ICSI EU (Intensifying Cross-Sectoral Innovation within the European Union) is an interregional cooperation project co-funded by Interreg Europe that focuses on how regional policymakers can re-orient innovation policies and tools, so that long-standing sector-based networks take up cross-sectoral innovation
What the purpose of the project?
The I-CSI EU project focuses on how regional policymakers can re-orient innovation policies and tools, so that long-standing sector-based networks take up cross-sectoral innovation (CSI) and address local and regional societal challenges. For a 4-year period, partners jointly learn how regional innovation policy can evolve from a sectoral approach towards a comprehensive cross-sectoral framework. They visit and study current solutions/platforms (hubs, clusters etc.) to be inspired and jointly reflect on what will be the best scenario for each region to evolve to and actively encourage CSI.
I-CSI EU’s 8 (city-)regions are united in their solution: creating an environment that builds on regional specificities and furthers CSI through dialogue-enabling fora, dedicated resources for facilitation and effective monitoring. partners will use strategic foresight methodology to co- design preferred future CSI-fostering ecosystems in cooperation with stakeholders.
To this end, partner regions provide already existing expertise and tried out practices that foster CSI. These examples will now be upscaled and mainstreamed and they will feed into new or improved policy instruments. By doing so, partners aim to set a strategic course for the long term and increase impact as well as generate economic growth as new products/services are developed.
What activities are being carried out?
Interregional study visits and workshops will be organized to share good practices and create policy recommendations to strengthen cross-sector innovation ecosystems. In addition, external expertise will be hired to support the process and stakeholder groups, composed of quadruple helix actors, will actively participate in the project, contributing their knowledge and reflecting on the learnings.
Who funds this?
ICSI EU Project is being implemented within the framework of the Interreg Europe programme and is co-funded by the European Union.
Project website
Get to know the partners
- Province of West-Flanders (BE)
- ecoplus. The Business Agency of Lower Austria (AT)
- TUA West (BE)
- Free Hanseatic City of Bremen Ministry for Economic Affairs,Ports and Transformation (DE)
- The Baltic Institute of Finland (FI)
- Emilia-Romagna Region (IT)
- Warmia and Mazury Regional Development Agency in Olsztyn (PL)
- Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, InterregionalCooperation and Local Self-
- Government (RS)
Duration of the project
01/03/2025-31/07/2029