Interreg Aurora Programme 2021-2027 (formerly Northern Periphery and Arctic)
Enriched EU · Found: 2026-03-10 13:41
Cross-border cooperation programme for Northern Europe and Arctic regions. Covers northern parts of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, and Scotland. Supports climate adaptation, sustainable natural resource management, green transition, and resilient communities in peripheral and arctic coastal areas. Includes targeted measures for sensitive marine environments like the Gulf of Bothnia.
Source: https://interregaurora.eu/
Funding Details
- Funder
- Interreg Aurora Programme (EU/ERDF and national co-funding)
- Funding Goal
- Cross-border cooperation projects in northern Europe and Sápmi covering: smart and sustainable growth (innovation, SME competitiveness), green and sustainable transition (climate adaptation, nature protection and biodiversity, sustainable mobility), education/culture/tourism, and cross-border capacity building. Focus on northernmost regions of Europe and indigenous Sami territories.
- Funding Amount
- Funding amounts vary by project type (regular vs small-scale); specific amounts per call announced separately
- Deadline
- Periodic calls; currently in 7th call round (as of early 2026). Calls announced on programme website and social media. (periodic)
- How to Apply
- Applications via My Application portal on programme website (interregaurora.eu/my-application/). Project idea consultation available with Joint Secretariat Programme Officers. Programme manual guides applicants through planning, application, and implementation phases.
- Target Region
- Northern Europe: northernmost parts of Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Sápmi (indigenous Sami territory across Finland, Sweden and Norway)
- Contact
- Interreg Aurora Managing Authority, County Administrative Board of Norrbotten, Stationsgatan 5, 971 86 Luleå, Sweden. Phone: +46 (0)10-225 50 00. Email: interregaurora@lansstyrelsen.se
- Last Checked
- 2026-03-15 14:22
Application Checklist
Eligibility
Project Scope
Required Documents
Constraints
Summary
Interreg Aurora is a cross-border territorial cooperation programme for the northernmost part of Europe and Sápmi, launched under the EU 2021-2027 funding framework. It replaces the former Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) programme and covers northern Finland, Sweden, Norway, and indigenous Sami territories. The programme is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and national funding bodies. The programme is structured around four priorities: Priority 1 (A Smarter Europe) covering smart specialisation, research and innovation, and SME competitiveness; Priority 2 (A Greener Europe) covering climate change adaptation, nature protection and biodiversity, and sustainable mobility; Priority 3 (A More Social Europe) covering education and sustainable tourism; and Priority 4 (Better Interreg Governance) covering cross-border capacity building. Environmentally relevant activities under Priority 2 include climate adaptation projects, biodiversity and nature protection measures, and sustainable transport in Arctic and peripheral regions. The programme covers sensitive northern coastal environments, including areas around the Gulf of Bothnia and Norwegian Arctic coastlines. Eligible applicants include public organisations, authorities, non-profit organisations, and in some objectives private entities. Cross-border partnerships of at least two organisations from at least two eligible countries are mandatory. The programme operates through periodic calls for both regular and small-scale projects. Applications are submitted via the online My Application portal. Periodic calls are announced on the programme website and social media channels. Online consultation with Joint Secretariat Programme Officers is available for early-stage project ideas. As of early 2026, the 7th call is ongoing for Sápmi sub-area projects.
Historical Context
New programme launched for the 2021-2027 EU funding period, replacing the former Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) programme. As of early 2026, the programme has run at least 7 rounds of calls. Steering Committee for Sápmi sub-area approved 2 new projects in the 7th call.
Why it was added
Northern Periphery and Arctic programme relevant to northern coastal and marine environmental protection
Sources
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