I3 Strand 2a Instrument: €30.2 million for interregional innovation, deadline 12 November

The European Commission, through the EISMEA agency, has the call I3-2026-INV2a under the Interregional Innovation Investments Instrument (I3) open until 12 November 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time). The budget is €30.2 million and it funds consortia that bring mature innovations (minimum TRL 6) to market in less developed regions. Projects usually receive between €2 million and €10 million, and SMEs outside the consortium can receive up to €100,000 each, through open calls run by the project.

The call matters particularly for Romania: 7 of the 8 development regions are officially classed as "less developed", and at least half of each project's expenditure must be incurred in such regions.

In brief

• Programme: I3 Instrument (Interregional Innovation Investments), funded by the ERDF, Strand 2a, call I3-2026-INV2a
• Authority: European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), European Commission
• Beneficiaries: consortia of at least 3 independent entities from 3 different regions and 2 eligible countries: companies (especially SMEs), clusters, development and innovation agencies, universities, public authorities
• Total budget: €30.2 million for Strand 2a; separately, Strand 1 (I3-2026-INV1) has €28.2 million, with the same deadline
• Value per project / intensity: usually €2–10 million grant; 70% of costs, 100% for support given to third parties; maximum €100,000 for each SME supported through cascade funding
• Submission period: 13 May – 12 November 2026, 17:00 CET, single stage, on the Funding & Tenders Portal
• Status: open; evaluation November 2026 – April 2027, results in May 2027, contract signing in August 2027 (indicative dates)

What does Strand 2a fund?

Strand 2a supports the creation of new value chains in less developed regions and the integration of local actors into existing European value chains. Projects must fall under at least one of three thematic priorities: digital transition, green transition and smart manufacturing.

The project is built as a portfolio of investment sub-projects that are ready for implementation. The call document lists, among others, the following eligible activities:

• demonstration, testing, piloting, large-scale product validation and market replication;
• adapting existing prototypes to companies' needs, for demonstration in a real environment (prototyping from scratch is not eligible);
• complementary use of testing and demonstration infrastructures from several regions;
• advice on investments and market-entry plans;
• support actions (mentoring, coaching, matchmaking, acceleration programmes), but only together with the investments themselves.

The starting point is minimum TRL 6, and the target is TRL 7–9. Activities that breach the "do no significant harm" principle for the environment are not funded, such as projects that increase the efficiency of fossil-fuel technologies.

Who can apply and how is the consortium formed?

The consortium must have at least 3 independent entities, established in 3 different regions in 2 eligible countries, at least one of which is in a more developed region. The coordinator must be a public body, a non-profit organisation or an entity mandated by national or regional authorities to support SME innovation and investment (clusters, development agencies, innovation agencies, public-private partnerships).

The conditions that weigh most when building the budget are:

• at least 70% of eligible direct costs go towards investments in companies, with an emphasis on SMEs;
• at least 50% of eligible costs are incurred in less developed regions;
• financial support to third parties (FSTP) cannot exceed 30% of eligible costs.

In Romania, North-West, Centre, North-East, South-East, South-Muntenia, South-West Oltenia and West are less developed regions, while Bucharest-Ilfov is a more developed region, under Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1130. A consortium made up only of Romanian partners is not eligible, because at least two countries are required.

Natural persons are not eligible, except those carrying out self-employed activity without separate legal personality. All partners must be registered in the Participant Register before submission.

How does the money reach SMEs outside the consortium?

Through FSTP, beneficiaries run open calls for SMEs from the Member States. The official rules are as follows: maximum €100,000 per SME, open calls lasting at least two months, published transparently, with results made public. Support is given only to SMEs that bring added value to the project, for example by completing a value chain or by testing and optimising products and processes. FSTP costs are reimbursed at 100%, other costs at 70%, plus flat-rate indirect costs of 7% of eligible direct costs.

How do you apply and how are applications assessed?

The application is submitted exclusively online, on the Funding & Tenders Portal, and comprises part A (administrative data and budget), part B (technical description, maximum 70 pages) and part C (indicators). The mandatory annexes are the consolidated budget table and the coordinator's declaration on alignment with the smart specialisation strategies (S3) of all participating regions.

The maximum score is 25: relevance 5, quality 5, cost effectiveness 5, impact 10. The thresholds are 2.5 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 5 per criterion and 17.5 points in total. During implementation, the project must actively involve the ERDF managing authorities and the S3 bodies in the partners' regions.

What this means for your business

Our recommendation is as follows: I3 is not suitable for a company looking on its own for a grant for equipment. It suits SMEs that already have a tested solution (at least TRL 6) and want to implement or scale it together with partners from other countries, as well as clusters, regional development agencies, universities and town halls that can coordinate such a consortium.

• Time is short. With less than seven weeks to the deadline, a consortium built from scratch has slim chances. It is worth the effort if you already have partners and a portfolio idea. If not, start preparing now for the next calls under the I3 2025–2027 work programme.
• Check the S3 domain. The investment must match the smart specialisation priorities of your region. Without this alignment, the coordinator's declaration cannot be signed.
• Plan your co-financing. The 70% rate means the partners cover 30% of costs. Companies also go through a financial capacity check.
• For SMEs not joining a consortium: follow the FSTP calls launched by the winning projects after contracts are signed, expected in August 2027.

If you are not sure which programme you fit, start with the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

Can a company from Romania submit an I3 project on its own?

No. The call requires a consortium of at least 3 independent entities from 3 different regions and 2 eligible countries, and the coordinator must be a public body, a non-profit organisation or an entity mandated to support SME innovation. A company can be a partner in the consortium or can receive up to €100,000 as a third party, through the project's open calls.

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

Strand 1 (I3-2026-INV1, €28.2 million) supports interregional investments along existing value chains. Strand 2a (I3-2026-INV2a, €30.2 million) aims to create new value chains in less developed regions and integrate them into European chains. Both have a deadline of 12 November 2026, 17:00 CET.

Can town halls and county councils take part?

Yes. Public entities are eligible and can even be coordinators. They are exempt from the financial and operational capacity check, but VAT paid by public bodies acting as a public authority is not eligible. The digital priority explicitly includes digital public services and e-government.

How much does a project receive and how much must the partners contribute?

The grant requested usually falls between €2 million and €10 million. Other amounts are possible if justified. Costs are reimbursed at 70%, except support for third parties, which is reimbursed at 100%. The remaining 30% is covered by the partners.

When will the results be known?

According to the indicative timetable, evaluation takes place between November 2026 and April 2027, results are communicated in May 2027, and contracts are signed in August 2027.

Official sources

• EISMEA – Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a (I3-2026-INV2a)
• EISMEA – Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 1 (I3-2026-INV1)
• Funding & Tenders Portal – topic I3-2026-INV2a
• Call document I3-2026-INV2a, version 1.0 of 13 May 2026 (PDF)
• Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1130 – list of regions by category

Information checked on 27 September 2026. Conditions may be amended by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.