Strategic call for capitalisation
Reducing the effects of borders on flows and functional linkages among central European regions.
Call preview
With our next and final call, we invite organisations from across central Europe to submit transnational cooperation ideas for strategic projects for capitalisation.
Central Europe is a complex functional area characterised not only by geographic proximity but also by spatial interactions and functional linkages in various sectors of economy, governance and public policies. Fifteen national borders and many internal ones hinder functional linkages among regions and, overall, the development of central European regions. Effects of borders are tackled locally by several Interreg cross-border programmes. At the same time, transnational projects are delivering solutions along functional linkages beyond national and internal borders. There is, therefore, the potential to team up efforts between cross-border and transnational projects, strengthening the impact of Interreg as a whole for the benefit of the central Europe area.
The overall objective of the call is:
“To reduce the effects of borders on flows and functional linkages among central European regions,
for a more competitive and resilient central Europe
With an indicative ERDF budget of €23 million, project proposals can be submitted under all programme priorities and specific objectives.
Selected projects will be recognised as “Operations of Strategic Importance”, i.e. flagship initiatives that strongly contribute to the programme goals and increase the visibility of EU cooperation.
On this page, you will find all the key elements of the call to help you start shaping your proposal and building strong partnerships.
Call timeline
Call launch
29 September 2025
Call closure
27 November 2025
Assessment
First half of 2026
Selection of proposals
Summer 2026
How to approach capitalisation
Strategic projects for capitalisation are to take up existing Interreg transnational and cross-border outputs and results, to meet existing and new needs and strengthen their territorial and policy impact in wider areas, also beyond border regions. They must go beyond a mere pooling or duplication of what already exists. Instead, they should further develop, improve, or adapt existing outputs and results by drawing on the experience of more projects.
These projects unlock synergies, strengthen networks, boost visibility and attract political attention, ensuring that successful ideas go further and reach wider. Above all, they must clearly show how they add value beyond what has already been achieved.
Focus should be on quality over quantity, carefully selecting only the most relevant outputs and results to address specific challenges and needs.
Capitalisation can be implemented in two different ways. Both approaches are complementary and a combination of the two in one strategic project for capitalisation is possible.
Upstreaming
Existing outputs and results are taken up and tailored in a way that policy makers can address border issues through new or improved territorial or thematic policies and strategies. This should happen at the most appropriate level (i.e. European, national, regional or local).
Downstreaming
Existing outputs and results are tailored in a way that they can be further rolled-out at the most appropriate level. Such roll-out could be “territorial” in case the adapted outputs and results are applied in other regions facing similar issues; or “sectoral” when the adapted outputs and results are applied to other sectors than the ones initially addressed.
Capitalisation and synergies
As a minimum requirement, projects must explicitly take up existing outputs and results from:
At least two Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE projects funded under the first and second calls of the 2021–2027 programme, and
At least two Interreg cross-border cooperation projects that address internal central European borders (download list of cross-border programmes addressing internal central European borders).
Additionally, and if relevant to the project’s scope and the overall call objective, the projects may also take up:
→ outputs and results of relevant projects funded by other programmes, such as for example: Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE 2014–2020, other Interreg transnational programmes, Interreg cross-border programmes at external borders of central Europe, mainstreaming programmes;
→ knowledge and tools developed under the B-Solutions initiative of the European Commission, tackling obstacles caused by internal central European borders.
Thematic scope
Strategic projects for capitalisation can address all topics specified in chapter 2 of the Interreg Programme (IP) document for each programme specific objective (SO), without restrictions.
Applicants are however, encouraged to consider in particular those thematic areas concerning the most significant central European territorial challenges as well as showing a higher potential to capitalise existing Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE and cross-border achievements. Some of thematic areas holding these characteristics are mentioned below for each programme priority (non-exhaustive list).
Priority 1: Cooperating for a smarter central Europe
SO 1.1 Strengthening innovation capacities in central Europe
Ideas are welcome in all relevant topics of this specific objective. Among others, the following topics show a good potential for capitalisation:
→ Innovation management in SMEs
→ Health care (innovation) and silver economy
SO 1.2 Strengthening skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship
Ideas are welcome in all relevant topics of this specific objective. Among others, the following topics show a good potential for capitalisation:
→ Entrepreneurship
→ Matching skills to labour market needs of regions in industrial and digital transition
Please note, the project proposals addressing topics with higher potentials will not have any specific advantage in the assessment and selection process.
Priority 2: Cooperating for a greener central Europe
SO 2.1: Supporting the energy transition to climate-neutral central Europe
Ideas are welcome in all relevant topics of this specific objective.
SO 2.2: Increasing the resilience to climate change risks in central Europe
Ideas are welcome in all relevant topics of this specific objective. Among others, the following topics show a good potential for capitalisation:
→ Risk awareness, prevention and management such as for forest fires, floods, landslides and erosion
→ Climate change adaptation
SO 2.3: Taking circular economy forward in central Europe
Ideas are welcome in all relevant topics of this specific objective.
SO 2.4: Safeguarding the environment in central Europe
Ideas are welcome in all relevant topics of this specific objective. Among others, the following topics show a good potential for capitalisation:
→ Biodiversity conservation and recovery
→ Protection of ecosystems and sustainable management
SO2.5: Greening urban mobility in central Europe
Ideas are welcome in all relevant topics of this specific objective.
Please note, the project proposals addressing topics with higher potentials will not have any specific advantage in the assessment and selection process.
Priority 3: Cooperating for a better connected central Europe
SO 3.1 Improving transport connections of rural and peripheral regions
Ideas are welcome in all relevant topics of this specific objective. Among others, the following topics show a good potential for capitalisation:
→ Accessibility of peripheral areas including digital transport solutions, transport strategies and planning
Please note, the project proposals addressing topics with higher potentials will not have any specific advantage in the assessment and selection process.
Priority 4: Improving governance for cooperation in central Europe
SO 4.1 Strengthening governance for integrated territorial development
Ideas are welcome in all relevant topics of this specific objective. Among others, the following topics show a good potential for capitalisation:
→ Integrated territorial development including establishment of formal cooperation structures, access to public services of general interest and tourism
Please note, the project proposals addressing topics with higher potentials will not have any specific advantage in the assessment and selection process.
Features of strategic projects for capitalisation
Projects funded under this call will be recognised as “Operations of Strategic Importance”, i.e. flagship initiatives that make a strong contribution to programme objectives and demonstrate the tangible benefits of EU cooperation.
By building on existing results from Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE and relevant cross-border projects, these projects are expected to:
→ Scale up proven solutions to current and emerging challenges, maximising their impact across central Europe
→ Create synergies and strengthen networks
→ Add clear value beyond what has already been achieved
As strategic projects, they will benefit from enhanced visibility and they are also expected to take an active role in communicating results, helping to showcase the value of Cohesion Policy to citizens, decision-makers and other stakeholders.
Strategic projects for capitalisation
Objective
Clear emphasis on capitalisation of transnational and cross-border outputs and results
Transnationality
At least three partners from three countries, two of which are located in central Europe
Duration
Between 18 and 24 months
Budget
Up to 1 million EUR of ERDF
How to start building your partnership
In strategic projects for capitalisation, all types of institutions in chapter I.3.1.1 of the programme manual can apply.
The partnership should include:
→ organisations that actively participated in the previous Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE or Interreg cross-border projects being capitalised (a same institution could also represent more than one of the projects to be capitalised).
→ organisations involved in the upstreaming or down-streaming of existing outputs and results (e.g. organisations representing the new territories or sectors addressed, public actors in charge of policies).
Partners should own the outputs and results being capitalised or have full rights to use them.
TAKE FIRST STEPS NOW
→ Connect with potential project partners through our applicant community
→ Join our programme conference to get inspired and find matching partners
→ Explore Keep.eu to identify relevant organisations and find outputs and results from Interreg transnational and cross-border projects.
Support measures
We are here to help and support you along the way. During the call preview, we offer to our potential applicants a variety of support measures.
Webinars
Attend our webinars and ask your questions about our call. On 27 May, we will also present its main cornerstones at our programme conference.
National support
Reach out to our National Contact Points (NCP) in your national language. They offer guidance and information on national application issues.
Individual consultations
Non-compulsory individual consultations will be available after the call launch, helping you to align your project proposal with the scope of the call.
Helpdesk
If you have questions about this call, do not hesitate to contact our helpdesk. We are here to support you.