Up to €10 Million for Interregional Innovation Projects – I3 Instrument 2026

The Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument supports collaborative European projects that take innovations closer to commercialisation and scale-up. The 2026 calls focus on strengthening regional innovation ecosystems and European value chains, particularly across the green transition, digital transition and smart manufacturing.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Up to €10 million per project

• 70% EU funding contribution for beneficiaries and cost categories

• Up to 100% EU contribution for financial support provided to third parties

• €28.2 million available through 2026 Strand 1

• €30.2 million available through 2026 Strand 2a

• Funding for testing, piloting, validation, demonstration and market replication

• Projects should generally involve innovations at TRL 6–9

• Support for commercialisation, scale-up and development of European value chains

• SMEs can receive up to €100,000 through financial support to third parties within funded projects.

Who can apply?

• SMEs and other businesses

• Research institutions

• Clusters and innovation organisations

• Public authorities

• Regional innovation ecosystem organisations

• Projects require interregional collaboration, generally involving partners from different EU Member States and regional ecosystems

• Strand 1 supports regions with shared or complementary smart-specialisation priorities

• Strand 2a particularly focuses on integrating less-developed and transition regions into European value chains.

Application deadline: 12 November 2026 at 17:00 CET