CAPACITY BUILDING CAP2B

Expected Impact

Output

The Strand 2b outputs refer to the achievement of the call specific objectives.

• Concrete output at the closure of the project (non-exhaustive list):
• Tailored policy measures (in place or ready for adoption) to increase the innovation capacity of ecosystems and their ability to participate in interregional innovation projects.
• Cooperation arrangements with industry associations and other key players to enable participation in international expert networks and regional alliances.
• Agreements with suitable partners for cooperation with less developed regions on specific innovation topics.
• Updated S3-based innovation roadmaps in the participating regions.
• Membership in relevant networks and innovation thematic platforms supporting 1) innovation diffusion or 2) the development of policy measures to foster investments, open new markets, and promote value chain participation.
• Tested tools for mapping demand-driven business opportunities for interregional investments and matching them supply-side competencies.
• Identified I3 investment pipelines based on value chain mapping and benchmarking activities.
• Identified innovative and competitive products and services relevant for interregional and European value chains.
• Concrete business cases prepared to apply to I3 investment calls.
• Increased innovation maturity of business cases (technology readiness, business readiness, and market readiness).
• Dissemination plan for sharing best practice examples, showcasing results, and promoting uptake and replication of I3 project outcomes.
• Exploitation plan for scaling up project results and leveraging further ERDF mainstream programme funding.

Long term impact (non-exhaustive list)

• Committed innovation intermediaries (e.g. regional development agencies, industrial associations) to support companies engaging in innovation and interregional value chains.
• Increased innovation capacity of ecosystems to participate in interregional innovation projects
• Improved support measures for innovation diffusion, investment identification, interregional collaboration, and value chain participation.
• Improved cooperation with interregional ecosystems to de-risk investments and leverage European innovation and market potential
• Improved business climate for competitive ecosystems, including support to industries with corporate strategies in key thematic areas (such as innovation investments, internationalisation, customer orientation in EU and global markets, and personnel training through upskilling and reskilling).
• Reinforced cooperation capacity of quadruple-helix ecosystems in less developed regions.
• Reinforced capacity to engage with local SMEs and collaborate with other ecosystems (e.g. to address interregional investments on shared S3 priorities) and improved connections among innovation stakeholders within interregional quadruple-helix ecosystems.
• Increased readiness of I3 consortia to cooperate in globally competitive EU value chains.
• Derisking investments refers to the process of reducing the potential losses in a portfolio or investment strategies. This can be achieved by financing testing and validation of innovative technologies and solutions in real operational environment, before the large-scale uptake of innovation.

Expected Outcome

The outcome of Strand 2b projects is expected to be the increased capacities of less developed regions. Regional innovation ecosystems are expected to strengthen their capacity to deliver concrete interregional innovation investments within EU value chains and the capacity to tap into other funding instruments, to cover additional funding needs (if necessary). Upon project completion, involved SMEs will possess enhanced capacity to cooperate in interregional value chains and to attract private investments or to create public- private partnerships.

Long term impact (non-exhaustive list)

• Committed innovation intermediaries (e.g. regional development agencies, industrial associations) to support companies engaging in innovation and interregional value chains.
• Increased innovation capacity of ecosystems to participate in interregional innovation projects
• Improved support measures for innovation diffusion, investment identification, interregional collaboration, and value chain participation.
• Improved cooperation with interregional ecosystems to de-risk investments and leverage European innovation and market potential
• Improved business climate for competitive ecosystems, including support to industries with corporate strategies in key thematic areas (such as innovation investments, internationalisation, customer orientation in EU and global markets, and personnel training through upskilling and reskilling).
• Reinforced cooperation capacity of quadruple-helix ecosystems in less developed regions.
• Reinforced capacity to engage with local SMEs and collaborate with other ecosystems (e.g. to address interregional investments on shared S3 priorities) and improved connections among innovation stakeholders within interregional quadruple-helix ecosystems.
• Increased readiness of I3 consortia to cooperate in globally competitive EU value chains.
• Derisking investments refers to the process of reducing the potential losses in a portfolio or investment strategies. This can be achieved by financing testing and validation of innovative technologies and solutions in real operational environment, before the large-scale uptake of innovation.

Objective

General objective

The overall objective of the I3 Strand 2b is to build capacity in less developed regions to develop and strengthen their regional innovation ecosystems and value chains through coordinated and interlinked investments in several regions.

This call for proposals aims to improve the capacity of public authorities and innovation intermediaries (e.g. clusters to support companies in the identification of investment portfolios at an interregional scale

The purpose of this activity is to build capacities for a successful participation in Strand 1 or Strand 2a calls, enhancing interregional cooperation with a view to identifying and sharing good practices, deriving actionable policy recommendations, strengthening

institutional capacities, and experimenting new approaches. This will also help public authorities and agencies to design evidence-based and targeted policy interventions in the long-term, including updates to regional Smart Specialisation Strategies and related innovation policy frameworks.

Projects can offer an added value when promoting the participation of EU outermost regions[1] and addressing their specific needs. Due consideration will be given to such added value during the evaluation of I3 project proposals. Projects can also offer an added value when supporting regions with specific challenges[1], such as difficulties in retaining and attracting talents. I3 Instrument, in particular Strand 2b, is integral part of support on the ground offered by the European Commission to cities, regions and Member States, through the Talent Booster Mechanism[1] where I3 Instrument with its capacity building component represents one of the pillars.

Specific objectives

Proposals shall:

Help create connected and well-performing regional innovation ecosystems, establishing the right framework conditions for interregional cooperation. This improved connectivity should support regions in aligning their innovation capacities and governance models to enable joint interregional innovation activities.

Contribute to the preparation of interregional innovation projects in shared smart specialisation areas. Proposals should lay the groundwork for future cooperation, in particular under Strand 2a, by focusing on areas of common interest and complementary strengths.

Facilitate the validation process of investment ideas through improved knowledge and practical skills in business and investment planning. This should include building concrete capacities by working with companies, in particular SMEs, in a specific value chain and defining a clear path towards developing I3 application(s).

Identify and address gaps and business opportunities that may hinder or enable the reinforcement of existing value chains or the creation of new ones. A clear link to smart specialisation priorities and value chain positioning is expected.

Experiment with “out-of-the-box” approaches to deliver validated solutions and tested models that can increase the capacity of regional actors to engage effectively in interregional innovation processes.

Ensure that the knowledge and capabilities gained during the project can be replicated, adapted, and embedded in the regional ecosystem. This should contribute to long-term institutional learning, inform updates to Smart Specialisation Strategies, and support policy and ecosystem development beyond the project’s lifetime.

Ensure the active involvement of companies and civil society, alongside public administrations, academia, and other quadruple-helix stakeholders.

Scope

Strand 2b helps build the capabilities needed to participate in interregional innovation processes, paving the way for future applications under Strand 1, Strand 2a, or other complementary EU programmes.

Regions targeted by Strand 2b — including LDRs, outermost regions, and those facing specific challenges — often experience obstacles to innovation diffusion and cooperation. These may include institutional and administrative weaknesses, fragmented ecosystems, human capital constraints, and a lack of supportive policy or regulatory frameworks. In many cases, there is limited access to interregional collaboration with research and technology organisations, investors, and industry partners, which further constrains their innovation potential. Addressing these challenges requires not only building operational and technical capacities, but also reinforcing institutional and governance frameworks, fostering policy learning, and embedding successful practices into regional and national strategies.

Strand 2b supports co-creation dynamics among all participating regions, ensuring that project development takes place on an equal footing regardless of development status. The active participation of transition and more developed regions is encouraged, particularly in supporting less developed regions to strengthen their capacity and gain experience in engaging with European value chains and joint innovation investment projects.

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