The Allon_I3 partnership is a balanced alliance comprising six full regions from six countries (Bulgaria, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Denmark) and one associated partner from Norway. The structure intentionally links three Less Developed Regions (LDR) (Gabrovo-BG, Sicily-IT, Alentejo-PT), two Transition Regions (TR) (Attica-EL, Nicosia-CY), and one More Developed Region (MDR) (North Denmark-DK).

The participating organisations represent critical components of the regional innovation ecosystems, functioning as Quadruple Helix (Q-helix) stakeholders, including regional innovation centers (RIC_AG), development agencies (ADRAL), and research/entrepreneurship organisations (PRISM, AKEP, SYNTHESIS, NDEU).

Cooperation is founded on a cross-cutting shared Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) priority: ICT/Digitalisation combined with Clean Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Development. This focus reflects the "dual transition" concept, ensuring the alliance addresses modernisation needs common across all partners by identifying complementary strengths.

The project provides significant benefits to LDR/TRs by strengthening their capacity to effectively cooperate with more developed regions, thereby enhancing their participation in EU value chains and increasing economic resilience. It specifically focuses on empowering Q-helix stakeholders to identify, set up, and finance interregional innovation investment projects.

Although the Allon_I3 alliance itself is newly established and intended as a "starting point" for sustained cooperation, the partner organizations bring extensive prior collaborative experience through EU networks. For instance, the coordinator (RIC_AG) participates in projects like ARIES4, and the Italian partner (PRISM) has vast experience in ERASMUS+ and VET programs. Follow-up project ideas generated from this alliance include Factory Europe and SPARK.

The Allon_I3 project focuses primarily on organisational and systemic innovation by strengthening the capacity of Quadruple Helix (Q-helix) stakeholders to identify, set up, and finance cross-regional innovation projects. Expected knowledge production includes 5 Regional Roadmaps outlining tailored growth strategies, an Action Plan with policy measures designed by the Less Developed Regions (LDRs), and identification of 9 S3-based partnerships and 8 concrete business cases. While the project itself is capacity building, the potential investments it prepares aim for higher Technological Readiness Levels (TRL), such as the Bulgarian SME Senstate Technologies aiming to bring its AI-based interpolation technology to TRL 8 (production-readiness).

The central sectoral focus is the dual transition: ICT/Digitalisation combined with Clean Technologies, Energy, Environment, and Sustainable Development. This priority aims to reinforce existing or build new European value chains in critical areas such as smart manufacturing (leveraging Sicily's Mechatronics District expertise and deployment in Gabrovo and Alentejo), sustainable Agri-tech, and cross-regional renewable energy systems/smart grids.

Actions implemented to support the identification and preparation of interregional investment projects include structured phases:

1. Value Chain Design/Analysis: Comprehensive Analysis of Interregional Value Chains identifies supply/demand gaps, opportunities, and informs the development of Regional Roadmaps.
2. Capacity Building: Three ""Train of Trainers"" (ToT) events are delivered in the LDRs. This training focuses on identifying investment ideas, startup assessment, navigation of Access-to-Finance (A2F) opportunities, and performing crucial legal and financial due diligence.
3. Financing Structure: The outcome includes generating a Funding Mix Outline (D3.2), which describes suitable financing strategies (e.g., grants, debt, equity, blended finance) required to realize the identified business cases.

The Allon_I3 project strategically enhances regional capacity by targeting different Quadruple Helix (Q-helix) stakeholders across Less Developed Regions (LDRs) and Transition Regions (TRs). The overall objective is to strengthen the Q-helix capacity to identify, set up, and finance cross-regional innovation investment projects.

Capacity Strengthening by Stakeholder Type:

• Public Authorities/Policymakers: Capacity is strengthened through the development of 5 S3-based regional roadmaps and an Action Plan with concrete policy measures intended to streamline innovation policies. This process facilitates the adoption of successful strategies, such as developing Climate City Contracts in Athens, ensuring alignment with EU funding and strategic goals (e.g., the dual transition).
• Industry/SMEs: The project helps SMEs and startups overcome financing bottlenecks by boosting knowledge and skills needed for market expansion, R&D commercialisation, and investment readiness. They gain competency in matching ideas to funding opportunities and pitching. For instance, a Bulgarian SME, Senstate Technologies, aims to utilise this focus to reach a high Technological Readiness Level (TRL 8).
• Regional Innovation Hubs/Intermediaries: The Q-helix organisations benefit from knowledge transfer and enhanced networking to strengthen local investment ecosystems. This is vital for regions like Nicosia, where reforms focused on building crucial communication channels within a previously fragmented ecosystem.

Capacity-Building Activities: The core of the capacity building is delivered through three ""Train of Trainers"" (ToT) events held sequentially in the LDRs (Bulgaria, Italy, Portugal). These training modules include structured activities such as:

• Training/Coaching: Sessions focus on practical skills like angel investing, startup valuation and deal making, analysis of business plans, and legal/financial due diligence.
• Methodology: The ""street-smart methodology"" employs case study analysis, investor discussions, and pitching competitions to translate theory into actionable skills.
• Networking: This includes study visits to local innovation ecosystems (e.g., Gabrovo, Polo Meccatronica Valley, Alentejo) to facilitate peer exchange and collaboration, alongside efforts to network with key innovation support intermediaries (EEN, EDIH Network, ECCP).
• Tools: The project delivers specific resources like the Funding Mix Outline to support strategic financial planning and alignment with funding sources (ERDF, blended financing).

The project's key expected results include the development of 5 S3 Regional Roadmaps and a Policy Action Plan (D2.2) to guide Less Developed Region governance. Outputs feature 9 S3 partnerships and 8 concrete business cases identified for cross-regional investment. Capacity building strengthens the Quadruple Helix's capacity in areas like investment due diligence and defining a robust Funding Mix Outline (D3.2). Territorial impact is achieved by modernizing key industry value chains (ICT/Clean Tech). The project prepares large-scale proposals for the I3 pipeline (e.g., resubmission of Factory Europe and HyperDRA to I3 INV2a calls). The ecosystem support focuses on embedding internal reforms (D4.2) to ensure sustained cooperation and investment readiness.

The Allon_I3 project's timeline demonstrates a clear progression of capacity-building work, structured to first assess regional needs, deliver targeted training to the Quadruple Helix (Q-helix) stakeholders, and then leverage those enhanced capacities to prepare concrete investment plans. The capacity-building work is primarily anchored in Work Package 3 (WP3) and is supported closely by the ecosystem analyses in Work Package 2 (WP2) and engagement via study visits.

Timeline of Capacity-Building Milestones and Events

Phase 1: Foundation and Initial Training (Late 2023 – Early 2024)

• Project Start and Planning (November 2023): The project officially commenced, beginning the foundational work required for capacity building.
• Needs Assessment Initiation (Month 2 onwards): WP2 launched the Analysis of Interregional Value Chains (T2.1), including conducting interviews with numerous SMEs and utilizing SWOT/PESTLE analysis to gather detailed insights into regional innovation environments. This established the capacity-building needs for the Q-helix actors.
• 1st Capacity Building Event: Gabrovo, Bulgaria (Month 4: February 29, 2024): The initial Train of Trainers (ToT) event took place in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, integrating with the first face-to-face consortium meeting.
  • Focus: The training focused on foundational investment concepts, such as Angel Investing ABC, Access to Finance (A2F) opportunities, and startup business plan analysis.
  • Engagement: Participants met local entrepreneurs and engaged in a pitching session and evaluation of a Bulgarian startup (Pastili), practicing real-world due diligence skills.

Phase 2: Deepening Expertise and Ecosystem Integration (Mid-2024)

• Roadmap and Action Plan Development (M2–M16): Building on the initial analysis, regional teams drafted five S3-based regional roadmaps and conceived the Action Plan (D2.2) with policy measures to enhance regional innovation ecosystems (D2.1, D2.2).
• 2nd Capacity Building Event: Palermo, Sicily, Italy (Month 11: September 5, 2024): The second ToT session was held at Polo Meccatronica Valley, slightly delayed from Month 10 to avoid summer vacations, integrated with a study visit.
  • Focus: This training moved to more advanced investment topics, including startup valuation, deal making, risk assessment strategies, and legal due diligence.
  • Engagement: Local startups pitched their businesses to the audience, enabling participants to apply their enhanced competence in evaluating key factors like team quality and scalability relevant to the Sicilian mechatronics district.

Phase 3: Consolidation and Scaling-Up (2025)

• 3rd Capacity Building Event: Évora, Alentejo, Portugal (Month 16: February 27, 2025): The final targeted training aimed to reinforce skills in evaluating and supporting investment opportunities specifically tailored to the ICT/Digitalization and clean technologies priorities of the Alentejo region.
  • Focus: Key topics included legal and financial due diligence, investment methods and structures (such as SAFE agreements and syndicated investments), and strategic planning for long-term scalability.
  • Engagement: Portuguese companies (Enlaight, Alice4u) served as case studies for partners to apply practical evaluation tools acquired during the program.
• Funding Mix Outline (D3.2) (Month 20: June 2025): This deliverable, resulting from the capacity built in navigating finance opportunities, formalizes the strategic financial models designed to realize the identified business cases (KPI 6: 8 business cases identified).
• Outlook on Future Investment Plans (D4.1) (Month 20: June 2025): This report outlines pathways for securing future investment by connecting project achievements with EU funding instruments (Horizon Europe, DIGITAL, I3 Strand 2a), positioning the alliance for scaling-up.
• Workshops and Reforms Reporting (M22): Workshops organized with a wider Q-helix audience aim for sustainability, supporting the formalisation of internal reforms (D4.2) implemented across regions to sustain cooperation and embed innovation capacity beyond the project's lifetime.
• Closing Conference (Month 23: September 2025): This final event will mark the end of the project's execution phase and provide an opportunity to present all results and discuss follow-up actions and scaling opportunities.