Interreg and EDRF funding sources
Interreg is one of the key instruments of the EU to facilitate cooperation across borders through a series of programmes, each designed to stimulate collaboration between regions, both inside and outside out of the EU. It is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and covers all 27 EU member states, the EFTA countries (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein), six accession countries, 18 neighboring countries, and four worldwide regions. It has a budget of just over EUR 10 billion, which is spread between four types of programmes:
Cross border (60 programmes)
Transnational (15 programmes)
Interregional (4 programmes)
Outermost (4 programmes)
Since non-EU countries do not pay EU membership fees, they contribute directly to Interreg rather than through the ERDF funding scheme.
Interreg Project Examples
Below are select examples of successful projects that have received Interreg funding.
The NEREUS project aims to boost the transformation of wastewater into a valuable source of water, nutrients, and energy that could be reused in the Interreg 2Seas area. It also aims to reuse energy and heat that could be used as a sustainable source of energy for reducing CO2 emissions.
NEREUS treats wastewater based on the principles of a circular economy, with ambitions to deliver evidence and to convince both private and public decision makers to follow this example.
SUBTRACT concentrates on the post start-up and scaling-up phases to render reuse centres effective and durable, with a steady flow of incoming and outgoing goods well prepared for reuse, a suitable financial strategy, and an attractive image for the users.
The project employs research, exchange experiences, and guidelines on how to develop the full potentials of reuse centres and render them competitive, providing guidance to the ERDF managing authorities and other policy makers on how to assess and govern reuse centres in their respective regions. The elaboration of business principles and models will help actors along the reuse chain – including governments, waste management authorities, NGOs, and social enterprises – to collaborate effectively and strengthen networks.
In this concrete upcycling project, prefabricated building elements are developed with a high content (>30%) of recycled construction and demolition waste. Scaling-up, the developed building material will be used to produce prefab concrete resistant to aggressive environments. This project aims to contribute to achieving the EU recycling target for construction and demolition waste of 70%. This project specifically looks at the recycling of concrete and the potential of microwaves for the pre-treatment of residual mineral flows to advance sustainable development in the built environment.
FRESH4Cs stands for Freshwater Resources for Seas or Coastal Regions. This project is a collaboration between 10 partners from Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK, and is funded by the Interreg 2 Seas programme, which is co-funded by the ERDF. This four-year project is currently demonstrating the provision of alternative and sustainable fresh water resources for lowland coastal regions.
Current Interreg and EDRF funding opportunities
Interreg funding opportunities are divided into four “strands” that cover different geographical parameters, each of which are listed below.
1. Interreg Strand A: Cross Border Cooperation
Strand A covers 49 programmes in the EU, aiming to turn some border obstacles into opportunities between EU Member States.
With a budget of EUR 6.5 billion, cross-border programmes are implemented within the EU and outside of the EU’s external borders.
2. Interreg Strand B: Transnational Cooperation
Strand B covers 14 transnational cooperation programmes in Europe and beyond. Transnational programmes can benefit from additional funding from ERDF or the Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI).
3. Interreg Strand C: Interregional Cooperation
Strand C aims at boosting the effectiveness of cohesion policy by promoting exchange of experiences, innovative approaches and capacity building between regions, and covers Interreg Europe, Interac, URBACT, and ESPON in all 27 EU member states. Allocation for this strand amounts to more than EUR 550 million.
4. Interreg Strand D: Outermost Regions Programmes
Strand D serves the “outermost” regions, helping them to cooperate with neighboring countries and territories in the most efficient and simple way.
Calls for proposals can be launched for combined with funding under the ERDF as well as the NDICI.
Strand D covers four geographical areas defined as belonging to the outermost region:
Amazonia and Caribbean
Middle Atlantic and Gulf of Guinea
Indian Ocean
Mozambique Channel
The total budget for this strand of Interreg is EUR 280 million.
Help with Interreg and EDRF proposal development
The dedicated experts at Linq Consulting are available to assist with Interreg and EDRF proposals at every stage of the writing and application process.
With our expertise in grants management, we can help you secure funding from these programs, as well as Horizon Europe or any other grant opportunities that may be available.
Whether you represent a large organization or run a small business, Linq Consulting will help locate funding opportunities and secure funding for your project.
Get in touch with us today at info@linq-consulting.com
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