million.

Eligible cost categories (summary):A. Personnel costs (employees, direct-contract persons, seconded persons, SME owners/natural person beneficiaries using unit cost options); B. Subcontracting costs; C. Purchases (travel and subsistence, equipment — depreciation, other goods, works and services); D. Other categories (notably Financial Support to Third Parties — FSTP); E. Indirect costs (flat-rate, e.g., 7% of eligible direct costs per I3 templates). VAT: non-deductible VAT can be eligible in line with rules; deductible VAT normally excluded. Equipment is eligible as depreciation; rentals/leases eligible if not exceeding equivalent depreciation cost.

Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) — cascade funding:Allowed where justified and included in Annex 1. Key rules: funding to recipients (direct SMEs) must be awarded via open calls, remain open at least two months, selection transparent and public, maximum aid per third party normally €100 000 unless call specifies otherwise (this call states €100 000 maximum per third party), FSTP costs cannot exceed 30% of total eligible costs, direct recipients of FSTP must be SMEs established in EU Member States regions (including OCTs), and results of awarded third parties must be publicly disclosed. Applicants must justify the need for FSTP and distribution across region types.

Scope, priorities and expected project activities

The Strand 2a call targets interregional investments that create new value chains in less developed and transition regions and/or integrate these regions into interregional EU value chains. Projects must target one or more thematic priorities and demonstrate clear deployment and scale-up potential.

1. 1Thematic priorities applicants must address (one or more): Digital transition; Green transition; Smart manufacturing.
2. 2Minimum starting maturity for supported investment cases: TRL 6 (aim to progress towards TRL 9 — demonstration, adaptation, replication, market uptake).
3. 3Types of eligible activities: demonstration, pilot lines, adaptation of prototypes, testing and validation in real environments, portfolios of close-to-market investments, use of testing/demonstration facilities across regions, advisory support for investment and business planning, matchmaking, coaching and skills/uptake measures, networking and policy recommendation outputs. Tangible and intangible investments are allowed (equipment depreciation, software, IPR, business development).
4. 4Project portfolio approach: actions are implemented as a linked portfolio of sub-projects (sub-projects address bottlenecks and accelerate uptake); at least 70% of total direct eligible costs must be allocated to investments in companies with a focus on SMEs.
5. 5Geographic and cohesion requirements: at least 50% of total eligible costs must be incurred in less developed regions (directly by beneficiaries and/or via FSTP). Projects must show balanced participation of regions with different development levels and explain how less developed/transition regions will play sustainable roles in the value chains.
6. 6Policy and exploitation obligations: projects must deliver action-oriented policy recommendations (regional, national, EU), data management plan, dissemination and exploitation plan, business and investment plan and an assessment of innovation readiness at project end.

Expected impacts:Short-term: deployment and adoption of innovative technologies in less developed regions; portfolio investments in companies (SMEs) and demonstration cases taken to market; strengthened innovation diffusion channels; increased interregional co-investment capacity. Long-term: reduction of the innovation divide, improved SME competitiveness and productivity, new market opportunities for EU companies, reshaped EU value chains, contribution to the twin transition and Clean Industrial Deal objectives, social and territorial cohesion and job creation.

Project maturity, duration, budget and timing

Projects under Strand 2a focus on near-market, demonstration and deployment activities (minimum TRL 6). They are expected to progress towards TRL 7–9 with clear investment pathways and follow-up financing perspectives.

Project stage and expected duration:Project stage: development, validation, demonstration, validation, replication and commercialization/scale-up. Normal project duration: 18 to 36 months (extensions possible if justified and processed via amendment).

Funding amount per project and overall:Typical requested grant amount: normally between €2 million and €10 million per project (but other amounts may be considered if justified). Call-specific available budget for I3-2026-INV2a in 2026: €30.2 million. I3 programme budgets: I3 Work Programme 2025-€2027 €176 million; I3 2021-2027 envelope cited as over €490 million.

Application process, templates and administrative requirements

All submissions must use the EU Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system. Proposals include Part A (administrative online forms), Part B (technical description — PDF uploaded using I3 Application Form template), and Part C (additional data). Mandatory annexes include the consolidated/detailed budget table (I3 template), S3 Compliance Declaration (coordinator), CVs and any requested supporting documentation. Part B (technical description) limited to 70 pages unless stated otherwise.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage submission. Applicants must register organisations and PICs in the Participant Register before applying. Electronic-only submission; paper submissions not accepted.

Required templates and documents (key items):Mandatory templates available in the Submission System: Application Form Part A (online), Application Form Part B I3 template (download, complete, convert to PDF and upload), Part C (online), Consolidated/detailed budget table (I3 Excel template), S3 Compliance Declaration (signed by coordinator), Model Grant Agreement (I3 MGA) and supporting reference documents (EU Grants AGA, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual). Other templates: Detailed budget table, S3 Compliance Declaration, I3 MGA, I3 Instrument Work Programme, ERDF Regulation, EU Financial Regulation.

Evaluation, award, reporting and contractual setup

Evaluation uses external independent experts and an evaluation committee. Single-stage evaluation based on admissibility and eligibility checks followed by scoring against award criteria. Successful proposals invited to grant preparation; award is subject to legal and financial checks and finalisation of the Grant Agreement (I3 MGA).

Award criteria and scoring:Main award criteria: Relevance (max 5 points), Quality (5 points), Cost effectiveness (5 points), Impact (10 points). Individual thresholds apply per criterion and an overall threshold (overall maximum 25 points with pass score 17.5). Evaluators will prioritise proposals with higher Impact scores in case of tie; further tie-breakers include relevance scores, gender balance and geographical diversity.

Application stages and timeline:Single-stage submission: 1) electronic submission of full proposal (Part A/B/C and annexes) by deadline; 2) admissibility & eligibility checks; 3) expert evaluation and panel review (November 2026–April 2027 approximate); 4) information on evaluation results around May 2027; 5) grant preparation (incl. legal entity validation, financial capacity checks and signature) with expected GA signature target August 2027.

Reporting & deliverables:Deliverables required include annual reports on engagement with ERDF managing authorities and S3 bodies, data management plan, dissemination and exploitation plan, business and investment plan, project-level KPIs, implementation reports for investment portfolio sub-projects and final innovation readiness assessment. Continuous reporting via Portal tools is required; financial statements and certificates may be requested depending on thresholds.

Success rates, co-funding and financial capacity

This section summarises available information on success likelihood, co-funding expectation and financial/operational capacity checks.

Success Rates:No explicit success rate is published for this topic. As with most EU competitive calls, expected success rates depend on the number and quality of proposals and available budget. Applicants should assume a competitive selection and prepare proposals aligned precisely with the call scope, KPIs and award criteria.

Co-funding Requirement:Co-funding by beneficiaries is expected (projects must demonstrate sufficient other resources and/or financial commitments). The grant will reimburse eligible costs up to the funding rates; beneficiaries must therefore cover the remaining costs through own resources, third-party contributions or leverage private/public follow-up investment. The call documents require demonstration of credible follow-up financing and exploitation plans. Financial capacity checks are carried out for applicants (except public bodies and when individual requested grant is <= €60 000).

Operational and financial capacity checks:During grant preparation beneficiaries will undergo legal entity validation and may be subject to financial capacity assessment (profit & loss, balance sheet, audit reports for the last closed year). If financial capacity is inadequate, the granting authority may request guarantees, prefinancing in instalments, joint and several liability regimes or reject the proposal.

Evaluation scoring outline (how proposals are judged)

Evaluators will score applications both on the consortium’s capacity and on technical merit. Applications should explicitly address the following award-criterion elements: interregional dimension and S3 alignment; role and added value of less developed/transition regions; innovation maturity (initial and target TRL); investment readiness and business plans; methodology, management, consortium composition and risk mitigation; cost-effectiveness and financial design including FSTP justification; impact, sustainability, replication, policy recommendations, SME involvement and measurable KPIs (regions involved, number of companies, jobs created, investments mobilised, IP exploitation metrics and gender-disaggregated reach).

Technology and sector focus

Strand 2a is thematic:projects must contribute to at least one of three thematic priorities: digital transition, green transition or smart manufacturing. Across these themes projects may address technologies and domains of European strategic interest (examples included across call documents and broader policy references): AI and digital solutions for business and public administration, cybersecurity, cloud/data platforms, digital twins, high-performance computing, smart automation, robotics, advanced materials, energy efficiency and renewables, clean production and decarbonisation technologies, hydrogen, circular economy and recycling technologies, industrial scale-up for clean tech, advanced biotech and bio-based materials, semiconductors and other STEP listed strategic technologies where relevant for the value chain targeted.

Mentioned and relevant policy links and context

The I3 Instrument is implemented under Cohesion Policy and ERDF (Article 13) and forms part of the EU competitiveness and industrial agenda. The call aligns with EU policy frameworks referenced in the call documents: Competitiveness Compass, Clean Industrial Deal, Single Market Strategy, proposed European Competitiveness Fund, Start-up and Scale-up Strategy, forthcoming European Innovation Act, STEP Regulation and other strategic initiatives. Projects are expected to link to Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) at regional/national level and engage ERDF managing authorities and S3 competent bodies during implementation.

1. 1Policy documents referenced in call: I3 Instrument Work Programme 2025-2027; ERDF Regulation (2021/1058); EU Financial Regulation (2024/2509); I3 Model Grant Agreement (I3-AG); I3 call fiche and call documentation; S3 compliance declaration template and budget templates.
2. 2Broader EU policies referenced: Competitiveness Compass, Clean Industrial Deal, Single Market Strategy, European Innovation Act (planned), Start-up and Scale-up Strategy, STEP Regulation and European Competitiveness Fund proposals.

Application recommendations and evaluation preparation

Strong proposals for this Strand 2a typically include:clear interregional investment portfolio with demonstrators in companies (SME-led), balanced regional participation with strong roles for less developed/transition regions, evidence of S3 alignment from each region, a credible financial and business investment plan (including follow-up investment pathways and investor engagement), measurable KPIs and replication strategy, detailed budget showing >70% eligible direct costs to companies and >50% spend in less developed regions, strong management and risk mitigation, an integrated communication/dissemination plan, and action-oriented policy recommendations targeted at regional/national/EU policymakers.

Key constraints and ineligible activities

I3 Strand 2a will not fund:activities that do significant harm to environmental objectives as defined in Article 17 of the EU Taxonomy (e.g., increasing efficiency of fossil-fuel technologies or investments that prolong fossil fuel dependency), stand‑alone research far from TRL 6, activities excluded from ERDF scope per Article 7 ERDF Regulation, and costs already declared under other EU grants (double funding). Subcontracting should be exceptional and justified; subcontracting of coordinator tasks is prohibited. FSTP recipients must be SMEs established in EU Member States regions (including OCTs).

Success factors (concise):Convincing interregional investment pipeline; SME leadership in sub-projects; credible TRL progression to demonstration and market uptake; financial leverage and clear follow-up financing routes; S3 alignment and active involvement of ERDF managing authorities; measurable KPIs and replication plan; gender and territorial balance; high-quality consortium with relevant technical, managerial and financial capacity.

Comprehensive summary — What is this opportunity about and how to explain it

The I3-2026-INV2a call (Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a) is a competitive EU call under the I3 Instrument (ERDF) that provides financial and advisory support to interregional consortia to carry out investment portfolios that deploy, demonstrate and scale near‑market innovations (starting at minimum TRL 6) across EU regions, with a strong cohesion focus on involving less developed and transition regions. The objective is to create new value chains in less developed regions and integrate those regions sustainably into wider European value chains, accelerate innovation diffusion, and mobilise coordinated investments that lead to market uptake and measurable socio-economic and environmental impacts. The call supports both financial instruments (direct funding to consortium partners and controlled cascade funding to SMEs) and non-financial services (coaching, mentoring, matchmaking, investment advisory). Projects must address one or more of three thematic priorities — digital transition, green transition or smart manufacturing — and demonstrate clear TRL progression, SME-driven deployment roles, credible business/investment plans, a portfolio approach of interlinked sub-projects, and concrete policy recommendations for regional, national and EU policymakers. Applications are submitted electronically in one stage via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using I3 templates (Part A, Part B, Part C, detailed budget table, S3 Compliance Declaration). Consortia must include at least three independent legal entities from three regions in two eligible countries, show balanced participation across region types, allocate at least 70% of direct eligible costs to companies (SMEs focus) and ensure at least 50% of eligible costs are incurred in less developed regions. The call budget for this topic is €30.2 million (2026). Typical project grants are €2–€10 million; funding rates are normally 70% for eligible costs and 100% for FSTP. Applicants must plan deliverables such as business and investment plans, data management and dissemination plans, investor-ready documentation and evidence of regional S3 alignment. The evaluation considers relevance, quality, cost-effectiveness and impact with an overall pass threshold; successful proposals enter grant preparation, legal/financial checks and finalisation of the I3 Model Grant Agreement. This call is an opportunity for regions, clusters, innovation intermediaries, research organisations and companies, especially SMEs in less developed and transition regions, to access EU support to scale innovations, attract follow-up investment and play lasting roles in resilient EU value chains.

Overview

The I3-2026-INV2a call is part of the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF, Article 13). It supports interregional cooperation in innovation investments aligned with shared or complementary Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3). Strand 2a specifically targets reinforcing the integration of innovation actors from less developed regions (LDRs) and transition regions (TRs) into EU value chains, creating new value chains in these regions, and promoting innovation diffusion, technology transfer, and market uptake of mature innovations (TRL 6-9). Projects focus on financial and advisory support for consortia from quadruple helix ecosystems (public authorities, industry, academia, civil society) to develop mature business cases ready for scale-up and commercialisation.

Objectives and Expected Impacts

Objectives include supporting innovation actors with investment ideas, identifying new technological domains aligned with EU priorities, bridging supply-demand gaps, deploying innovative technologies in LDRs and TRs, and fostering SME collaboration across regions. Expected impacts at project closure: creation of new value chains, innovation diffusion, market adoption of technologies by SMEs, strengthened innovation channels, and identification of follow-up funding (e.g., public-private partnerships, venture capital, EIB loans). Long-term impacts: reduced innovation divide, increased productivity, enhanced EU competitiveness, contribution to twin green/digital transitions, economic growth, and job creation.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants are consortia of innovation actors from quadruple helix ecosystems in EU Member States, EEA countries, and countries associated with the I3 Instrument. Projects must involve balanced participation from regions of varying development levels (less developed, transition, more developed), with a strong focus on LDRs and TRs taking sustainable roles in value chains. Enterprises, particularly SMEs, must lead deployment and scale-up. Participation based on shared/complementary S3 priorities. Minimum TRL 6 required.

Geographical Requirements

• At least 50% of total eligible costs incurred in less developed regions by consortium partners or third parties (if FSTP used).
• At least 70% of total eligible costs allocated to investments in companies, focusing on SMEs (direct funding, FSTP, non-financial support).

Funding Details

Call Budget:€30,200,000 for 2026.

Estimated EU Contribution per Project:Between €2,000,000 and €10,000,000 (based on prior strands; confirm in call document).

Funding Rate:Up to 70% of eligible costs for consortium members; 100% for Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP/cascade funding). ¹

Types of Support

• Financial support: direct to beneficiaries or FSTP.
• Non-financial support: coaching, mentoring, matchmaking.
• Focus on technology transfer, experiments, demonstrations in companies.

Thematic Priorities

• Digital transition (e.g., digital economy, ICT in SMEs, AI, cybersecurity).
• Green transition (e.g., decarbonisation, renewable energy, circular economy, sustainable agriculture).
• Smart manufacturing (e.g., advanced manufacturing, robotics, AI, sustainable production).

Application Details

Opening Date:13 May 2026.

Deadline:12 November 2026, 17:00 CET (single-stage submission).

Submission Portal:EU Funding & Tenders Portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Required documents:Standard application form, detailed budget table, S3 Compliance Declaration. Proposal limits and layout in Part B of Application Form. Action type: I3 Project Grants (I3-AG Budget-Based Model Grant Agreement).

Key Requirements and Deliverables

1. 1Demonstrate mature business/investment cases with clear follow-up investment perspective.
2. 2Deliver action-oriented policy recommendations for regional/national/EU policymakers.
3. 3Show exploitation plans for project results (new products/services/processes).
4. 4Align with EU policies (e.g., Competitiveness Compass, Clean Industrial Deal).

Additional Information

Projects must address market failures, promote interregional co-investment on S3 priorities, and contribute to resilient EU value chains. Online info session: 27 May 2026 Info Session. Contact: EISMEA-I3-INSTRUMENT-CALLS@ec.europa.eu. Reference documents: I3 Instrument Work Programme, ERDF Regulation 2021/1058.

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed conditions in call document section 5 and EU Grants AGA. Prior strands (e.g., I3-2024-INV2a, I3-2025-INV2a) confirm 70-100% rates.