In 2024, the European Innovation Council is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the European Capital of Innovation Awards. The competition rewards those European cities that are courageous enough to open their governance practices to experimentation and push the boundaries of technology for the benefit of their citizens.  

The European Capital of Innovation Awards features two categories:

• The European Capital of Innovation category for cities with a population of minimum 250 000 inhabitants and rewards the winner with EUR 1 000 000 and two runners-up with EUR 100 000 each. 
• The European Rising Innovative City category that targets towns and cities with a population of 50 000 and up to 249 999 inhabitants and rewards the winner with EUR 500 000 and two runners-up with EUR 50 000 each. 

In addition to the monetary reward, the prize brings high visibility in the form of renewed public interest and increased media coverage. Moreover, all winners and runners up will be invited to join the iCapital alumni network. This is a prestigious club where they all meet to share their knowledge, discuss common challenges, and work together to find solutions.  

Past winners are Barcelona (2014), Amsterdam (2016), Paris (2017), Athens (2018), Nantes (2019), Leuven (2020), Dortmund (2021), and Aix-Marseille Provence Metropole (2022), and Lisbon (2023) as European Capitals of Innovation.  

Past winners in the Rising Innovative city category are Vantaa (2021), Haarlem (2022), and Linkoping (2023).  

The deadline for submission is 18 June 2024, 17:00. To apply for any of the European Capital of Innovation Awards, please click here

The European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) initiative is part of the Digital Europe Programme. EDIHs function as one-stop shops for the public and private sectors alike, enabling them to respond to digital challenges in a more coherent way and increasing their competitiveness.  ERRIN ICT Group has been following the topic of DIHs, co-organising a dedicated policy dialogue in November 2018. Following this initial discussion, a second meeting on the topic of digitising European industry was organised in September 2019.  

This year, the ICT Working group tackled the question of the support Digital Innovation Hubs give to public authorities in their digital transformation journey. The event was organised on Tuesday 21 May 2024 (10:30 to 12:30 CEST). 

You will find the agenda on this page.

The meeting aimed at: 

• Presenting the current state-of-play of the Digital Innovation Hubs support to public authorities  
• Sharing key messages and challenges with key stakeholders from the European Commission to bring the question of Digital Innovation Hubs in the current discussion launched on the next Multiannual Financial Frameworkhe ICT Working Group will tackle the question of the

Regional examples were shared during the meeting, followed by an open discussion to exchange questions and reflections. The European Commission and DG CNECT Unit’s on DIHs also joined the event to present the latest policy development, funding opportunities and reacted to the example provided by ERRIN members. 

All presentation are now avaialble here. 
 

The European Maritime Day (EMD) is the annual two-day event during which Europe’s maritime community meet to network, discuss and outline joint action on maritime affairs and sustainable blue economy. European Maritime Day 2024 will take place in Svendborg, Denmark on 30-31 May 2024, as a physical event.

It’s the place to catch up on the current state of play thanks to inspirational speakers and to be engaged in the discussion about ways to move forward through thematic sessions, stakeholder workshops and pitch sessions.

The EMD targets professionals from businesses, governments, public institutions, NGOs and academia, as well as EU citizens interested in the Ocean.

 The EMD 2024 is being organised by the European Commission, the Municipality of Svendborg and the Danish Maritime Authority.

 You can register until 10 May here. 

The Forum’s core objective is leveraging digital technologies to extend the scope of scientific collaboration and ensure inclusive participation across Africa. The agenda includes discussions on significant policy frameworks and strategic plans, such as the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, the AUC Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030), the EU Comprehensive Strategy with Africa, and key programmes and instruments, including Horizon Europe, FP10 and the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). These dialogues aim to bolster sustainable development, healthcare, biodiversity, and digital advancements, resonating with the collaborative and unified approach foundational to Team Europe.

The Forum’s alignment with the broader EU Development Agenda underscores a commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth in Africa, aligning with global development goals and the UN SDGs. It will explore various topics, from Astronomy to ICT and Environmental Sustainability, emphasising the intersection of science, education, and digital innovation funding. This comprehensive coverage will facilitate crucial policy insights, enhancing the Forum’s contribution to the Africa-EU partnership.

Moreover, the Forum will explore the implications of new regulatory measures in areas like AI, data protection and medical device governance, reflecting on their impact on Africa’s scientific landscape and collaborative ventures with the EU. By integrating viewpoints from global organisations such as the UN, the Forum aims to provide a holistic perspective on science, ensuring alignment with the global development agenda and reinforcing the EU’s commitment to working collaboratively for greater impact and effectiveness in international cooperation and development.

To register for the event, please click here.

The EU has now launched a survey that aims to create a more sustainable and resilient future for EU tourism. The “Sustainable EU Tourism—Shaping the Tourism of Tomorrow” project aims to support EU tourism destinations in becoming more sustainable and resilient, in line with the Transition Pathway for Tourism.

The project foresees both research activities – namely, the state of the art of destinations’ sustainability and resilience and a compendium of best practices and key challenges – and activities for destinations. These latter include capacity-building activities in the field of sustainability and resilience (e.g. through workshops, peer-to-peer sessions, presentations of available EU funds…) and networking opportunities with other EU destinations sharing similar challenges and goals (e.g. through the initiation of a twinning program).

Finally, destinations will be provided with a responsible tourism communication campaign package that they can use towards their visitors. The project, which will last until December 2025, is funded by the European Commission – DG GROW and managed by a Consortium of organisations, namely Intellera Consulting, Scholz & Friends, the Centre for Sustainable Tourism, and AnySolution.

Learn more here.

The Big Science Business Forum will be presented to the European Authorities and Institutions at the Italian-Belgian Chamber of Commerce (Rue de la Loi 26, Brussels) on 11 April, 14:30.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with key figures shaping the event: Alessia Rosolen, Councillor for Research, University of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Paolo Acunzo, Director of BSBF Trieste 2024.

Big Science Business Forum is a conference and exhibition event designed to develop a more dynamic and efficient market of Big Science Organizations across Europe as well as to develop innovative products and services within a wider international framework.

In 2024, Italy is honoured to host the third edition of this event in the city of Trieste, following the successful gatherings in Copenhagen and Granada. During these previous editions, more than 1,000 delegates from over 500 organisations and 30 countries came together to discuss the prospects of the Big Science Market.

This forum presents a unique opportunity for European businesses and organisations to stay fully informed and engage in calls and competitions, managed directly by international Big Science Organizations, under specific rules and procedures.

For any further information and to participate in the event, you can register here.

The ICT Working Group is looking for examples from local and regional authorities, as well as Digital Innovation Hubs, working on digital transformation. The examples will be presented in an upcoming meeting on “The role of DIH in supporting public authorities’ digital transformation”, which will take place on Tuesday 21 May 2024 (10:30 to 12:30 CEST). 

We are specifically looking for:  

• Two public authorities having used the services of a DIH to support their digital strategy or digital-related initiatives and projects across sectors
• Two Digital Innovation Hubs having provided support to local or regional authorities in their digital strategy or digital-related initiatives and projects across sectors

The example should focus on the added-value of Digital Innovation Hubs in supporting public authorities, the challenges identified in conducting such activities and on what would be needed to support this work further in the future. Examples for both generic and topical support will be considered. To support actors from back home to get engaged in the discussion, the presentation can be done online.  

The European Commission representatives will be invited to react to the example presented during the meeting. The presentation should not exceed five minutes to allow discussion with participants. 

ERRIN members and their Digital Innovation Hubs interested in sharing their first reflections during the upcoming meeting are invited to reach out to rodolphe.doite@errin.eu by Wednesday 24 April 2024, with a short description of the proposed example.  

You can find more details about the meeting and register here. 

The Future Now Forum in Linköping, Sweden, on September 16-17, 2024, explores pioneering sustainable solutions for societal and environmental challenges in the urban setting. Spanning over two days, the programme showcases international keynote speakers, engaging panel discussions, and interactive breakout sessions, all aimed at revealing the secrets behind successful urban development and innovation. Additionally, the programme delves into the innovations and collaborations that positioned Linköping as the European Rising Innovative City in 2023.

Bringing together practitioners, innovators, and decision makers from public and private sectors — including cities, regions, research institutes, innovation hubs, science parks, universities, and more — the conference is a hub for those ready to engage with the future of urban living.

View the program and register for the event here.  

Following the Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials of the European Commission, which develops value chains for EU industrial ecosystems to reduce dependency through resource circularity and innovation, the University of Lorraine, along with European and socioeconomics stakeholders, will exchange on three key issues: taking stock of the substitution issues which have geopolitical consequences, of recycling, which is set to develop considerably, and finally of the training and skills needs at European level in these areas.

To register for the event, please click on the link here