European interregional innovation investments (I3) and the Green Deal.
Date: 2025-02-20
Institutions: European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency
Subjects: EU regional policy, EU research policy, EU strategy, circular economy, financial instrument, green economy, investment, regional cooperation, regional development, research and development, smart specialisation, sustainable development

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Written by Sumira Bothé, under the supervision of Maciej Lopatka 

February 2025 

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) 
E-mail:  EISMEA-I3-INSTRUMENT@ec.europa.eu 

European Commission 
B-1049 Brussels

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 

 
 
 
4 

 
 
 
 
1

1  The  classification  of  green  projects  for  the  following  analysis  has  been  done  independently  of  this  initial  classification,  t o 
include projects which supported green goals without it being them being their only goal. 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
Number of Green Projects

18

35

25

8

2

 - No green objectives

- cross-cutting objectives (including
sustainability)
- Green adjacent objectives

- Sustainability oriented projects

6 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
7 

 
 
Development Level of 
Project Participants

2%

49%

20%

29%

Developed
regions

Less developed
regions

Transition
regions

Other

Participant Types

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Private for profit entities

294

107

48

Research entities

16

174

25

Other

34

86

83

Public bodies

1

27

29

SME

Non-SME Missing

8 

 
 
 
 
Distribution of Participant Types - Development Regions

0%

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Developed regions

249

100

13

91

Less developed regions

108

56

Other

Regions in transition

7

85

32

3

74

1

2

44

11

48

Private for profit entities

Other

Public bodies

Research entities

2

Distribution of SME Status Accross Development Regions

Less develop regions

26%

25%

49%

Developed regions

Regions in transition

41%

36%

16%

26%

43%

38%

other

60%

20%

20%

0%

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

SME Missing

Non-SME

2 When looking at all participant (green and non-green), missing data accounts for the difference in proportion between less and 
more developed regions for SMEs. 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 

 
 
 
Funding and Project Distribution Across Green Goals

11

12

5

€
n
o

i
l
l
i

M

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

2

4

1

clean industy

Sustainable
food systems

Clean energy

Preserving
Ecosystems

General / cross-
cutting

sustainable
mobility

GREEN 
DEAL 

Clean Industry 

A new Circular Economy 
Action Plan 

Plastics Strategy

Textiles Strategy

A new Industrial Strategy 
for Europe

Communication for a 
sustainable supply of 
ciritical raw materials

Sustainable 
Food Systems

A Farm to Fork Stratgey 

Strategic guidelines for 
Sustainable Aquaculture

Communication for a 
Sustainable Algae Sector

Clean Energy

Offshore Strategy

Preserving 
Ecosystems

Hydrogen Strategy

Biodiversity Strategy

Forest Strategy

Sustainable Carbon Cycles

Sustainable 
Mobility

Sustainable and Smart 
Mobility Strategy

Cross-cutting

Bioeconomy Strategy 

Sustainable Blue Economy

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
12 

 
 
 
4

3

3 An EU Strategy to harness the potential of offshore renewable energy for a climate neutral future – COM(2020) 741 

4 Communication on a new approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU – COM(2021) 240 

13 

 
 
 
 
5

6

5  A  sustainable  Bioeconomy  for  Europe:  Strengthening  the  connection  between  economy,  society  and  the  environment  – 
COM(2018) 673 

6 A hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe - COM(2020) 301 final 

14 

 
 
 
 
7 A new Circular Economy Action Plan; For a cleaner and more competitive Europe – COM(2020) 98 final 

15 

 
 
 
 
8 EPIC also works on developing the packaging sector, in line with sustainability, but as sustainability was only a side concer n, 
it has been left out of this analysis 

9 A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy – COM(2018) 28 final 

10 EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles - COM(2022) 141 final 

11 A New Industrial Strategy for Europe – COM(2020) 102  

16 

 
 
 
 
14

13

12 A secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials in support of the twin transition – COM(2023) 165 

13 EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives – COM(2020) 380 

14 New EU Forest Strategy for 2030 – COM(2021) 572  

17 

 
 
 
 
 
15

16

15 Sustainable Carbon Cycles – COM(2021) 800 

16 A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system – COM(2020) 381 final 

18 

 
 
 
 
17

18

21

20

19

17  A  sustainable  Bioeconomy  for  Europe:  Strengthening  the  connection  between  economy,  society  and  the  environment  – 
COM(2018) 673 

18 Communication on  a  new  approach  for a sustainable  blue economy in the EU  Transforming  the EU’s Blue Economy for  a 
Sustainable Future - COM(2021) 240 final 

19  A  sustainable  Bioeconomy  for  Europe:  Strengthening  the  connection  between  economy,  society  and  the  environment  – 
COM(2018) 673 

20 Strategic  guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU  aquaculture  for the  period  2021 to 2030  - COM(2021)  236 
final 

21 Towards a Strong and Sustainable EU Algae Sector – COM(2022) 592  

19 

 
 
 
 
 
22

23

22 Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy – putting European transport on track for the future – COM(2020) 789  

23 Communication on  a  new  approach  for a sustainable  blue economy in the EU  Transforming  the EU’s Blue Economy for  a 
Sustainable Future - COM(2021) 240 final 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
24

24  For  more  information  on  limitations  to  green  hydrogen  roll  out,  see  Hy2Market’s  report  entitled  -  Synthesis  report  of 
limitations, constraints and barriers and main routes of Hydrogen Mobility in European regions. https://hy2market.eu/results/  

21 

 
 
 
 
25

25  Though  the  new  Regulation  for  the  Deployment  of  Alternative  Fuels  Infrastructure  (REGULATION  (EU)  2023/1804)  will 
address this issue by mandating national targets on the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure.  

22 

 
 
 
Market 
support and 
de-risking

Adapted 
infrastrucutre

Adapted 
regulatory 
frameworks 

Harmonized 
regulatory 
framework

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
26 

 
 
E
A
-
0
1
-
2
5
-
0
6
5
-
E
N
N

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ISBN 978-92-9412-131-8