The new “Interregional Innovation Investments” (I3) EU funding programme represents a great new opportunity to stimulate cooperation among EU regions with joint S3 priorities and foster in a bottom-up approach the development of industry-led projects supporting market access, blue growth and sustainable blue economy. The I3 targets both more or less developed regions with targeted calls to increase cohesion, which is key for the Baltic Sea Region (BSR).
In the last years, many projects have paved the way to the implementation of the S3 strategy. Blue Platform project (2018-2022) have contributed in the implementation of the RIS3 strategy, by increasing cooperation of Baltic blue clusters, development of thematic round tables, and promoting technology transfer across borders. Smart Blue Regions project (2016-2019) helped Baltic blue regions increase cooperation and validate their S3 priorities. Also, the BSR S3 Ecosystem Platform project (2018-2022) has on the other hand worked at the core of S3 implementation (also beyond the blue) by analysing opportunities, challenges and needed capacities related to the development of strategic inter-regional cooperation based on S3, and the co-development of the I3 programme. Also, BSR Stars S3, Smart-Up BSR were two important projects analysed in the S3 Platform project.
This workshop marks the end of the ‘Better off Blue’ event series held under the ‘Blue Platform’. It is co-organized with the BSR S3 Ecosystem Platform project. The new I3 funding programme launched in November 2021, is a great opportunity to facilitate, technology transfer and demonstration, and SME entrepreneurship across BSR and EU regions, supporting the sustainable blue economy.
