The European Commission is organising an online matchmaking event for territories interested in becoming Regional Innovation Valleys (RIVs). The event will take place on 12 September 2023 from 9:30-13:00 CEST.

The event aims at creating opportunities for participants to meet and connect with a view of either responding to the call for expression interest to become a Regional Innovation Valley by 18 September 2023 or finding partners for prospective applications to calls for proposals launched under the EIE part of Horizon Europe and I3 instrument of ERDF with a closing date on 17 October 2023. It will facilitate networking around the five key challenges identified by the New European Innovation Agenda, namely, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, increasing global food security, mastering the digital transformation (including cybersecurity), improving healthcare and achieving circularity. It represents an occasion to get information about what others are doing in the specific fields, seek partners to complete the set-up of consortiums, manifest interest in joining or forming consortia, and to find potential partners with whom to set-up a joint action plan to interconnect territories around the specific areas of common interest.

The event will include:

• A panel session, featuring speakers from the Commission and a few regions aiming to engage actively in the consortiums, with participation of ERRIN, and
• 5 breakout thematic sessions, one per grand challenge, hosted by the representatives of thematic Units from DG RTD in charge of the grand challenges.

Who can take part?

• National and/or regional authorities and associated partners, entrusted with a public service mission and provided with adequate financial guarantees from the Member State, such as regional innovation agencies or managing authorities, as defined in FAQ on regional/national authorities: Funding & tenders (europa.eu).
• The participating regional authorities/governments should come with a holistic approach, represent the region’s innovation ecosystem as a whole and are invited to join with the intention to seek long term collaborations with other regions.
• Other participants (universities, RTOs, etc..) who are planning to participate in the consortia will be able to join subject to the event’s capacity.

Find more information about the event and the agenda here.

Find the draft concept note and register by 6 September here.

In line with the new European Innovation Agenda’s flagship on accelerating and strengthening innovation in European Innovation Ecosystems across the EU and addressing the innovation divide, the European Commission intends to identify up to 100 regions that are committed to enhancing the coordination and directionality of their R&I investment and policies, at the regional level.

On 28 March 2023, Commissioners Gabriel and Ferreira together with the European Committee of the Regions launched a call for expression of interest inviting European regions to become RIVs. With an overall commitment of € 170 million for RIVs, on 17 May 2023 the Commission also launched the first calls for proposals worth € 60 million from Horizon Europe and € 62 million from the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) instrument under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the creation of connected RIVs, involving regions with lower innovation performances, by building on strategic areas of regional strength and specialisation (defined in their smart specialisation strategies), in support of key EU priorities.

ERRIN has been actively following the developments around the RIVs, engaging in discussions and supporting its members in applying to the calls. You may learn more here.