The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), has officially launched the Support Facility for Interregional Innovation Investments (I3).

This initiative aims to empower regional and national innovation stakeholders to build robust interregional innovation ecosystems, reinforcing the objectives of the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument.  

The I3 Support Facility will act as a cornerstone in fostering innovative projects within smart specialisation areas. By promoting cohesion, capacity-building, and integration into broader European value chains, it seeks to particularly benefit less-developed regions across the EU. 

At the core of the I3 Support Facility is the Capacity Building Hub, designed to accelerate the adoption of the I3 Instrument and maximise the benefits of this EU funding programme: 

• Facilitate collaboration, consortia building, knowledge sharing, and capacity building among stakeholders. 
• Grasp (policy) feedback from running I3 Instrument projects.
•  Align with EU and regional priorities and support public sector capacity building related to interregional investments. 

The I3 Support Facility will also offer an array of tools to support innovation stakeholders, including: 

• Technical, regulatory, and investment advice to strengthen I3 Instrument project applications. 
• A matchmaking platform to connect stakeholders and foster collaboration. 
• Workshops, training seminars, and a comprehensive handbook to share best practices and build robust business cases. 

The Facility will also support regional stakeholders and collaborate to build networks and drive engagement. Then, a Policy Lab has been designed for regional policymakers with room to address challenges faced by less-developed and outermost regions, enhance institutional capacities to work closely with regional actors, develop effective policy solutions to support interregional innovation and help regions retain talent and attract investments.

The engagement part will be developed through a series of online and physical events, such as monthly webinars, regional stakeholders’ workshops and an Annual I3 Forum, called to be the flagship event where beneficiaries and public authorities will share experiences and strengthen local capacities for additional I3 Instrument projects.