Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys in widening countries
HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions
Funding Amount
€5.0M - €8.0M
Deadline
15/10/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Public Institution, Research Institution, Other
Trusted by
What is the Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys in widening countries Call?
Grant Description
This cofund action supports national and regional authorities to create connected regional innovation valleys across the European Union by developing joint strategic visions and implementing 3–5 year annual work programmes. It addresses the innovation divide by building on smart specialisation strategies to foster efficient, inclusive and interconnected innovation ecosystems. Key activities include capacity building, strategy setting, joint collaborative actions, open calls for interregional inn...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Successful projects will establish “regional innovation valleys” and deliver:
• Efficient, inclusive, interconnected innovation ecosystems across the EU, leveraging diversity and smart specialisation strategies
• Enhanced synergies, complementarities and cooperation among European innovation ecosystems around strategic areas and EU priorities
• Creation of common knowledge assets and reinforced cross-border connectedness
• Increased innovation capabilities, including deep tech, enabling market entry and EU-level scaling
• Stronger links between innovation leaders/strong regions and moderate/emerging regions
• Greater innovation co-investments mobilised from EU, national/regional public funds and private sources
• Broader participation of ecosystem actors in technology and industrial value chains supporting the green and digital transition, net-zero objectives, open strategic autonomy and competitiveness
• Efficient, inclusive, interconnected innovation ecosystems across the EU, leveraging diversity and smart specialisation strategies
• Enhanced synergies, complementarities and cooperation among European innovation ecosystems around strategic areas and EU priorities
• Creation of common knowledge assets and reinforced cross-border connectedness
• Increased innovation capabilities, including deep tech, enabling market entry and EU-level scaling
• Stronger links between innovation leaders/strong regions and moderate/emerging regions
• Greater innovation co-investments mobilised from EU, national/regional public funds and private sources
• Broader participation of ecosystem actors in technology and industrial value chains supporting the green and digital transition, net-zero objectives, open strategic autonomy and competitiveness
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
- Consortium of at least three national or regional authorities from three different Member States/Associated Countries (minimum two from widening countries, one from non-widening)
• Coordinator established in a widening country; majority of budget to widening-country beneficiaries
• Among authorities: at least one from a ‘moderate/emerging’ innovator region and one from a ‘strong/innovation leader’ region (per Regional/European Innovation Scoreboards or GII/Horizon profiles)
• Pre-selected thematic/technological area (including deep tech) aligned with participants’ smart specialisation strategies
• Project duration 3–5 years with concrete, scalable Annual Work Programmes demonstrating EU added value
• Annual Work Programmes structured in four steps: (1) capacity building; (2) joint strategy and work plans; (3) concrete joint activities; (4) joint innovation actions (design & implementation of calls)
• Provisions and modalities for competitive selection/funding of ≥3 interregional projects (FSTP), optionally including PCP/PPI
• Coordination of the resulting project portfolio and integration into existing/emerging value chains
• Demonstrated complementarity and synergies with EU, national and regional funds, policies and programmes
• Definition of verifiable Key Performance Indicators aligned to objectives and relevant EU policy frameworks
• Long-term commitment evidenced by a letter of intent
• Coordinator established in a widening country; majority of budget to widening-country beneficiaries
• Among authorities: at least one from a ‘moderate/emerging’ innovator region and one from a ‘strong/innovation leader’ region (per Regional/European Innovation Scoreboards or GII/Horizon profiles)
• Pre-selected thematic/technological area (including deep tech) aligned with participants’ smart specialisation strategies
• Project duration 3–5 years with concrete, scalable Annual Work Programmes demonstrating EU added value
• Annual Work Programmes structured in four steps: (1) capacity building; (2) joint strategy and work plans; (3) concrete joint activities; (4) joint innovation actions (design & implementation of calls)
• Provisions and modalities for competitive selection/funding of ≥3 interregional projects (FSTP), optionally including PCP/PPI
• Coordination of the resulting project portfolio and integration into existing/emerging value chains
• Demonstrated complementarity and synergies with EU, national and regional funds, policies and programmes
• Definition of verifiable Key Performance Indicators aligned to objectives and relevant EU policy frameworks
• Long-term commitment evidenced by a letter of intent
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
- Admissibility: page limits and layout per General Annexes (Annex A and E)
• Eligible countries per Annex B; follow Horizon Europe Programme Guide for third-country provisions
• Minimum participation: three national/regional authorities; two from widening countries, one non-widening; at least one moderate/emerging and one strong/leader innovator region
• Coordinator must be in a widening country; majority budget to widening-country beneficiaries
• Use latest Regional/European Innovation Scoreboards or GII/Horizon profiles to classify innovator categories
• Allocate at least 50% of total eligible costs to FSTP and/or PCP/PPI procurements
• Provide a single letter of intent at submission indicating source of the required 50% complementary funding (national/regional/EU/private)
• Maximum grant per third party: €600 000; funding rate: 50% of eligible costs
• Deliverable: annual work plans subject to Commission approval (first year plan submitted with proposal)
• Compliance with all Horizon Europe MGA rules: evaluation criteria (Annex D), submission process (Annex F), financial & operational capacity (Annex C), EU financial regulations and communication network protection
• Eligible countries per Annex B; follow Horizon Europe Programme Guide for third-country provisions
• Minimum participation: three national/regional authorities; two from widening countries, one non-widening; at least one moderate/emerging and one strong/leader innovator region
• Coordinator must be in a widening country; majority budget to widening-country beneficiaries
• Use latest Regional/European Innovation Scoreboards or GII/Horizon profiles to classify innovator categories
• Allocate at least 50% of total eligible costs to FSTP and/or PCP/PPI procurements
• Provide a single letter of intent at submission indicating source of the required 50% complementary funding (national/regional/EU/private)
• Maximum grant per third party: €600 000; funding rate: 50% of eligible costs
• Deliverable: annual work plans subject to Commission approval (first year plan submitted with proposal)
• Compliance with all Horizon Europe MGA rules: evaluation criteria (Annex D), submission process (Annex F), financial & operational capacity (Annex C), EU financial regulations and communication network protection
Important dates
Open from: 14/05/2025
Deadline:15/10/2025
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