CTA strengthens its role in European cooperation by participating in several projects funded by Interreg, one of the main instruments of EU cohesion policy aimed at fostering collaboration between regions.

The latest State of Interreg 2026 report indicates that around 70% of the 2021–2027 funding period has already been allocated, representing more than €7.5 billion committed to nearly 6,000 projects across Europe. In this context, CTA stands out for its involvement in a diverse range of initiatives across several territorial cooperation programmes.

Eight projects spanning three different programmes

CTA participates in projects funded by the Interreg SUDOE programme in a range of roles, including SCAIRA, which develops a startup acceleration programme in the aerospace and automotive sectors, and SOLLAGUA, focused on researching sustainable technologies for water reuse in rural areas.

Within the framework of the Interreg POCTEP programme, the Foundation is involved in projects that promote the energy transition and technological cooperation between Spain and Portugal. These include AIHRE, aimed at creating a technological and business network to harness the potential for renewable hydrogen generation in both countries, AGERAR PLUS, which promotes energy efficiency by supporting small and medium-sized prosumers and fostering the development of energy communities based on information and communication technologies; and INERH2, which proposes the creation of a cross-border research network between Spain and Portugal for the design, management and operation of electric and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.

Furthermore, CTA is also part of the consortia of several initiatives under the Interreg Euro-MED programme, focused on circular economy and territorial innovation. These include Circle-MED, which develops a tool to assess and improve circular economy initiatives across the Mediterranean area; VERDEinMED, which promotes circularity in the textile value chain through a support service for businesses, consumers and policymakers; and BIOSTARS, which fosters the development of bioeconomy startup villages in Mediterranean rural areas.

Overall, the eight projects represent a total budget of €14.8 million, with €2 million allocated to CTA.

2026: a key year for Interreg and CTA

The report also highlights that Interreg programmes are currently in an advanced stage of implementation. After several years focused on launching calls and selecting projects, the current programming period is now entering a phase characterised by the delivery of activities and on-the-ground cooperation, with the aim of generating tangible and measurable results across European regions.

With implementation accelerating across the different programmes, 2026 is shaping up to be a key year for CTA, further strengthening its position as a relevant player in European projects related to innovation, sustainability and territorial cooperation.

The State of Interreg 2026 report is available at this link.