ERRIN Paper Series: 'Connected regional innovation ecosystems – key for Europe’s competitiveness'

ERRIN Paper Series: 'Connected regional innovation ecosystems – key for Europe’s competitiveness'

ERRIN is pleased to share its latest input paper on the role of R&I ecosystems in the future long-term budget post-2027, titled 'Connected regional innovation ecosystems – key for Europe’s competitiveness'. This marks the third paper in ERRIN's 'Towards the 10th Framework Programme' paper series, while also reaching beyond FP10, providing input more broadly on the next EU long-term budget post-2027, as discussions around European competitiveness and resilience are intensifying.

While the value of innovation ecosystems has gained strong recognition in key documents such as the Draghi and Heitor reports, the importance of a place-based dimension of innovation ecosystems is not covered, leaving a gap in the current policy discussions. A thriving European innovation ecosystem requires strong and well-connected place-based innovation ecosystems, which will be key for enhancing Europe's competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy. Collaboration among territorial ecosystems enables European regions to leverage their combined strengths to develop innovative solutions more efficiently.

The paper assesses existing programmes and tools supporting ecosystem collaboration, such as the European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) action and Regional Innovation Valleys with concrete input from ERRIN members and their ecosystems. These initiatives have demonstrated their value in fostering regional innovation collaboration, strengthening value chains and integrating ecosystem actors across different regions. However, they remain fragmented, underfunded and lack long-term continuity.

Therefore, our key recommendations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework are:

  • Establish a clear framework for territorial R&I ecosystems. To ensure a better connected and further simplified EU funding landscape, the next MFF should provide a strong framework for support to connecting regional R&I ecosystems across EU.
  • Support place-based R&I ecosystems across the (FP10)/Competitiveness Fund. FP10 should embed an ecosystem approach across the programme, facilitating more extensive collaboration between various R&I stakeholders to ensure further impacts and to enhance EU’s competitiveness. Initiatives supporting place-based innovation, such as the Regional Innovation Valleys, should be strengthened in FP10 and integrated into the Competitiveness Fund.
  • Ensure a more inclusive R&I ecosystem to close the innovation gap. Europe needs to tap into its underutilised potentials and to ensure that Europe goes forward with one speed. Fostering collaboration between leading and emerging ecosystems can help unlock the EU’s full innovation potential.
  • Adopt a place-based approach to enhance competitiveness and to ensure more targeted investments. An ecosystem-driven approach will help regions leverage their unique strengths and contribute effectively to Europe’s economic and social transition. Coordination between all levels of government is a key for more targeted investments.

Find the full paper attached. 

This document is based on findings, dedicated exchanges and co-creative bottom-up work on the topic with ERRIN members. Dedicated discussions were organised in the frame of the ERRIN Policy Working Group on the role of place-based R&I ecosystems in the frame of the upcoming Framework Programme (FP10) as well as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) post-2027. The paper also includes insights gathered in the high-level event on “Regional innovation – key to Europe’s competitiveness” that took place on 28 January 2025.

ERRIN's paper series 'Towards the 10th Framework Programme' has been developed through a co-creation process with our members. The other comprehensive input paper also cover crucial topics for enabling a place-based perspective in R&I policy and funding: EU Missions, Widening and European Partnerships (under development).