12. Match funding

Interreg NPA funds cover only a part of the total project budget.

For Swedish, Finnish, Irish, Icelandic, Greenlandic, and Faroese partners, the Interreg NPA grant will cover 65% of their partner budgets. For Norwegian partners, the Interreg NPA can cover 50% of partners’ budgets.

This means that partners are asked to provide remaining 35% (or 50% in case of Norwegian partners) from their own sources. In some cases, it is possible to seek regional match funding.

By signing the Partner statement (as part of the Mandatory attachments when submitting the application) partners confirm that they intend to provide own contribution or external cash contribution to the project’s budget.

Your questions

Where can I find financial support to help cover the 35% (or 50% for Norwegian partners) own contribution?

In some NPA regions, it is possible to seek financial support from local or regional authorities. Below are some examples. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss these opportunities with Regional Contact Points, who are best placed to provide the most up-to-date information on possible deadlines, eligibility conditions, limitations, and available funding opportunities.

Sweden - It is possible to apply for co-financing from regional councils within the programme area (Region Norrbotten, Region Västerbotten, Region Jämtland Härjedalen, and Region Västernorrland). As each region has its own process and deadlines, applicants are encouraged to contact the relevant region as early as possible. Municipalities may also be a potential source of co-financing.

Finland - In Finland, a structural co-financing mechanism is in place. Finnish project partners receiving funding from the Programme may apply for co-financing through the Regional Council of Lapland, which can cover up to 70% of the remaining 35% of the partner budget. Exceptions may apply.

Norway – A regional co-financing mechanism for Interreg programmes is available through the three northern county councils (Startside). The Barents Secretariat also provides co-financing for Interreg projects, but applications can only be made after project approval and require documentation of an application to the regional co-financing scheme mentioned above.

Iceland - There is currently no formal match-funding mechanism available for NPA projects in Iceland. However, Icelandic applicants are encouraged to contact their regional associations of municipalities, which often provide economic development and entrepreneurship support, to explore potential co-financing opportunities.

Faroe Islands – There is currently no formal match-funding mechanism available in the Faroe Islands. Applicants may, however, request financial support from e.g. municipalities.

Ireland & Greenland– There is currently no formal match-funding mechanism available in Ireland and Greenland.

Can partners contribute more than the required co-financing?

Yes. By default, Interreg NPA covers 65% of a partner’s budget (50% for Norwegian partners). These are the maximum co-financing rates, and applicants may choose to request a lower contribution from the Interreg NPA Programme.

For example, a partner could apply for 10% funding from Interreg NPA, while covering the remaining 90% with their own resources.