Within the addressed policy instrument „European Funds for Pomorskie 2021-2027” we focus on the
strategic undertaking project „Pomeranian Information and Advisory Services System” as Appendix 3 of the
sub-objective: (i) Rozwijanie i wzmacnianie zdolności badawczych i innowacyjnych oraz wykorzystywanie zaawansowanych technologii (Development and enhancement research and innovative skills and use of advanced technologies) under
thematic objective priority 1. Fundusze europejskie dla konkurencyjnego i inteligentnego Pomorza (European funds for a competitive and more intelligent Pomorskie).

This strategic undertaking project „Pomeranian Information and Advisory Services System” has several areas:
• interregional and international cooperation
• Supporting the development of the scientific and research network and the cluster cooperation
• Development of entrepreneurship and innovation, including as part of the implementation of the smart specialization strategy
The project gives preference to innovative SMEs that work within smart specialisation areas, i.e. offshore and port and logistics technologies, Interactive technologies in an information-saturated environment; eco-efficient technologies in production, transmission, distribution and consumption of energy and fuels, construction, medical technologies for diseases of civilisation and ageing.
All areas are of particular interest for participation in international R+I projects.

Within SMART CON EUROPE, we focus on priority 1 of the Hauts-de-France programme, that is funded by ERDF. This priority is entitled “Funding from research to innovation” and is in line with policy objective 1 (“a more competitive and smarter Europe”), and specific objective 1.1 (“developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies”).

This priority will be used to fund the following actions, that are linked to the SMART CON EUROPE project:
1) Support to the governance of the ecosystem, with the animation of an European Research and Innovation Network, the RERI
2) Support to the different stages of project development
- Trainings adapted to the level of experience of the project leaders (for example “when and how get involved in European projects when you are a start up?”)
- The Innoloop application, based in artificial intelligence to detect European funding opportunities adapted to the project and also have access to the projects that have already been funded in past calls to enrich the proposal
3) Alternative funding for projects from companies recognised as being of European excellence:
The idea is to finance projects that have not been selected but has been well evaluated in the framework of the Horizon Europe programme, and in particular projects from companies benefiting from a seal of excellence from the EIC (European Innovation Council).

The policy instrument consists of 5 Priorities and 2 Technical Assistance Priorities. The relevant priority for SMART CON EUROPE is:

Priority 1: “Strengthening the productive and economic transformation of the Region” with a budget of 40.0 million €
The Specific Objectives of Priority 1 and the corresponding categories of actions are:
1.1. Developing and strengthening research and innovation capacities and uptake of advanced Technologies
• Strengthening RTDI infrastructure and support structures
• Strengthening research of enterprises - research bodies with emphasis on priority areas of Smart specialisation strategy
1.2 Reaping the benefits of digitalisation for citizens, companies, research organisations and public authorities
• Enhancing the development of applications and services for citizens and businesses
1.3. Enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation work in SMEs, including through productive investment
• Enhancing sustainable growth and business competitiveness

The development vision of the Region of Western Macedonia is the formation of a new, enhanced and distinct role of Western Macedonia in the national and an international environment focusing on sustainable job creation through:
• the economic transformation of the regional economy in terms of improving competitiveness and extroversion
• supporting clean energy and green sustainable growth and integrated urban and rural development
• creating a high level of social cohesion.

With a global allocation of 1,104.4 million euros, of which 875.5 million euros ERDF, 129.9 million euros ESF and 98.9 million euros JTF, the Alentejo Regional Programme 2021-2027 consists of 8 Strategic Objectives. Among these, the partnership will focus within the SMART CON EUROPE project, on the first Strategic Objective:
1. A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and ICT connectivity at regional level.

And in particular on the two Specific Objectives:
RSO1.1. Develop and strengthen research and innovation capacities and the adoption of advanced technologies (ERDF). This objective should contribute to the strengthening of the regional R&D system and the business investment and economic valuation of knowledge through the support for business R&DT activities, including the creation of R&D centers in companies and of new companies that value the application of R&D results.
RSO1.3. Strengthen sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs, as well as job creation in SMEs, including through productive investments (ERDF) supporting the reorientation of SMEs towards more innovative, sustainable and intensive production models in knowledge and technology, that include greater capacity to generate added value and reinforce their external competitiveness.

The strategic goals of innovation ecosystem agreements in Finland are:
- to increase the share of Finland's research and development spending from the current 2.7% share of gross domestic product to 4% by 2030
- to establish a new partnership model as integral part of the national R&D road map, which aims to strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors
- to establish Finland as a pioneer in technological development, innovative acquisitions and a culture of experimentation.

The aim of our addressed policy instrument, the individual “Innovation Ecosystem Agreement” is to accelerate the growth of businesses to an international level, taking into account regional strengths, companies' know-how, new technologies, sustainability change and digitalization.

The ecosystem that strengthens Seinäjoki’s innovation activities for 2021–2027 is called INTELLIGENT GREEN GROWTH with 2 strategic priorities:
1) Sustainable regeneration of the food ecosystem
2) Intelligently regenerating industry.

An important cross-priority objective is to intensify the cooperation between companies, local R&D operators and national/international R&D networks/value chains in order to speed up innovation activities in local companies, including the more effective use of EU-funds.

The policy have been prepared in the region in cooperation with the business community, universities and educational institutions, the region's developer organizations and research institutes.

The Galicia S3 is the framework in which the Galicia’s R+D+I policies are implemented. Its mission is to address the great economic challenges the region is facing in the next decade, and coordinate and make the best use of the different funds and resources.

In this regard, one of its main challenges is to increase the participation in networks, consortiums and national, European and international programmes. This is part of Strategic Objective 5 with the aims to foster Marca Galicia as an R+D+I asset, to stimulate private investment (external and internal) and to position Galicia internationally. In this sense, it is necessary to increase the participation of SMEs, knowledge generation organisations, and the regional administration in R+D+I interregional collaboration structures. It should support the growth of the regional R+D+I profile and become a source of resources (financial, knowledge, technology, talent, etc) to the benefit of the regional specialization.

On interregional level, collaboration involves: interregional investments, European collaboration programmes, participation in technology and knowledge platforms, Horizon Europe New Partnerships, Seals of Excellence, collaborations agreements with other European regions, exchange of Good Practices. It all aims to help Galician stakeholders implement R+D+I initiatives with an international approach.