The second call for proposals of the Interreg Central Europe programme has been launched, and will remain open until June 23rd.

With a budget of 90 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the call will finance cooperation projects in the areas of innovation, energy, natural and cultural resources and transport.
The overall aim is to address challenges shared by cities and regions of Central Europe, a highly heterogeneous area in geographical as well as in economic and social terms.

The programme covers nine states, some only partially: the entire territory of Austria, Croatia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, eight länder from Germany (Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Thüringen ) and nine regions from Italy (Piemonte, Valle d’Aosta, Lombardia, Liguria, Emilia Romagna, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Provincia Autonoma Trento, Provincia Autonoma Bolzano).

The call is open to submissions for all programme priorities and related specific objectives, as summarized below.

Axis 1- Innovation for competitiveness (27 million euro):

S.O. 1.1 – To improve sustainable linkages among actors of the innovation systems for strengthening regional innovation capacity in Central Europe
S.O. 1.2: To improve skills and entrepreneurial competences for advancing economic and social innovation in central European regions

Axis 2- Low-carbon strategies (16 million euro):

S.O. 2.1: To develop and implement solutions for increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy usage in public infrastructures
S.O. 2.2: To improve territorially based low-carbon energy planning strategies and policies supporting climate change mitigation
S.O. 2.3: To improve capacities for mobility planning in functional urban areas to lower CO2 emissions

Axis 3: Natural and cultural resources for sustainable growth (34 million euro)

S.O. 3.1: To improve integrated environmental management capacities for the protection and sustainable use of natural heritage and resources
S.O. 3.2: To improve capacities for the sustainable use of cultural heritage and resources
S.O. 3.3: To Improve environmental management of functional urban areas to make them more livable places

Axis 4: Transport (13 million euro)

S.O. 4.1: To improve planning and coordination of regional passenger transport systems for better connections to national and European transport networks
S. O. 4.2: To improve coordination among freight transport stakeholders for increasing multimodal environmentally-friendly freight solutions

Eligible applicants for the projects are:

• National, regional and local public bodies (including EGTCs – European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation);
• Private bodies, including private companies, having legal personality;
• International organizations acting under the national law of one of the States participating to the programme.

Each of the above entities – except international organizations – may submit a proposal as Lead Applicant.

The consortium must involve at least three partners, from:

• at least three countries, out of which
• at least two should be located in the Central Europe programme area.

The partnership will be composed of up to 12 participants per project.

The financial size of projects is in the range of 1 to 5 million euro, with a co-financing rate of 80 or 85%, according to the Member State of the applicant.

Detailed information and all official documents – including the “Application package” – are available on the programme website: http://www.interreg-central.eu/.