Working Group Leaders

Representatives of Brussels-based offices leading the work of Innovation & Investment Working Group.

Innovation & Investment WG Leader
Gabriele Pedrini

The Autonomous Province of Trento

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Wim De Kinderen
Wim De Kinderen

Brainport Eindhoven EU Office Brussels

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Loles Vidal
Loles Vidal

Generalitat Valenciana

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Innovation & Investment

The Innovation & Investment Working Group aims to monitor the main initiatives put in place by the European institutions under the priority ‘an economy that works for the people’ and explicitly target SMEs. The Working Group monitors industrial and cluster policy developments and promotes instruments that support innovative financing (e.g., cascade funding financial instruments).

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Last Working Group Meetings

Previous Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings

Strengthening skills governance in regional innovation ecosystems:  lessons learnt and remaining challenges

Strengthening skills governance in regional innovation ecosystems: lessons learnt and remaining challenges

Astrid Hannes

As the activities of the EU Year of Skills came to an end in April 2024, the Science and Education for Society Working Group is organising a Working Group meeting to reflect on the lessons learnt

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

WG Related Events

WG Related Events

Horizon Europe Summit 2024

Impuls Consulting Group and STEMwise would like to invite you to their Horizon Europe Summit 2024, which will take place at the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel on 22-23 May. This event marks the first Horizon Europe conference in South East Europe.

Space Meetings Veneto 2024

Space meetings Veneto is an international conference and business meeting dedicated to the Space Industry. The event will be taking place in Venice, from 20 to 22 May.

EC Horizon Results Platform & EU IP Helpdesk “IPR and Software” webinar

The European Commission Horizon Results Platform Team and the EU IP Helpdesk invite you to join the webinar: “IPR and Software” Thursday, 16 May 2024, 10:30 - 12:00 (CEST)

S3 Webinar: Empowering interregional collaboration – from capacity to funding

The S3 Community of Practice and DG REGIO are organising a series of webinars directed to all S3 practitioners and stakeholders from regions across the EU. The first webinar in the series will focus on "Empowering interregional collaboration – from capacity to funding" and will be held by the S3 CoP Working Group on Interregional Collaboration on 16 May 2024 from 10:00-12:00 CEST.

FoSS fifth-anniversary workshop: Smart specialisation – where from, where now, and where to... and why?

The Friends of Smart Specialisation (FoSS) are organising their fifth-anniversary workshop to discuss the current practice and future of S3 as the cohesion policy debate goes into full swing. The event will take place in person in Brussels on 15 May from 16:00-18:00, hosted by the Greater Birmingham West Midlands Brussels Office and Oslo Region European Office. The event will be followed by a networking cocktail.

Online masterclass “Funding for cultural heritage: the role of the European Investment Bank”

Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute are pleased to invite you to an online masterclass in funding and advisory services for cultural heritage provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) on 15 May 2024, from 14.30 to 16.00 CET.

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.

ERRIN input paper on the Implementation Report of the European Innovation Council

ERRIN's input paper on the Implementation Report on the European Innovation Council brings together the first comments and recommendations received from the various stakeholders from ERRIN members.

WG Related Content

WG Related Content

Express your interest in the EU Missions and New European Bauhaus Calls 2024

The European Commission has launched new calls for proposals to support research and innovation for its five EU Missions and the New European Bauhaus (NEB). ERRIN encourages all members and their stakeholders to express interest in the EU Missions and NEB calls through the ERRIN Project Development Tool (PDT).

Feedback opportunity for Horizon Europe work programme 2025

The European Commission opened an opportunity to provide input for the development of the Horizon Europe ‘main’ work programme 2025. Submitted responses will contribute to the co-design of the work programme 2025, covering all six clusters, research infrastructures, European innovation ecosystems, the five EU Missions and the New European Bauhaus facility. The deadline for feedback is 6 May 2024 midday, CEST.

Mobility Transition Pathway: Open call for Stakeholders' Pledges to drive green and digital transition

The European Commission has opened an online call, inviting stakeholders from various sectors to submit pledges aligned with the Mobility Transition Pathway. This inclusive approach welcomes participation from individual companies, business associations, social partners, NGOs, and local authorities.

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. 

The EIC launches a consultation on its Business Acceleration Services

The European Innovation Council (EIC) is launching a survey open to EIC beneficiaries, aiming to collect information regarding the use of the EIC Community Platform and the EIC Business Acceleration Services. The survey is open until 12 April 2024.

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 Francesca Pozzebon

SEFS WG call for regional examples in evidence-based policy making

The SEFS Working Group is looking for regional best practices in the field of Evidence based and evidence informed policy making. The meeting will take place on 20 April (10:00-12.00 CEST) and will be organised as an online event.

  • By Lucy Hammond

InnoBuyer open call

The InnoBuyer call for challengers is open until 17:00 CET on 31 March 2023. Grants of up to €41.5k are available, funded by the European Commission, under 4 actions related to unmet innovation needs.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

ERRIN input to Horizon 2014-2027 consultation

ERRIN is pleased to share its input to the largest public consultation on the past, present and future of the Horizon programmes 2014-2027. The document is structured around four main areas based on the network’s priorities: EU Missions, European Partnerships, widening, and ecosystem approach.

  • By Silvia Ghiretti

ERRIN's EU Missions project mapping: express your interest

ERRIN aims to provide support to its members in developing successful proposals under the EU Missions of the Horizon Europe 2023-2024 work programme. ERRIN designed a brief survey with the upcoming EU Missions calls that may be of interest to regional and local stakeholders. Express your interest by 22 March.

  • By Ioana Dragos

MIND4MACHINES Open Call for Industry 4.0

The MIND4MACHINES Open Call launched on 14 February 2023 targets SMEs (including micro-enterprises or startUps), which develop innovative solutions for improvement and efficiency of the manufacturing industry, such as: ICT software or hardware-based technologies, cybersecurity, cloud computing,  artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, robotics, industrial automation, machine learning. 

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument Work Programme 2023-2024 published

The Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument Work Programme 2023-2024 is out now. New calls will be launched in the second quarter of 2023 to address digital, green transition and smart manufacturing challenges linked to issues identified in the New European Innovation Agenda.