The Interreg Europe monitoring committee has approved the terms of reference for the 2^nd call for project proposals. If you want to improve regional policies on research and innovation, competitiveness of SMEs, low-carbon economy, and the environment and resource efficiency in your region,  Interreg Europe will be accepting applications for the second call from 5 April to 13 May 2016. You can get co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund for working with other regions, learning from each other and solving common challenges.

The application pack is made up of:

• Terms of reference
• Updated programme manual (version 19 January 2016) 
• Letter of support 
• Partner declaration 

Taking into consideration the high interest of regions and local public authorities across Europe for this Programme as well as the high competition, preparation is key to submitt a good proposal! Interreg Europe has put in place an extensive assistance plan for applicants which runs from mid-February until mid-April.

• Project idea and partner search through the website’s integrated search tool to find people and ideas in line with yours and Join the community to create your own profile, and publish your project idea to find partners.
• Project idea self-assessment which check the compatibility of your project idea with the Interreg Europe programme.
• Lead applicant workshop, planned in Rotterdam on 22-23 March.
• Lead applicant webinars, if you cannot make it to Rotterdam or prefer to focus on the topics you need, you can ask questions and interact with the speakers using the latest online technology.

The lead applicant webinars will run the week of 11 April from 10-11am. One topic is addressed per day:

1. Designing project methodology: 12 April, 10-11am
2. Building relevant partnerships: 13 April, 10-11am
3. Managing budget and finances: 14 April, 10-11am
4. Planning a project communication strategy: 15 April, 10-11am

• Virtual Q&A hour, you can submit questions on any aspect of Interreg Europe’s 2nd call which will be gathered through registration and on the spot, answered during a live webinar on Fridays; you can pick a date that suits you at registration.
• Project idea feedback, meaning the applicants can request the analysis of the Secretariat on your specific project idea; the request for feedback is made (and received) online, once you have joined the Interreg Europe community. Feedback requests are already open.
• National information days, you can check out your ‘In my country’ to see if any local or national events are organised by the Interreg Europe point of contact.