The Interreg Europe has announces its first call for project proposals. The call is open from 22 June, and it will close on 31 July 2015. More information on Interreg website. A brief overview on main programme’s requirements and its priorities:
INTERREG EUROPE CALL IN BRIEF
- All EU-28 are eligible. The following organisations are eligible:
- Public authorities,
- Public law bodies (bodies governed by public law),
- Private non-profit bodies.
- Projects have to involve partners from at least three countries.
- In each project, at least half of the policy instruments addressed by the EU regions have to be related to Structural Funds programmes (e.g. a minimum of two for a project with four instruments addressed; a minimum of three for a project with five instruments addressed)
- In total, a project can last between 3 and 5 years.
- The average total ERDF budget of a project is expected to be between 1 and 2 million euros.
- Funding: 85% ERDF to public bodies and bodies governed by public law / 75% ERDF to private non-profit bodies from all 28 EU partner states.
The programme’s priorities are the following:
1 - Strengthening research, technological development and innovation
- Investment priority (1): enhancing research and innovation (R&I) infrastructure and capacities to develop R&I excellence and promoting centres of competence, in particular those of European interest.
- Specific objective: Improve the implementation of regional development policies and programmes, in particular programmes for Investment for Growth and Jobs and, where relevant, European Territorial Cooperation programmes, in the field of research and innovation infrastructure and capacities notably in the framework
- Investment priority (2): promoting business investment in R&I, developing links and synergies between enterprises, research and development centres and the higher education sector, in particular promoting investment in product and service development, technology transfer, social innovation, eco-innovation, public service applications, demand stimulation, networking, clusters and open innovation through smart specialisation, and supporting technological and applied research, pilot lines, early product validation actions, advanced manufacturing capabilities and first production, in particular in key enabling technologies and diffusion of general purpose technologies.
- Specific objective: Improve the implementation of regional development policies and programmes, in particular programmes for Investment for Growth and Jobs and, where relevant, European Territorial Cooperation programmes, that support the delivery of innovation by players in regional innovation chains in areas of “smart specialisation” and innovation opportunity
2 - Enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs
- Investment priority: Supporting the capacity of SMEs to engage in growth in regional, national and international markets, and in innovation processes.
- Specific objective: Improve the implementation of regional development policies and programmes, in particular programmes for Investment for Growth and Jobs and, where relevant, European Territorial Cooperation programmes, supporting SMEs in all stages of their life cycle to develop and achieve growth and engage in innovation
3 - Supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors.
4 - Protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency.