Interregional Innovation Investments I3

The Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument helps European regions and innovation ecosystems bring mature solutions closer to the market. At Zabala Innovation, we support companies, clusters, regional authorities, research organisations and innovation ecosystems in the design, preparation and management of competitive I3 proposals. Our work focuses on building strong interregional value chains, aligning projects with Smart Specialisation Strategies and turning promising technologies into credible investment cases.

I3 at a glance

Last updated: June 2026
The Interregional Innovation Investments I3 Instrument is an EU funding programme under the European Regional Development Fund. It supports interregional innovation projects in their commercialisation and scale-up phases, especially when they are linked to shared or complementary Smart Specialisation priorities.

What is the Interregional Innovation Investments I3?

The I3 Instrument supports European regions that want to work together on innovation projects with a clear route to the market. It was created to help regional ecosystems move beyond cooperation and towards real investment, demonstration, scale-up and commercial deployment.

Unlike programmes focused mainly on research, I3 is designed for projects that already have a significant level of maturity. It helps consortia overcome market, regulatory, financial and value-chain barriers, while connecting regions with shared or complementary Smart Specialisation priorities.

This makes I3 especially relevant for organisations that already have a tested technology, solution or business case, but need European support to validate it at scale, connect with other regions, integrate SMEs into value chains or prepare the next investment phase.

What is the Interregional Innovation Investments I3 Instrument?

Who can benefit from I3 funding?

I3 is relevant for organisations that can contribute to interregional innovation value chains. The strongest proposals usually combine market-oriented partners, regional anchoring and a clear investment logic.

I3 can support companies that are ready to demonstrate, validate or scale up innovative solutions in cooperation with partners from other European regions. It is particularly relevant for SMEs that need access to new markets, pilot environments, industrial partners or regional innovation ecosystems.

Clusters can play a central role in I3 proposals by connecting SMEs, industry, technology providers and regional actors. They are often well placed to structure value chains and demonstrate how the project will generate impact beyond a single organisation.

Regional authorities can use I3 to strengthen Smart Specialisation priorities, connect local innovation ecosystems with European value chains and support the participation of less developed regions in market-oriented innovation projects.

Research centres, universities and technology organisations can contribute technical validation, testing environments, demonstration activities and knowledge transfer. Their role is strongest when the project is already close to market and connected to industry needs.

Innovation agencies, hubs, accelerators and development organisations can help identify investment opportunities, prepare regional partners and support the long-term exploitation of project results.

Strand 1 and Strand 2a: two different logics

I3 calls are usually structured around different strands. Each one responds to a different level of maturity and regional capacity.

Strand 1: interregional innovation investments

Strand 1 is designed for mature consortia that are ready to deploy interregional innovation investments. Projects should be based on shared or complementary Smart Specialisation priorities and should contribute to the development or reinforcement of European value chains.

This strand is suitable when the consortium already has a clear investment case, a mature technology, strong regional alignment and a credible plan for commercialisation or scale-up.

Strand 2a: value chains in less developed regions

Strand 2a focuses on helping less developed regions integrate into interregional value chains. It supports innovation actors with promising investment ideas that need financial and advisory support to become stronger business cases.

This strand is suitable when the project has clear potential, but the consortium still needs to reinforce capacity, structure the investment logic or improve the participation of less developed regions.

 

Is your project ready for I3?

Your project may be a good fit for I3 if it meets several of these conditions:

  • It is linked to shared or complementary Smart Specialisation priorities.
  • It involves partners from different European regions.
  • It has a clear market, demonstration or scale-up objective.
  • It starts from a mature technology or solution.
  • It can strengthen an existing value chain or create a new one.
  • It includes SMEs, companies or market-oriented actors.
  • It has a credible investment logic.
  • It can generate measurable territorial and economic impact.
  • It can show why EU support is needed to overcome market or regulatory barriers.

I3 is usually not the best option for early-stage research ideas, projects without a clear market path or consortia that are not yet anchored in regional innovation priorities.

 

 

How Zabala Innovation supports I3 proposals

  • Project idea assessment

    We analyse whether the project fits the I3 Instrument, which strand is more appropriate, what gaps exist and how the idea should be positioned before investing time in a full proposal.

  • Funding strategy

    We compare I3 with other European and regional funding opportunities, including Interreg, Horizon Europe, EIC, Digital Europe, LIFE, Innovation Fund and ERDF instruments. This helps organisations choose the most suitable route.

  • Consortium and value-chain design

    We help structure the consortium around a credible interregional value chain. This includes partner roles, regional complementarity, SME participation, market positioning and Smart Specialisation alignment.

  • Proposal writing and coordination

    We support the preparation of the technical proposal, impact logic, work plan, budget narrative, implementation structure and supporting evidence. The objective is to make the proposal clear, competitive and aligned with the evaluation criteria.

  • Business case and exploitation strategy

    I3 proposals need more than a good innovation story. They need a credible route to market. We help define exploitation, investment readiness, replication potential, value-chain impact and long-term sustainability.

  • Grant agreement and project management

    When a proposal is selected, we support the grant agreement phase and the administrative, financial and technical management of the project. We also help with reporting, communication, dissemination and impact monitoring.

Why work with Zabala Innovation on I3?

I3 requires a combination of European funding knowledge, regional innovation experience, market understanding and technical proposal management. Zabala Innovation brings these capabilities together.

We have worked for decades with European programmes, regional authorities, companies, SMEs, research organisations and innovation ecosystems. This gives us a practical understanding of both sides of I3: the European evaluation logic and the territorial impact expected from interregional investment projects.

Our teams combine expertise in European funding, Smart Specialisation, regional development, innovation strategy, communication, exploitation, financial management and project implementation.

Why work with Zabala Innovation on I3?

Services connected to your organisation type

  • Company or SME
  • Cluster or industry association
  • Regional authority or innovation agency
  • Research or technology organisation

  • Relevant services include European funding strategy, proposal writing, consortium building, business case development, exploitation planning, innovation strategy and project management.

  • Relevant services include value-chain mapping, partner mobilisation, interregional cooperation design, proposal coordination, communication, dissemination and impact strategy.

  • Relevant services include Smart Specialisation alignment, funding roadmap design, ecosystem mapping, project pipeline development, stakeholder engagement and policy-oriented impact narratives.

  • Relevant services include proposal development, technical work package design, exploitation strategy, dissemination, communication and support in turning research results into market-oriented innovation projects.

I3 project journey

  • Step 1: Strategic fit

    The first step is to confirm whether the project is aligned with I3, which strand is most suitable and whether the consortium has the right level of maturity.

  • Step 2: Interregional value-chain design

    The project must show why cooperation between regions is necessary, how each region contributes and how the expected results will strengthen European value chains.

  • Step 3: Proposal preparation

    The proposal must explain the innovation, the investment logic, the market opportunity, the work plan, the role of each partner, the expected impact and the credibility of the implementation plan.

  • Step 4: Evaluation and grant agreement

    If selected, the project enters the grant agreement phase. This requires administrative, legal and financial preparation, as well as alignment between all partners.

  • Step 5: Implementation and impact

    Once launched, the project must deliver technical results, financial reporting, communication, dissemination, exploitation and measurable impact for the participating regions and organisations.

Related funding programmes

I3 can be the right programme for mature interregional innovation investments. However, depending on the project stage and objective, other programmes may be more suitable.

Assess your I3 project idea Speak with our I3 funding experts

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Frequently asked questions

  • What is the I3 Instrument?

    The Interregional Innovation Investments I3 Instrument is an EU funding programme under the European Regional Development Fund. It supports interregional innovation projects in their commercialisation and scale-up phases, especially when they are linked to Smart Specialisation priorities.

  • Who manages the I3 Instrument?

    The I3 Instrument is managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, known as EISMEA.

  • What type of projects does I3 fund?

    I3 funds mature innovation projects that can demonstrate, validate, scale or commercialise solutions through interregional cooperation. Projects should contribute to European value chains and show clear market potential.

  • Is I3 only for regions?

    No. I3 is linked to regional innovation ecosystems, but eligible consortia can include companies, SMEs, clusters, universities, research centres, public bodies and other innovation actors.

  • What is the difference between I3 Strand 1 and Strand 2a?

    Strand 1 is aimed at more mature interregional innovation investments. Strand 2a focuses on strengthening value chains and innovation capacity in less developed regions, helping promising investment ideas become stronger business cases.

  • What TRL is expected for I3 projects?

    I3 is generally aimed at mature projects, often starting from TRL 6 or above. The exact requirement depends on the call text, but early-stage research ideas are usually less suitable.

  • Can SMEs participate in I3 projects?

    Yes. SMEs are highly relevant in I3, especially when they contribute to innovation deployment, value-chain integration, market uptake or regional economic impact.

  • How important is Smart Specialisation in I3?

    Smart Specialisation is central to I3. Proposals should show how the project is aligned with shared or complementary regional priorities and why interregional cooperation adds value.

  • Can Zabala Innovation help prepare an I3 proposal?

    Yes. Zabala Innovation supports I3 proposals from strategic fit assessment and consortium design to proposal writing, budget preparation, grant agreement support and project management.

  • What should I prepare before contacting Zabala Innovation?

    It is useful to prepare a short description of the innovation, participating regions, potential partners, current maturity level, expected market application, investment needs and any link with Smart Specialisation priorities.