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

Four Motors for Europe Green Chemistry, Advanced materials and Recycling of plastics Matchmaking Event

Four Motors for Europe Green Chemistry, Advanced materials and Recycling of plastics Matchmaking Event will take place online on 16-17 January, organised by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region's presidency of the Four Motors for Europe.

Horizon Europe info day - WIDERA Work Programme 2023-2024

The Horizon Europe WIDERA info day will take place online on 12 December between 09:30 and 17:00. This info day aims to inform (potential) applicants about the new topics included in the WIDERA work programme of 2023-2024.

ERRIN Autumn Annual General Meeting 2022

ERRIN's Autumn Annual General Meeting will be held this year on 8 December from 14:30-18:15 CET followed by networking drinks from 18:15 CET. In addition to discussing formal issues and offering an opportunity to network, the event will feature a working session around the European Year of Skills.

The EU Chips Act – How semiconductor ecosystems increase competitiveness in Europe’s regions

Saxony-Anhalt, together with Intel, is hosting the event 'The EU Chips Act – How semiconductor ecosystems increase competitiveness in Europe’s regions' on 7 December from 18:00-20:00.

2nd European Mission Network (EMiN) meeting- Making missions work - How to involve regions in the mission implementation process?

Following the Mutal Learning Event, organised jointly by TRAMI (Transnational Cooperation on the Missions Approach) and ERRIN in October, the 2nd European Mission Network (EMiN) meeting Making missions work - How to involve regions in the mission implementation process? is taking place online on 7 December 14:00-16:00.

European Partnership Stakeholder Forum - One-year review of European Partnership Initiatives in Horizon Europe

On 15 and 16 November 2022, the European Commission will launch its first European Partnership Stakeholder Forum. The Forum focuses on reviewing the first year of partnerships and, in particular, how they can contribute to the twin green and digital transitions, and increase Europe’s resilience. Participation is possible online or in person in Brussels.

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

The JRC publishes "Innovation for place-based transformations. ACTIONbook, practices and tools"

The Joint Research Centre, in collaboration with the European Committee of the Regions, has published the "Innovation for place-based transformations. ACTIONbook, practices and tools". The ACTIONbook builds upon the PRI Playbook and PRI Pilot experience to help address complex challenges.

ERRIN welcomes new network Chairs

The ERRIN Management Board has appointed three co-chairs to the network. The three postholders will work together as a troika to guide the network in a collaborative manner in the period of 2024-2025.

Exploring Synergies between European Partnerships and EU Missions – Mutual Learning Event

ERRIN and the TRAMI project are organising a Mutual Learning Event aiming to explore synergies between European Partnerships and EU Missions. The event will take place on Wednesday 7 February from 9:00 to 12:00 (CET) at the NCBR Brussels Office, Rue Belliard 40, Brussels.

Innovation Fund calls to drive net-zero technologies open until April 2024

With a budget of €4 billion, the Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting innovative projects that contribute to the EU’s green transition goals. The Innovation Fund 2023 calls covering sectors including decarbonisation, hydrogen, cleantech manufacturing, and maritime and energy-intensive industries are open until 9 April 2024, 17:00 (CET).

Expression of interest: Circular Cities and Regions Initiative Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues

The Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI), one of ERRIN's projects, is organising Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues in 2024-2025 to identify Research & Innovation Gaps that need to be bridged to boost the circular economy at the local and regional level. Experts are invited to express their interest in participating in the CCRI Dialogues to share their research and innovation needs and feed into the design of the Horizon Europe 2025-2027 calls.

Regional innovation highlighted in Council conclusions on R&I

On 8 December, the Council of the EU approved conclusions on strengthening the role and impact of research and innovation in policymaking – a priority file for the Spanish Presidency of the Council. A stronger role for local and regional innovation to strengthen competitive R&I is featured in the conclusions as one of the three mutually complementary dimensions.

Latest Updates

  • By Etienne Rodzinka-Verhelle

Basque authorities coordinating a HE proposal on ci

Some entities of the Basque Country (Spain) are leading a proposal for Horizon Europe (topic: HORIZON-CL6-2022-CIRCBIO-01-01: Circular cities and regions initiative’s project development assistance), and are looking for European partners.

  • By Anonymous

A French-Spanish-Polish consortium is looking for a leader/partner of the project to apply to a New European Bauhaus call

A French-Spanish-Polish consortium is looking for a leader/partner of the project to apply to a New European Bauhaus call ( HORIZON EUROPE), related to the program: The New European Bauhaus – shaping a greener and fairer way of life in creative and inclusive societies through Architecture, Design and Arts possibly a municipality (bigger municipalities are ideal target but we consider the offer of smaller one as well), located in Europe and interested in developing innovative spatial green infrastructure but also SME’s, research centers etc.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

I3 Instrument calls now open

The Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) Instrument opened calls under two strands with a total budget of EUR 145 million for the period of 2021-2022.

  • By Etienne Rodzinka-Verhelle

European Innovation Ecosystems and ERA Hubs: call for interest

ERRIN is launching a survey aimed at gathering views from the network’s stakeholders on how the notions of ecosystems can be rolled-out in practice, and how their interconnectedness can pilot the ERA Hub concept. The survey will help us identify regions interested to join the next HE call on Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Management Board elections 2021 – results

Between 4 and 18 October, ERRIN members could put forward their candidatures for this year’s ERRIN Management Board elections. Three new Management Board members were selected.

  • By Hilary Webb

ERRIN supports manifesto to promote discussion of R&I within Conference on the Future of Europe

ERRIN joins 19 other European research and innovation actors to call for the Conference on the Future of Europe to place R&I at the centre of the debate on the EU's future challenges and priorities.