I3 Strand 2a — Less-developed regions

Objective

Strand 2a focuses on reinforcing the integration of innovation actors from less-developed regions and transition regions into developing EU value chains, while creating local opportunities for innovation and smart economic transformation in regions with shared or complementary smart specialisation areas.

Areas of intervention

• Support of innovation actors with investment ideas ready to be developed into mature business cases
• Identification of new regional technological domains and market opportunities aligned with EU priorities, bridging supply and demand sides
• Creation of new value chains in less-developed and transition regions, and their integration into interregional and cross-border value chains with more-developed regions
• Improvement of knowledge and practical skills in business and investment planning, particularly for SMEs and other consortium partners
• Application and deployment of innovative technologies and solutions in less-developed and transition regions
• Interaction and collaboration of SMEs from less-developed and transition regions in interregional value chains with innovation actors from more-developed regions

Thematic priorities

Proposals must address one or more of: Digital transition, Green transition.

What this means for cities and regions

The lighter-consortium variant aimed at less-developed and transition regions. Easier to assemble than INV1 (3 entities from 3 regions across 2 countries, with at least one more-developed region as anchor partner). Regional development agencies and innovation agencies in convergence regions typically coordinate. Project budgets up to €10 million at 70% co-financing; cascade funding up to 100% available, capped at €100,000 per third party.