ERRIN contributes to the assessment on citizens and stakeholders’ engagement in the EU Missions

ERRIN contributes to the assessment on citizens and stakeholders’ engagement in the EU Missions

On 24 October, ERRIN submitted its contribution to the European Commission’s consultation on the assessment of citizens and stakeholders’ engagement in the EU Missions. The consultation, led by the EFIS Centre in partnership with Technopolis Group on behalf of DG RTD (European Commission), aimd to gather feedback from key stakeholders across Europe to inform the 2026 Assessment of EU Missions. 

In its response, ERRIN highlighted the network’s active and strategic involvement in the EU Missions since 2021, underlining the role of regional and local innovation ecosystems in shaping and implementing Mission objectives. The submission showcases how ERRIN supports its members through project participation, policy dialogue and dedicated events fostering collaboration between regions, cities, research organisations and EU institutions. 

ERRIN’s contribution stresses the value of the mission-oriented approach as an effective framework to address complex societal challenges, from climate adaptation to soil health, ocean and water restoration, cancer and climate-neutral cities. Drawing on members input and experience, ERRIN called for: 

  • Stronger multi-level governance and political ownership of the Missions, ensuring that regions and cities are recognised as co-leaders in their design and implementation.
  • Enhanced citizen engagement, promoting long-term, systemic approaches to participation that go beyond consultation and empower communities to co-create local solutions.
  • Greater private sector involvement, unlocking blended finance and fostering cooperation between public authorities, SMEs and industry clusters.
  • Better alignment of EU, national and regional funding instruments, ensuring continuity and scalability of Mission-related initiatives beyond 2030. 

Through projects such as NetZeroCities, CapaCITIES 2.0, SOILL, CO-WATERS, RESIST, Pathways2Resilience, BlueActionBanos, AdaptationHubs, and initiatives like the Mission Implementation Platform for Ocean & Waters, ERRIN continues to bridge the gap between EU-level policy and local action. The network also plays an active role in Mission-related fora and governance structures, co-organising learning exercises and policy dialogues to strengthen collaboration across governance levels. 

ERRIN remains committed to advancing the EU Missions as a transformative instrument of Horizon Europe, helping connect research and innovation with the societal transformations needed for a sustainable and resilient Europe. 

Read ERRIN’s full contribution here.