The I3 Instrument Support Facility is organising a virtual event "Innovation Ecosystem Management for Better I3 Instrument Implementation" on 28 January from 14:00-15:30 CET.

The I3 Instrument supports interregional collaboration by strengthening regional innovation ecosystems and enabling innovation driven industrial transition across Europe. Effective implementation of I3 Instrument projects depends not only on funding and partnerships, but also on the capacity of regions to orchestrate their innovation ecosystems in a coordinated and strategic way.

Building on the work of the I3 Instrument Policy Discussion Group on Innovation Ecosystem Management, this webinar will provide a space for policymakers and regional innovation stakeholders to exchange experiences and insights for effective implementation of I3 Instrument projects. The event is addressed to I3 Instrument project coordinators and partners, ERDF and S3 Managing Authorities from all EU regions (especially those from less developed regions), as well as EU institutions and networks supporting interregional collaboration.

The webinar will focus on ecosystem readiness, governance and coordination challenges, and the role of key intermediaries in supporting interregional collaboration. 

Participants will:

• Exchange challenges and good practices related to the orchestration of regional innovation ecosystems in the context of the I3 Instrument
• Explore how ecosystem readiness and coordination influence participation in I3 Instrument projects
• Learn from concrete regional examples of well-coordinated innovation ecosystems contributing to I3 Instrument implementation
• Reflect on the roles of clusters, universities, incubators and public authorities in supporting SMEs and interregional cooperation

The agenda is structured around two complementary sessions:

• The first session will address preconditions and readiness levels required for regional innovation ecosystems to engage effectively in I3 Instrument projects, including approaches to assess ecosystem maturity.
• The second session will focus on moving from fragmentation to synergy, examining coordination challenges within and between ecosystems. It will also showcase policy mechanisms and intermediary roles that support integration and collaboration.

Learn more, find the agenda and register by 28 January here.