About the elections
Every year ERRIN holds elections for the Management Board. The Management Board consists of up to 15 representatives, who are elected from the membership for a period of three years, renewable for a further three years. The Management Board sets the direction for ERRIN’s activities, supervises the implementation of the ERRIN’s Annual Work Plan and provides guidance to the work of the ERRIN Secretariat.
Becoming a Management Board member offers an opportunity to develop ERRIN further as a collective voice of more than a hundred innovative European regions and their ecosystems, and strategically lead the network’s work. It allows both your organisation and you as its representative to get involved in ERRIN’s management, expand your expertise, and increase your visibility and impact. It also provides a chance to build closer connections with other colleagues on the Board.
As one of ERRIN’s network priorities is widening and deepening engagement, we particularly encourage members representing developing regional innovation ecosystems to apply. A diversity of stakeholders and views is essential for steering discussions and developing policies and projects that can best address the needs of all European regions and their innovation ecosystems.
On 2 October from 9:30-10:30 at the ERRIN premises (Rue du Luxembourg 3, 8th floor, 1000 Brussels), an informative coffee meeting will be organised for colleagues interested in candidating for the Management Board this year. If you would like to join, please send an email in advance confirming your participation to ewa.chomicz@errin.eu .
Elections 2026 – call for nominations closed
Deadline: Thursday 16 October, 18:00 CEST
Becoming a candidate
To become a candidate for the Management Board, please send an email to pirita.lindholm@errin.eu between Friday 2 October and Friday 16 October, 18:00 CEST, expressing your interest including:
- A one-page motivational letter outlining the reasons of your region / local authority / city / organisation for standing for the Management Board, your personal interest and relevant experience, as well as your contact details
- A short biography of the person applying (max 200 words)
- A short description of the member organisation (max 200 words)
Keep in mind that this information will be made available for members during the election process / voting.
Candidates need to fulfil the following criteria: being Brussels-based, having experience in research and innovation, and having decision-making power in their organisation/office. The Management Board elections – guidelines for 2026 outline the full process and the criteria for the Management Board members.
Please note that you must receive a confirmation email from the Secretariat to acknowledge your candidature.
Following the revision of the Articles of Association adopted by the ERRIN Extraordinary General Meeting in 2023, Management Board members who are finishing their first three-year mandate, can express willingness to renew it for a second three-year mandate (art. 16.7) before the yearly election process is launched. In 2026, this means that Hauts-de-France, Helsinki EU Office and Region of Murcia / Instituto de Fomento will stay on the Management Board for a second mandate. Scotland Europa left the Management Board due to changes in their mandate. One other Management Board member has already completed the maximum time of two consecutive mandates this year, resulting in two seats that will open for election for a regular three-year period.
At the same time, Region Skåne and South Denmark left the Management Board, due to staff changes, after completing one year of their three-year mandates. The Management Board thus decided to put their seats for election for the remaining two-year period.
Given the above, this year four seats are open for the Management Board election: two for three years and two for two years.
Strategic role
The Management Board ensures that ERRIN has a solid long-term strategy. The board follows closely research, innovation and competitiveness policy work of ERRIN, which is led by ERRIN's Strategic Cluster and its Policy Working Group.
Becoming a Management Board member offers an opportunity to develop ERRIN and strategically lead the network. It allows both your organisation and you as its representative to get involved in ERRIN’s management, expand your expertise, and increase your visibility and impact. It also provides a chance to build closer connections with other colleagues on the Board and receive peer support from other heads of office.
Formal responsibilities
The Management Board undertakes any act necessary or useful to achieve the purpose and objectives of ERRIN, except for those powers reserved for the Annual General Meeting. The responsibilities include providing guidance to the Secretariat and the Working Groups, implementing the Annual Work Plan and budget, making strategic decisions on policy statements, projects, and partnerships.
Management Board candidates should be Brussels-based, have experience in research and innovation, and have decision-making power in their organisation/office.
Candidates should be Brussels-based
Being based in Brussels reflects ERRIN's commitment to supporting Brussels Offices as a bridge between territories and EU institutions and bringing their territorial ecosystems closer to the European R&I policy landscape.
To ensure regular attendance at Management Board meetings (at least four meetings per year taking place fully in-person), the Management Board members should be based in Brussels. Moreover, a strong knowledge of the EU institutions and the EU policy landscape is necessary, as the Management Board supervises the implementation of ERRIN's work plans, actively takes part in meetings with the EU institutions as well as represents ERRIN in various meetings and events.
Candidates should have a decision-making power in the Brussels Office / in their organisation
Management Board members should have a management role in their organisation, or in the Brussels office, as well as have the necessary mandate to make decisions concerning ERRIN on behalf of their organisation.
As defined in the Article 21 of the Articles of Association, "In line with Belgian law and the present Articles of Association, the Management Board holds the overall responsibility for the administration and management of the Association. It manages the current affairs of the Association and represents it in all legal and extra-legal matters." This includes setting up the yearly budget, reviewing the annual accounts, as well as taking strategic decisions "necessary or useful to achieve the purpose and objectives of the Association" (Article 16).
Geographical criteria
There can be a maximum of two members per country elected to the Management Board. The same region may not be represented in the Management Board by two institutions at the same time. In 2026, this means that any full members from France and Spain may not put themselves forward for election since there are already two sitting Management Board members from these countries.
| 2 October | Call for nominations open |
| 16 October | Deadline for nominations |
| 22 October | Election will open |
| 6 November | Election will close |
| 18 November | Publication of election results |
| 24 November | Management Board meeting (last meeting of the current board) |
| 10 December | Autumn General Meeting Confirmation of the newly elected Management Board members |
| January 2027 | First meeting of the new Management Board Dismissal of responsibilities for Management Board members stepping down (handover) |
All ERRIN member organisations have one vote each under the condition that they have paid their membership fee for 2026. If more than one vote is received from the same member, these votes will not be counted.
The candidates who receive the largest number of votes will be elected to the Management Board until all the available seats on the Management Board have been filled. The Management Board is elected with at least 50 percent of the members +1 member voting (quorum). If this minimum is not reached, there will be a second round without a quorum.