While first Interreg Baltic Sea Region projects are about to finalise their activities, the Programme offers its support in increasing their impact in the region by extending project activities and joining projects in platforms. Check on the statistics of the two recently closed application calls for the extension stage projects and project platforms.
More transnational cooperation for a greater impact
The extension stage is an instrument to support successful regular projects to capitalise on their results and partnerships. It offers additional funding for the implementation of specific activities to boost to-date project outcomes. Moreover, the Programme creates a framework for cooperation among projects funded by Interreg Baltic Sea Region and other funding programmes in selected thematic fields. This financial scheme is called a project platform.
Only recently, Interreg Baltic Sea Region has closed two application calls for the extension state projects and project platforms. All in all, 20 full-fledged applications were submitted for the extension stage projects and six – for project platforms.
Extension stage
Out of 35 first call projects entitled to apply for the extension stage, 20 of them submitted fully-fledged applications, involving as many as 150 partners from all countries around the Baltic Sea.
The submitted applications cover all thematic priorities of the Programme with seven applications submitted for the capacity for innovation, nine for the management of natural resources and four for the sustainable transport. “Clear waters” within the management of natural resources thematic priority attracted the highest interest among the applicants. interest priority (six applications).
Project platforms
In the second call for project platforms, as many as six applications were submitted in two thematic priorities: the capacity for innovation and the management of natural resources. Two applications cover the topic of “research and innovation infrastructures”, and one in each of the topics: “smart specialisation”, “clear waters”, “energy efficiency” and “blue growth”.
Next steps
All in all, there is EUR 8 million available for funding of both the extension stage (requested EUR 13.5 million) and project platforms (requested EUR 4.4 million). The Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat (MA/JS) is currently in the process of assessing all the applications. The final decision on the selected projects for funding is expected to be taken at the next meeting of the Monitoring Committee on 10-11 April 2019.
