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

Get in Touch
Wim De Kinderen
Wim De Kinderen

Brainport Eindhoven EU Office Brussels

Get in Touch
Loles Vidal
Loles Vidal

Generalitat Valenciana

Get in Touch

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).

ERRIN Contact

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

Info Day: I3 Instrument work programme 2021-2022 and calls

On 9 December 2021, EISMEA is organizing an informative webinar on the Interregional Innovation Investment Work Programme 2021-2022 and the recently announced calls.

Info session - Policy tools and services for clusters and regions

The European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) and ERRIN are organising an info session on the support services provided by the ECCP to cluster managers and to policy makers.

Horizon Europe Cluster 4 info days: Digital, Industry & Space

Cluster 4 of Pillar II of Horizon Europe will be the subject of the upcoming info days.

European Innovation Council Summit 2021

In November the European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel will launch the one and a half day hybrid EIC Summit. The 2021 summit will be a chance for innovation actors to network and connect, as well as to learn more about ecosystem policy and emerging technologies. 

Gender smart mobility - TInngO project final event

The 10th International Symposium on Travel Demand Management is being held in collaboration with the EU projects DIAMOND and TInnGO’s final conference and will take place from 17th – 19th November 2021. The event will be held virtually with the theme of 'Creating a paradigm shift towards gender and equality in smart mobility'. The final outcomes of both projects will be presented.

Annual Research Conference 2021: Charting the European economy post COVID-19

The 2021 Annual Research Conference will focus on the theme 'Charting the European economy post-COVID-19: unusual times require unconventional policies.'

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 Hilary Webb

Additional measures to mobilise investements and resources - CRII+

To complement the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative, the Commission has announced a new, complementary package. The Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+) package introduces flexibility to ensure non-utilised support can be enacted. 

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

Immediate release of funds to tackle COVID-19

The Council adopted legislative act to rapidly react to the surrounding pandemic amending the rules of the structural and investment funds. Mechanisms will enter into force on 1 April.

  • By Anonymous

ACCIÓ - H2020 EIC Innovation for SME and start-ups call

ACCIÓ, the Agency for Business Competitiveness of the Government of Catalonia, is interested in the H2020 call 'European Innovation Council Support Actions: Mutual learning and common tools and resources for national/regional schemes supporting innovation projects of start-ups and SMEs.

  • By Hilary Webb

European Investment Bank proposes package in response to COVID-19

Following the strain placed on the European economy by the rapid spread of the new coronavirus, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has proposed a plan to mobilise €40 billion of financing.

  • By Hilary Webb

Key actions from SME strategy

The European Commission published its new 'SME Strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe', targeting the 25 million European SMEs, which are deeply woven into the fabric of Europe, and provide 2 out of 3 jobs while contributing to 50% of the EU’s GDP. 

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

Update on ERRIN's work

The current outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a lot of uncertainty in Brussels and across the whole of Europe. We would therefore like to reassure all of you, that despite the current situation, the ERRIN Secretariat will stay operational and work remotely.