Transnational cooperation in Central Europe; application for funding

Purpose

The Interreg program promotes economic, social and spatial cohesion in Central 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.

Object

The program area functions geographically, economically and culturally as a European interface. At the same time, the area is characterized by strong structural differences. The urban growth areas contrast with large rural, economically weaker regions.

Interreg Central Europe focuses on topics that counteract climate change and support intelligent economic growth. Improving transport links to rural and peripheral regions and strengthening governance for integrated spatial development also play an important role.

Recipients of funding

Eligible applicants are public and private actors as legal entities based in the "Interreg VI B Central Europe" programme area, e.g. public authorities (federal, state, regional and local authorities), 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, Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony (Braunschweig region), Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, the EU member states of Croatia, Austria, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Northern Italy 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 applicants is up to 80% of the eligible project costs.

The project applied for is supported by at least three partners from at least three different countries, of which at least two partners are based in an EU member state. One of these partners takes the lead as "lead partner" and is responsible for the application and coordination of project development and implementation. As a rule, project consortia comprise around 8 to 12 partners from 6 to 10 countries.

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 Central Europe

National Contact Point
Berit Edlich
Phone: +49 (0)351 564 50448
Email: Berit.Edlich@smr.sachsen.de

Joint Secretariat of the program

Interreg Central Europe Program Joint Secretariat
Kirchberggasse 33-35/11, 1070 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 (0) 1 8908 088 - 2403
E-Mail: info@interreg-central.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 website (see "Further 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 eight weeks and four 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.