Energy & Climate Change Working Group

Representatives of Brussels-based offices leading the work of the Energy & Climate Change Working Group.

Energy & Climate Change

The main objective of the Energy & Climate Change Working Group is to act as a platform to discuss and share information on energy-related policies and funding programmes, especially looking at the Green Deal and REPowerEU, the Green Industrial Plan, the Hydrogen Valleys, the energy storage and batteries (with reference to S3 Partnership on batteries) and Horizon Europe. 
The priority areas also feature climate change issues (such as climate adaptation), nature-based solutions and natural resources. The WG is set to explore links and synergies with other areas in which energy and climate change play central role and cooperate with other ERRIN Working Groups, namely the Transport, Smart Cities, SEFS and S3 Working Groups, as well as the ERRIN Task Forces on climate adaptation and on the New European Bauhaus.

ERRIN Contact

Last Working Group Meetings

Previous Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings

Policy & Smart Specialisation WGs meeting: Widening in FP10 and impact on cohesion policy post-2027

Policy & Smart Specialisation WGs meeting: Widening in FP10 and impact on cohesion policy post-2027

Ewa Chomicz

The topic of widening gathers high attention in the discussions around the next European Framework Programme for R&I, raising questions with the potential to influence not only the Widening sub-

Policy WG meeting: Role of EU Missions in FP10

Policy WG meeting: Role of EU Missions in FP10

Ewa Chomicz

ERRIN has been closely involved in the design and implementation of the EU Missions since their inception. Missions remain one of the network's priorities and were one of the four main areas of focus

NEB Task Force Satellite Event: Regions & Cities paving the future of the NEB

NEB Task Force Satellite Event: Regions & Cities paving the future of the NEB

Francesca Pozzebon

ERRIN New European Bauhaus Task Force is organising a NEB Festival Satellite event on the role of regions and cities in shaping the future of the NEB.  In the summer of 2023, ERRIN launched an

WG Related Events

WG Related Events

Matchmaking Horizon Europe - Cluster 5

Smart Energy Alliance (SEA) partnership, linked to energy and mobility, the European Commission's Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and the French national contact points are organising a matchmaking on Cluster 5 destinations 2,3 and 6. Schedule your BtoB meetings with your future partners on 25 and 26 April 2024.

Webinar on City Labs as positive engines for energy transition

On 24 April, the oPEN Lab project, in collaboration with ENoLL, is organising an online session to explore the barriers and drivers for using energy communities as tools for energy transition in urban environments. The event will take place online, on April 24 at 10:00-12:00.

Policy WG meeting: Role of EU Missions in FP10

ERRIN has been actively working on the topic of EU Missions as one of the network's priorities. As we continue preparations towards the next European Framework Programme for R&I, the upcoming Policy Working Group meeting will focus on the role of EU Missions in FP10. The event will take place in person at the ERRIN premises on 23 April from 14:00-16:00.

Co-creation and citizen engagement in EU Missions Workshop

ERRIN is supporting the REINFORCING project in organising an interactive workshop aimed at exploring the challenges and needs faced by cities and regions regarding citizen engagement within the EU Missions. The project will support organisations financially with specific training, capacity-building sessions, mentoring opportunities and peer learning. The workshop will be organised on 23 April between 11:30-13:00 at ERRIN’s office.

Info days on the LIFE 2024 calls 

The Info Days on the LIFE 2024 calls for proposals will take place from 23 to 26 April. Registration is open until 8 April. These info days will guide potential applicants through the new calls for proposals, the priority themes for 2024 and the four LIFE sub-programmes.

Regulatory Sandboxes as Enablers for CleanTech and Circular Innovation – EU Level Experiences and Future Collaboration Possibilities

This in-person event focuses on what regulatory sandboxes can provide to facilitate the deployment of disruptive technologies in CleanTech and Circularity. Regulatory sandboxes are an experimentation tool allowing innovators to develop and test products, services and business models in a controlled real-world environment supervised by authorities. The event will take place in Brussels on 22 April, 11:30-17:00.

WG Documents

WG Documents

ERRIN Year in review 2022

The ERRIN Year in review 2022 is out! Read the report to see the numerous activities ERRIN and its members have been involved in throughout the year.

WG Related Content

WG Related Content

The European Capital of Innovation Awards

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. In addition to the monetary reward, the prize brings high visibility in the form of renewed public interest and increased media coverage. The deadline for submission is 18 June 2024, 17:00. 

Deadline extension: application for the Cities Mission Twinning Learning Programme

Deadline extended until 7 June! Cities across the EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply to join the EU Cities Mission’s Twinning Learning Programme between 8 April and 7 June 2024. Facilitated by the NetZeroCities project, in which ERRIN is a partner, the Twinning Learning Programme will pair applicants with the second cohort of Pilot Cities, who act as innovation hubs to pursue activities related to rapid decarbonisation.

Enhancing Baltic Sea Region District Heating through Transnational Collaboration and Technological Innovations

A consortium of Danish and Ukrainian partners is searching for additional partners from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia for the Interreg Baltic Sea call. The project will focus on fostering transnational collaboration, sharing best practices, and adopting innovative technologies to optimise district heating operations, reduce carbon footprints, and enhance energy efficiency. The deadline for expressions of interest is 17 April.

The third Call for Proposals of the European Urban Initiative- Innovative Actions is now open

The third EUI-Innovative Actions (EUI-IA) Call for Proposals is now open and will close on 14 October 2024 at 14.00 CEST, with an allocated indicative budget of EUR 90 million ERDF. The call is targeting innovative projects focusing on two topics: 'energy transition' and 'technology in cities'.

Apply for the European Green Capital & European Green Leaf Awards 2026

European cities committed to sustainability are encouraged to apply for the 2026 edition of the European Green Capital and Green Leaf Awards before the deadline on 30 April 2024. The Awards promote and reward the efforts of European towns and cities that strive to reduce their impact on the local and global environment, improving the quality of life for their inhabitants. 

NEIA implementation report & Regional Innovation Valleys update

On 20 March, the Commission published the first report on the state of play of the New European Innovation Agenda, following its launch in July 2022. The document outlines the progress and achievements with regard to the 25 actions under Agenda’s five flagships, including the Regional Innovation Valleys. On the same day, an EU R&I Days debate on the way forward for RIVs was also held.

Latest Updates

  • By Ewa Chomicz

ERRIN is looking for a Climate Neutral Cities Advisor (deadline: 29 July)

ERRIN is looking for a Climate Neutral Cities Advisor to join its Secretariat! The successful candidate will work to ensure the delivery of the Horizon Europe Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by taking part in the activities of the NetZeroCities project. The deadline to apply is 29 July.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

The new European Innovation Agenda unveiled

On 5 July, the European Commission adopted the new European Innovation Agenda with the aim of positioning Europe at the forefront of the new wave of deep tech innovation and start-ups. The document, to which ERRIN submitted input in May this year, sets out 25 dedicated actions under five flagships, including on European Innovation Ecosystems.

  • By Gianpiero Petruzziello

Partnership sought for HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -02-11- Development and demonstration of mobile and stationary compressed hydrogen refuelling solutions for inland shipping and short-distance maritime operations

Partnership sought for HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -02-11- Development and demonstration of mobile and stationary compressed hydrogen refuelling solutions for inland shipping and short-distance maritime operations.

  • By Gianpiero Petruzziello

Follow up on Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP 2.0) workshop

The European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission DG RTD held on 22 June in Brussels the first Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP) event of the year, focusing on the way ahead for building synergies for successful green and digital transitions. ERRIN Director Pirita Lindholm moderated the panel discussion on ‘ongoing and future strategies and initiatives’.

  • By Gianpiero Petruzziello

Covenant of Companies for Climate and Energy - First call for technical assistance

The European Commission’s Covenant of Companies for Climate and Energy (CCCE) has opened its first call for applications to its decarbonisation assistance programme for European businesses. The call is open until 31 August to companies, groups of companies (co-located in the same area), authorities (national, regional or local) and other actors, such as associations, networks and energy service companies from Croatia, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland.

  • By Anonymous

Marine litter and pollution – Smart and low environmental impact fishing gears

This project addresses the challenges occurring from marine pollution caused by waste from fishing activities, in line with among others the Single Use Plastic Directive and the Port Reception Facilities Directive. The reduction of the marine pollution and preservation of marine fauna have high attention from the Commission where marine habitats, including seabed suffer negative effects e.g. from lost or otherwise discarded fishing gears.