European Innovation Council and SME Executive Agency (EISMEA), Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO)
ongoing
Technopolis Group, EFIS, Civitta, Old Continent, WAAT, WMH, ECA, EURADA
The Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) Instrument is a European Commission funding programme set up under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Its objective is to enhance cooperation between regions by supporting joint innovation projects in smart specialisation areas and fostering regional innovation networks. The programme aims to transform research results into market-ready products, services and solutions while strengthening European value chains.
To support the I3 Instrument, a dedicated Support Facility has been introduced. This initiative was launched by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO). As part of the consortium, led by Technopolis Group, Prognos contributes to the operation of the Support Facility.
The Support Facility provides comprehensive technical, regulatory, and investment guidance with the aim of enhancing I3 Instrument project applications, fostering interregional innovation ecosystems, and facilitating knowledge exchange through dedicated workshops and training sessions. By promoting cohesion, building capacities, and supporting integration into broader European value chains, the Facility seeks to benefit less developed regions across the EU in particular.
The centrepiece of the I3 Support Service is the Capacity Building Hub, led by Prognos, which accelerates the uptake of the I3 instrument and maximises the benefits of the EU funding programme.
This Hub aims to:
In addition, the Support Facility offers the following services for stakeholders:
Within the I3 Support Facility, Prognos is responsible for leading the development of the Capacity Building Hub.
Our key activities include:
Further information on the Support Facility (Website EU Commission)
To the hompage of the I3 Instrument Support Facility (Website EU Commission)
Project team: Francesco Fumagalli, Felix Ginzinger, Joseba Erramun Unzaga Rubio, Paulius Mater-Pranskevicius, Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer, Dr Justyna Kramarczyk, Fabian Schmidt, Johanna Thierstein
Last update: 24.09.2025
Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer provides insights into the Annual Observatory Report 2025 at the annual event.
Partner, Head of EU Services
Project Manager
Since 2016, Prognos’ management consulting team has been helping compile the Digital State trend report in cooperation with Behörden Spiegel. Each year the report is devoted to another forward-looking trend topic for public administration.
How do public IT service providers and public administrations work together? For the 2026 Trend Report, we examined the role IT service providers play in modernising public administration.
Europe has a strong research capabilities, but too little market success. The European Innovation Act aims to change this, remove structural barriers and thereby significantly strengthen innovation in the EU. Prognos and its partners are assisting with its development.
On behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Prognos compiled the Green Tech Atlas 2025. The atlas provides a comprehensive overview of the cross-sectional environmental technology and resource efficiency industries.
For DB Regio, we calculated three scenarios showing how autonomous driving technologies could impact public transport economically, ecologically and socially.
In recent years, Europe has maintained its strong position in the global market for clean energy technologies, but faces growing competition. On behalf of the European Commission, we examined the competitiveness of these technologies.
Prognos and its partners evaluated how effectively ERDF funding was used for research, technology, development and innovation in the 2014–2020 funding period.
How can smart specialisation be empirically justified and managed? On behalf of the European Commission (DG REGIO), Prognos is implementing the S3 Community of Practice (S3 CoP) together with a network of partners.
The Federal Ministry of Economics promotes digital technologies that drive forward the economy’s green transformation. Together with partners, we are responsible for the accompanying research.
The joint innovation strategy of Berlin and Brandenburg expired in 2025. Prognos is supporting the state of Berlin in redesigning its innovation policy orientation.
We combine economic research and strategy consulting for sustainable decisions in politics, business and society. Our robust data, precise analyses and scientifically based findings enable fact-based progress – financially independent, politically neutral.
