In line with the New European Innovation Agenda’s flagship on accelerating and strengthening innovation in European Innovation Ecosystems across the EU and addressing the innovation divide, this action is intended to create connected regional innovation valleys across the European Union (EU), involving regions with lower innovation performances, by building on strategic areas of regional strength and specialisation (defined in their smart specialisation strategies), in support of key EU priorities
4 projects are expected to be funded. This is a CoFund action, The funding rate is 50% of the total eligible costs
This action requires the participation, as beneficiaries, of at least three (3) national or regional authorities, from at least three (3) different Member States or Associated Countries, of which at least (2) two from a widening country and one (1) from a non-widening country. The action also requires that among the national or regional authorities participating as beneficiaries, at least one (1) is from a ‘moderate’ or ‘emerging’ innovator region and at least one (1) is from a ‘strong’ or ‘innovation leader’ region
HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-05-ACCESS01: Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys in widening countries call is open for application. The deadline is 15 October 2025
