Transnational cooperation in Northwest Europe; application for funding

"Interreg VI B Northwest Europe" is an EU funding program to strengthen transnational cooperation between the countries of Northwest Europe. Funding is provided for joint projects between transnational partners in selected subject areas.

Purpose

The Interreg program promotes economic, social and spatial cohesion in Northwest Europe. Transnational cooperation takes place within the framework of joint projects between public and private decision-makers and stakeholders. Interreg offers them the opportunity to develop ideas and test new ways of working. The partners work together to develop strategies and solutions for their respective core topics and implement them in pilot projects. The international exchange and the different experiences and backgrounds of the project partners offer scope for innovative solutions and the mutual exchange of specialist knowledge. In addition, developments, investments and networks can be created that have an impact beyond the duration of the project.

Subject

The Northwest Europe programme area comprises some of the strongest economic regions in Europe and is characterized by the coexistence of numerous metropolitan regions and large cities as well as rural, economically weaker regions. The main challenges facing this region are climate neutrality, resource conservation and economic resilience through local innovation drivers. Social issues such as access to labor markets, health and culture also play a major role.

Recipients of funding

Public and private actors are eligible to apply as legal entities based in the "Interreg VI B North-West Europe" program area. Eligible partners include public authorities (federal, state, regional and local), public service providers, research institutions, universities, chambers, associations, business development organizations, companies and non-governmental organizations.

In addition to the German federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria (the administrative districts of Upper, Middle and Lower Franconia and Swabia), Bremen, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony (the Leine-Weser region), Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, the EU member states of Belgium, the Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg and parts of the Netherlands and France are also involved.

Eligible costs

Funding is available, for example, for the development and implementation of strategies, concepts, instruments and transnational innovation networks or clusters as well as, to a limited extent, infrastructure and pilot investments.

Eligible costs include personnel and administrative costs, travel expenses, external expertise and services, costs for events and materials and, to a limited extent, investments.

Type and amount of funding

Funding is provided as a grant and the amount depends on the type and scope of the project. The funding rate for Bavarian project partners is up to 60% of the eligible project costs.

Applications must be submitted online in English on the program's website (see "Online procedure" and "Further links"; detailed information on how to apply can also be found there).

The German contact points and the secretariats provide potential applicants with information and, if necessary, practical advice during the application process. A monitoring committee made up of national and regional representatives of the participating countries of the respective cooperation area decides on the project applications.

Information office for Bavarian project partners

Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy
Department 73, Programs and Plans
Prinzregentenstraße 28
80538 Munich
E-Mail: Referat73@stmwi.bayern.de

German Contact Point Northwest Europe

Struktur- und Genehmigungsdirektion Süd
Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 14
67433 Neustadt an der Weinstraße
Phone: +49 6321 99-2567
E-mail: info@nwe-kontaktstelle.de

Joint Secretariat of the program

NWE Secretariat
"Les Arcuriales", 6th Floor, 45 rue de Tournai, Entrée D
59000 Lille, France
Phone: +33 (0)3 20 78 55 00
E-mail: nwe@nweurope.eu

In the current funding period, the program covers the period 2021 to 2027. Projects must be completed by 2029 at the latest. The calls and deadlines for submitting funding applications can be found on the program's website (see "Related links"). The period between the publication of the current documents (start of the call for projects) and the submission deadline for the concept is usually between six weeks and three months. The preparation of project applications should therefore begin before the official start date of the call.

Projects must be transnational and improve regional development locally in a measurable and sustainable way. Infrastructure measures and the acquisition of material resources are generally not funded within Interreg VI B programs.