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

S3 Conference: Launch of the S3 Community of Practice

The S3 Conference 2023 is the first in a series of events that DG REGIO is organising for S3 stakeholders from across regions in EU Member States. It is also the launch event for the new S3 Community of Practice, whose Secretariat is joined by ERRIN. The conference will take place online on 30 March and will be opened by Commissioner Elisa Ferreira.

PRI High-Level Event: “From Playbook to implementation”

The European Commission and the CoR are organising a High-Level Event of the Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI) “From Playbook to implementation” as a bridge between smart specialisation and other EU policies to promote innovation-driven territorial transformation. The event will take place on 28 March 2023 in Brussels. Participation is possible in person and online.

Launch of the OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook 2023

The OECD Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Outlook is a biennial publication that aims to inform policymakers and analysts on recent and future changes in global STI patterns and their potential implications on and for national and international STI policies. It will take place on 16 March from 14:30-17:00 at Conference Centre Albert Borschette, with online streaming also available.

ERRIN Intro Coffee

The ERRIN Secretariat is pleased to invite you to the upcoming ERRIN Intro Coffee, aiming to offer a concise introduction to ERRIN and its services, as well as encourage networking between members. The meeting is directed mainly towards new network members and colleagues, but all interested members are welcome to participate. Join us in person at ERRIN on 15 March!

Smart Specialisation WG meeting: Steering PRI – expectations and future directions

The Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI) Pilot Action was launched by the JRC and CoR in May 2022 as an initiative building on the smart specialisation strategies. As we approach a key moment for defining PRI's future, this S3 WG meeting will allow all ERRIN members who are involved in or interested in the Pilot to hear from and engage in discussion on the future of the initiative with European institutions, as well as involved ERRIN regions.

Clusters meet Regions event, Lyon

A Clusters Meet Regions event will take place on 8-9 March in Lyon at the French industrial fair Global Industrie (Eurexpo Lyon - Boulevard de l'Europe, 69680 Chassieu, FRANCE).

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

Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027 is out

On 20 March, the Commission adopted the second Horizon Europe strategic plan. The plan sets out three key strategic orientations for the EU's research and innovation funding for the last three years of the programme (2025-2027). Find out what novelties the new strategic plan brings.

Express your interest in the 3rd Interreg Europe call via the ERRIN Project Development Tool

Interreg Europe's 3rd call for proposals, launched on 20 March, supports interregional cooperation projects addressing common regional development challenges. Organisations can use the ERRIN Project Development tool to express interest and find partners. The call is open until 7 June 2024.

Systems to quantify nitrogen fluxes and uncertainties in European landscapes

Call for Partner interest under the Mission Soil calls, focusing on Systems to quantify nitrogen fluxes and uncertainties in European landscapes.

Marching towards FP10 – ERRIN activity update

As we enter March and approach the European R&I Days, several ERRIN activities planned for 2024 with a link to FP10 have already taken place, and more are on their way. Have a look at an update with the outcomes of our recent work on the next European Framework Programme for R&I, next steps and opportunities to get involved.

Rural toolkit - Guide to EU funding and support opportunities

The Rural toolkit is a comprehensive gateway to EU funding and support initiatives available for rural areas in the EU. The Rural toolkit is the comprehensive guide to EU funding and support opportunities for rural areas in the European Union. It aims to help local authorities, institutions and stakeholders, businesses and individuals to identify and take advantage of existing EU funds, programmes and other funding and support initiatives, and to foster development in rural territories.

EU's Knowledge Ecosystems: A Regional Stakeholder Survey

The ERA FABRIC project, which aims to define the ERA Hubs concept across Europe, launched a survey for regional stakeholders to identify the most recurrent characteristics and parameters of excellence of European knowledge ecosystems. ERA Hubs concept remains of particular interest for ERRIN. The survey will be open until 10 March 2024.

Latest Updates

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

2021 kicks off with new R&I opportunities and the 20th anniversary of ERRIN

2021 marks a start of the new EU financial period that comes with new programmes, instruments and actions. Taking full advantage of those new opportunities for regions and regional innovation ecosystems is one of our key priorities this year.

  • By Hilary Webb

Share a message to celebrate 20 years of ERRIN

The year 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of ERRIN! As we prepare to celebrate this milestone moment for the network we invite members, partners and friends of ERRIN to share a celebration message about the occasion. 

  • By Hilary Webb

Learn more about the ETHNA system project

ERRIN is an associated partner in the ETHNA system project, which aims to develop and apply an ethics governance system for the use of RRI in higher education, funding and research centres. Learn more about the project in its second newsletter.

  • By Hilary Webb

DG R&I publish Industry 5.0: Towards a sustainable, human-centric and resilient European industry

The European Commission has published Industry 5.0, a paper highlighting research and innovation as key drivers for the move to a more sustainable European industry, while placing the wellbeing of workers at its centre.

  • By Hilary Webb

Reinforced cooperation between EIC and EIT announced

The European Innovation Council and European Institute of Innovation and Technology have signed a memorandum of understanding to reinforce their cooperation regarding the support of highly-innovative start-ups.

  • By Anonymous

Looking for partners for COSME call on innovation uptake and digitalisation in the tourism sector

The Department of Tourism of the Autonomous province of Trento (Trentino) is looking for partners to address the digital transformation and growth of local service providers, mainly SMEs, whose level of digital literacy is not uniform and, on average, is quite low. The first objective is to develop, test and validate useful methods to deepen digital culture in the involved SMEs, and then to spread knowledge outside the scope of the project.