Interreg
Fostering Cooperation

Interreg funding for European cooperation projects
We help organisations design, prepare and manage Interreg projects that connect territories, address shared challenges and turn cooperation into measurable impact.

Interreg supports cooperation between regions and countries across Europe. Through cross-border, transnational and interregional programmes, it funds projects that improve policies, strengthen territorial cohesion and develop joint solutions in areas such as innovation, sustainability, mobility, climate resilience, governance and social inclusion.

Assess your Interreg project idea Contact an expert

Interreg at a glance

Last updated: 1 June 2026

What is Interreg?

Interreg is the European Union’s territorial cooperation framework. It helps regions and organisations work together across borders to solve challenges that cannot be addressed effectively by one territory alone.

The programme supports cooperation at different levels: cross-border cooperation between neighbouring territories, transnational cooperation across wider geographical areas, interregional cooperation to improve public policies, and cooperation involving outermost regions.

For many organisations, Interreg is a strategic way to test solutions, exchange good practices, improve regional policies and build long-term European partnerships.

What is Interreg?

Who can benefit from Interreg funding?

Interreg is especially relevant for organisations with a territorial, public-interest or ecosystem-building role. Eligibility depends on each programme and call, but Interreg projects usually involve consortia formed by partners from different countries or regions.

  • Public authorities and regional agencies
  • Universities and research centres
  • Clusters and business support organisations
  • Non-profit organisations and associations
  • Companies and SMEs

  • Interreg can support policy development, territorial strategies, governance models, capacity building and cooperation between regions facing similar challenges.

  • Research and knowledge organisations can contribute technical expertise, evidence, methodologies and pilot activities in cooperation projects.

  • Clusters, chambers of commerce and innovation agencies can help SMEs and regional ecosystems adopt new solutions, improve competitiveness and connect with European partners.

  • Interreg can fund collaborative initiatives with social, environmental, cultural or territorial impact, especially when they respond to shared needs across regions.

  • In some programmes and calls, private organisations may participate when their role contributes to the project’s objectives and the programme rules allow it.

Why Interreg projects need a specific strategy?

 

An Interreg proposal is not only evaluated as an innovation or investment project. It must also prove why cooperation is necessary, why the selected territories are relevant and how the results will improve policies, practices or services beyond the individual partners.

A strong Interreg project should show:

A shared territorial challenge.

A clear reason for cooperation.

A balanced and credible partnership.

A realistic work plan.

Measurable outputs and results.

Transferability to other regions.

Long-term use of project outcomes.

Alignment with the selected programme’s priorities.

Why Interreg projects need a different approach

Interreg programmes we can help you explore

Interreg is not a single call, but a family of programmes. Each one has its own geography, priorities, eligible partners, co-financing rates and deadlines. The official Interreg portal allows organisations to explore programmes by country, thematic objective and programme type.

  • Cross-border cooperation

    For neighbouring regions working together on shared local or regional challenges.

  • Transnational cooperation

    For wider territorial areas that need joint solutions across several countries.

  • Interregional cooperation

    For policy learning, exchange of good practices and improvement of regional development policies.

  • Outermost regions cooperation

    For cooperation involving the EU’s outermost regions and their specific territorial challenges.

  • Interreg Europe

    Interreg Europe focuses on interregional cooperation and policy improvement. Its co-financing rates can reach 80% for public or public-equivalent bodies and 70% for private non-profit bodies, according to the programme’s own guidance.

Is Interreg the right programme for your project?

Interreg may be a good fit if your organisation wants to cooperate with partners from other territories and your project is linked to a shared regional challenge.

  • You work with public policies, territorial development or regional innovation ecosystems.
  • Your project needs cooperation between different regions or countries.
  • You want to exchange, test or transfer solutions.
  • Your organisation can contribute expertise, pilots, data, policy knowledge or stakeholder networks.
  • Your expected results can be used by other territories.

  • Your project is mainly an individual R&D project.
  • You only need funding for one company’s internal investment.
  • You do not yet have a clear territorial or cooperation dimension.
  • The project does not require international or interregional partners.

How we support Interreg projects

Interreg proposals require more than a good idea. They need a clear territorial logic, a balanced consortium, strong alignment with the selected programme and a convincing work plan. Zabala Innovation supports organisations throughout the full project lifecycle.

  • Opportunity analysis

    We identify the Interreg programme and call that best fit your organisation, territory and project idea.

  • Project concept development

    We help transform an initial idea into a structured cooperation project with clear objectives, target groups, activities and expected results.

  • Consortium building

    We support the identification of complementary partners and help define roles, responsibilities and contribution to the project.

  • Proposal writing

    We prepare the technical proposal, work plan, budget narrative and impact logic, ensuring coherence with the programme’s priorities and evaluation criteria.

  • Budget and administrative support

    We help structure an eligible, realistic and balanced budget, taking into account the specific rules of each programme.

  • Project management

    Once funded, we support coordination, reporting, financial monitoring, partner management and communication obligations.

Zabala Innovation’s Interreg track record

Zabala Innovation has a proven track record in Interreg and European territorial cooperation projects. Between 2021 and 2025, the consultancy mobilised €33.2 million in Interreg funding for its clients, already exceeding the €32.5 million mobilised during the entire 2014–2020 framework.

These results reflect Zabala Innovation’s experience in helping public administrations, regional agencies, research organisations, clusters, companies and territorial ecosystems prepare competitive proposals, build strong consortia and manage cooperation projects with measurable impact.

Beyond Interreg, Zabala Innovation’s Regions and Cities area secured €70 million for clients in the 2021–2027 period up to 2025, compared with €44 million in the 2014–2020 framework.

€33.2M

Interreg funding mobilised for clients between 2021 and 2025.

€32.5M

Interreg funding mobilised during the full 2014–2020 framework.

€70M

Secured for clients in Regions and Cities programmes in 2021–2027 up to 2025.

A strategic partner for European cooperation projects

Zabala Innovation has long-standing experience in European funding programmes and in supporting organisations across the full project cycle: from opportunity analysis and proposal preparation to project management, communication and impact reporting. For Interreg projects, this experience is especially valuable because the proposal must combine technical quality, policy relevance, partnership logic and territorial impact.

MYCOAST

MYCOAST

Interreg ATLANTIC.
Piloting innovative solutions for coastal protection in the Atlantic area.
Total amount granted: 3.155.630 €

BLUEPOINT

BLUEPOINT

Interreg ATLANTIC
Boosting circular technologies to reduce plastics and microplastics in the Atlantic Area.
Total amount granted: 3.363.000 €

GURATRANS

GURATRANS

Interreg POCTEFA
Improving the management of the cross-border rivers in the West Pyreness.
Total amount granted: 1.240.014 €

Looking beyond Interreg: other opportunities for regions and cities

Although many Interreg 2021–2027 calls are already well advanced, organisations working on regional innovation, territorial development and interregional cooperation can still explore other European funding opportunities.

At Zabala Innovation, we help public authorities, regional agencies, innovation ecosystems, clusters, research organisations and companies identify the most suitable funding route according to their territory, maturity level and strategic objectives.

Explore other opportunities for regions and cities:

I3 – Interregional Innovation Investments

I3 supports interregional innovation projects that help mature partnerships move towards market deployment, scale-up and investment. It is especially relevant for regional innovation ecosystems, SMEs, clusters, research organisations and public authorities working around shared smart specialisation priorities.

European Urban Initiative

The European Urban Initiative supports cities in testing innovative solutions to urban challenges and sharing knowledge with other urban authorities across Europe.

Horizon Europe – European Innovation Ecosystems

European Innovation Ecosystems calls support connected, inclusive and efficient innovation ecosystems across Europe, helping regions, startups, investors, public authorities and innovation actors collaborate more effectively.

URBACT

URBACT helps cities cooperate, exchange knowledge and improve local policies through integrated and participatory approaches to sustainable urban development.

LIFE

LIFE funds environmental and climate action projects, including initiatives linked to climate adaptation, circular economy, biodiversity, clean energy transition and local or regional sustainability strategies.

CEF

CEF supports strategic infrastructure projects in transport, energy and digital connectivity, including opportunities linked to sustainable mobility and territorial development.

 

Related team

Meet our team

Assess your Interreg project idea

Interreg funding: frequently asked questions

  • What is Interreg funding?

    Interreg funding supports European territorial cooperation projects. It helps organisations from different regions or countries work together on shared challenges such as innovation, climate, mobility, governance, social inclusion and regional development.

  • Who can apply for Interreg funding?

    Eligibility depends on the specific programme and call. Public authorities, regional agencies, universities, research centres, clusters, associations, non-profit organisations and, in some cases, companies may participate.

  • Does Interreg fund companies?

    Some Interreg programmes allow private organisations to participate, but conditions vary. In many cases, companies are involved as partners, beneficiaries, pilot participants or stakeholders, depending on the programme rules.

  • What is the difference between Interreg and Horizon Europe?

    Horizon Europe mainly funds research and innovation projects, while Interreg focuses on territorial cooperation, regional development, policy improvement and shared challenges between territories. A project with a strong territorial and cooperation dimension may be better suited to Interreg.

  • What makes a good Interreg project?

    A good Interreg project has a clear shared challenge, a strong cooperation need, a balanced partnership, realistic activities and results that can be transferred or used by other regions.

  • Can Zabala Innovation help with an Interreg proposal?

    Yes. Zabala Innovation can support opportunity analysis, project concept development, consortium building, proposal writing, budget preparation and project management once the project is approved.