Interreg IPA ADRION Programme

Priority Axis 1: Supporting a Smarter Adriatic and Ionian Region

Specific Objective 1.1: Strengthening innovation capacities

•  Develop transnational Smart Specialization Strategies in the main areas of specialization of the Adriatic Ionian area (especially in the following main sectors: health and quality of life, agri-food and safe nutrition, sustainable tourism, and creative economy)
• Promote and set-up multi-level governance schemes to facilitate transnational cooperation models to address challenges in common areas of specialization
• Uptake, up-scale and test advanced technologies through pilot and joint actions, policies, tools, processes, particularly in, but not limited to, the main fields of interest of S3 and social innovation (as indicated in indicative action No.1)
• Promote and encourage the development of transnationally designed innovations (technical and non-technical innovation, including services) through pilot and joint actions contributing to face societal challenges like demographic change
• Promote the development of transnational partnerships, cluster-to-cluster cooperation, innovative networks, and similar initiatives
• Support digital divide reduction by addressing sustainable development, resilience to climate change, as well as addressing wellbeing – including health for the youth and elderly, hospital, and home care – and demographic trends
• Develop and implement e-services such as: e-government, e-learning, or e-marketing or digital tools for industrial and creative production
• Support the development of transnational and macro-regional clusters in the emerging sectors as creative and digital industries; medical devices, as well as sustainable tourism, etc (sectors as indicated in indicative action No.1).

Priority Axis 2: Supporting a Greener and Climate Resilient Adriatic-Ionian Region

Specific Objective 2.1: Enhancing resilience to climate change, natural and man-made disasters

• Develop, implement, and promote transnational climate change adaptation strategies, plans and test solutions with a focus on people’s health, preservation of natural and cultural heritage and urban areas
• In the framework of Maritime Spatial Planning activities, develop transnational joint plans and pilot actions to boost resilience to climate change in marine ecosystems.
• Design and implement strategies and action plans at local, regional and national level for the safeguard of water resources (rainwater management, river and lake water retention, water scarcity, drinking water, water availability, agricultural forecasting, breeding, industry and population).

Specific Objective 2.3: Supporting environmental preservation and protection

• Collect compelling information and use it to develop advocacy material to strengthen synergies and increase preparedness among local/regional/national policy makers and administrators to set in place actions aimed at improving policy frameworks, governance and management schemes of existing or underway marine/natural protected areas
• Exchange of good practices and testing of solutions for sustainable tourism through participatory approaches and multi-level governance
• Identify and test joint action to ensure sustainable food and traditional agricultural products (e.g.: old seeds safeguard, traditional animal breeding etc.) to support the zero-km food chain, food safety and quality
• Contribute to the generation of positive impacts on the Adriatic-Ionian population’s health through the identification of good practices and the implementation of pilot actions aimed at reducing air, water and soil pollution
• Define joint actions to enhance soil and water preservation by ensuring data collection and their public availability (e.g.: feeding EU networks like Data Network – EMODnet, agriculture data space).

Priority Axis 3: Supporting a Carbon Neutral and Better Connected Adriatic-Ionian Region

Specific Objective 3.1: Strengthening a carbon-neutral smart mobility system

• Develop and test innovative planning tools/solutions forecasting future demand for public transport in view of the impact caused by current socio-demographic changes and present pandemic situation on intermodal national, regional and local mobility.
• Implement transnational integrated action plans supporting the development of rail-sea transportation intended as intermodal and multimodal transport mode.
• Map infrastructural, technological, legislative gaps and barriers to freight circulation including the legal and administrative variances hampering the efficiency of smooth transnational transport, in order to create a common transnational transport policy framework
• Improve accessibility within the Adriatic-Ionian region, with a focus on peripheral areas, to the TEN-T network through the implementation of action plans, tackling the bottlenecks hampering the transport sector growth and economic development.

Eligible project proposals must involve partners located in the programme geographical area. Each project must involve at least 4 financing partners from 4 different participating countries of the Programme area, out of which:

• At least 2 financing partners from 2 different ERDF participating countries.
• At least 2 financing partners from 2 different IPA participating countries.

The partnership can include up to a maximum of 2 financing Project Partners from the same participating country. The same organization may not be involved in more than 2 project proposals, out of which only in one as Lead Partner.

ERDF participating countries:

• Croatia (NUTS regions: Panonska Hrvatska; Jadranska Hrvatska; Grad Zagreb; Sjeverna
  Hrvatska)
• Greece (NUTS regions: Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki; Kentriki Makedonia; Dytiki
  Makedonia; Thessalia; Ipeiros; Ionia Nisia; Dytiki Ellada; Sterea Ellada; Peloponnisos;
  Attiki; Voreio Aigaio; Notio Aigaio; Kriti)
• Italy (NUTS regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli- Venezia
  Giulia, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano, Provincia Autonoma
  di Trento, Puglia, Sicilia, Umbria, Veneto)
• Slovenia: (NUTS regions: Vzhodna Slovenija; Zahodna Slovenija).

IPA participating countries:

• Albania
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• North Macedonia
• Montenegro
• Serbia.

Third Country:

• San Marino.

Partners from San Marino do not contribute to the eligibility of the partnership. Organisations located in San Marino can be involved in the projects either as partners or associated partners. They will not benefit from Interreg funds; their engagement shall be ensured by their own funds.

IPA ADRION EU contribution will be limited to a co-financing rate up to 85% of eligible costs of all financing Project Partners. The share of expenditure (at least 15%) not covered by the Interreg funds shall be ensured by national co-financing sources. Applicants can refer to their National Contact Points for information on the national co-financing systems.