Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Interregional Innovation Investments Instrument (I3) 

The Interregional innovation investments instrument, also known as I3, is an instrument under the European Regional and Development Fund (ERDF). It aims at supporting interregional innovation projects in their commercialisation and scale-up phases (Technological Readiness Levels 6 to 9) giving them the tools to overcome regulatory and other barriers and bring their project to investment level.

The instrument’s final beneficiaries are mainly companies, in particular SMEs. 

The consortia supported by the I3 Instrument shall also include other relevant innovation and/or business support partners (such as research institutions, public authorities, universities, clusters, innovation intermediaries, etc.) who jointly face innovation challenges and need to address bottlenecks. 

The focus of the I3 2025, 2026 and 2027 calls is the digital and green transitions as well as smart manufacturing.  

Successful projects coming out of other regional and EU programmes, such as those funded by the ERDF, and Horizon Europe, Digital Europe Programme and LIFE will have the opportunity to explore further possibilities for the scale-up and commercialisation phases under the I3 Instrument. 

Programme structure

• Strand 1 supports consortia from regions with shared smart specialisation areas, ready to invest in interregional innovation projects.
• Strand 2a funds value chain development in less developed regions, integrating them into EU value chains.
• Strand 2b strengthens regional innovation ecosystems, building capacity for interregional business cases.

Investment project requirements

• minimum 3- 5 partners from different Member States and regional ecosystems
• close to market projects (TRL 6-9)
• innovation and impact oriented investments

Budget/project 

• up to €10 million per project
• 70 % of EU contribution for all beneficiaries and cost categories
• 100 % of EU contribution of financial support to third parties

Funding opportunities

The following investment calls - Strand 1 & 2a are open from 13 May 2026 to 12 November 2026. 

• Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 1 (I3-2026-INV1)
• Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a (I3-2026-INV2a)

Access recordings and presentations from I3 Instrument Info Days: detailed guidance, and practical tips to prepare a strong proposal.

Useful tools for applicants - I3 Instrument Support Facility 

Guidance for applicants on building strong consortia, sharing knowledge and aligning proposals with EU and regional priorities.

• I3 Instrument Observatory – statistics and insights on I3 projects and interregional innovation investment trends.
• I3 projects database – Description of funded I3 projects
• I3 events – monthly virtual events and information sessions related to I3 funding and implementation.
• I3 policy discussion groups – thematic groups to exchange knowledge, discuss policy priorities and connect with relevant stakeholders.
• Communication toolkit – practical guidance for outreach, communication planning and visibility obligations.

More information: 

FAQ of the Funding &  Tenders portal 

I3 Instrument Work Programme 2025 -2027

I3 Instrument Work Programme 2025 - 2027 Annex