In connection to European Week of Regions, EURADA, CDTI SOST and the Friends of Smart Specialisation Workshop are organising a joint event titled 'Connecting national and regional planning to European priorities. Is Smart Specialisation still relevant in the context of the new MFF?'.

The event will address the role of Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) in the context of the EU’s new Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034) and the Competitiveness Fund. With the Draghi report highlighting the need for stronger coordination of European, national and regional innovation efforts, the workshop will explore how S3 can evolve to support competitiveness, resilience and the twin transition.

Key themes include:

• Connecting European industrial priorities with bottom-up, place-based discovery
• Facilitating cross-border partnerships and co-investment
• Mapping and matching knowledge assets across ecosystems
• Strengthening links between local, regional and European stakeholders

We are pleased to highlight that ERRIN Director Pirita Lindholm and ERRIN Working Group Leader Wim De Kinderen (Brainport Eindhoven) will contribute as speakers in the panel discussions.

Venue: CDTI SOST, Rue du Trône 62, 1050 Brussels
Date & Time: 13 October 2025, 17:00–18:30 (followed by networking drinks)

Registration is available here.

Concept note and agenda are available here.