I3 2026 calls open: EUR 58.4 million to boost interregional innovation investments

The European Commission has opened the 2026 calls of the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument, with a total budget of EUR 58.4 million to support mature innovation projects developed jointly by partners from different European regions.

The 2026 calls are structured around two investment strands:

• Strand 1 – I3-2026-INV1: EUR 28.2 million to strengthen existing interregional value chains and support mature innovations as they move towards demonstration, scale-up and commercialisation.
• Strand 2a – I3-2026-INV2a: EUR 30.2 million to help less developed and transition regions join European value chains, while creating sustainable business opportunities and stronger investment capacity in these territories.

Projects should build on shared or complementary Smart Specialisation priorities and involve companies, particularly SMEs, in the deployment and market uptake of mature innovations. Selected projects may receive grants of up to EUR 10 million, with a 70% EU funding rate. Financial Support to Third Parties can also be included, with the maximum amount per supported SME increased from EUR 60,000 to EUR 100,000 in 2026.

The calls opened on 13 May 2026 and the deadline for submitting proposals is 12 November 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

IDConsortium supports organisations and regional innovation ecosystems throughout the full proposal preparation process, from shaping the initial project concept and building the consortium to defining investment cases, work plan, budget and final submission.

With experience in European innovation funding and consortium development, IDConsortium can help applicants translate promising ideas into structured, competitive and investment-ready proposals.

Interested in preparing an I3 proposal? Contact IDConsortium to assess your project idea, identify the right strand and plan a strong proposal strategy.