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).

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

Cities & regions getting ahead with the circular transition – a WCEF2024 accelerator session

The European Commission’s Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI), in which ERRIN is involved, is co-organising the session ‘how EU cities and regions are getting ahead with the circular transition’ during the World Circular Economy Forum 2024.

Big Science Business Forum

Insight into Europe's Premier Big Science Gathering. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with key figures shaping the event: Alessia Rosolen, Councillor for Research, University of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Paolo Acunzo, Director of BSBF Trieste 2024. The event will take place on 11 April, 14:30-16:00

Smart Specialisation WG meeting: STEP - regional perspective

The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) is a new common European action to support EU industry and boost investments in critical technologies in Europe. The upcoming S3 WG meeting will offer a chance to gain an understanding of STEP from a general and regional perspective. It will also facilitate mutual learning with regard to integrating STEP into national and regional cohesion policy programmes such as ERDF or ESF+. The event will be held online on 10 April from 10:00-11:30 CEST.

Quantum Technologies for Cybersecurity: the Veneto initiative within the euroQCI programme

EUROINNOAperitif "Quantum Technologies for Cybersecurity: The Veneto initiative within the euroQCI programme" will serve as a platform to discuss and promote innovative applications aimed at empowering Europe. Scheduled for 16:30 on 9 April 2024, the event will take place at the Regione del Veneto - Bruxelles Office in Avenue de Tervuren 67 in Brussels.

Territories in ACTION

Following the launch of the ACTIONbook in January 2024, the JRC and CoR are organising an event to present the publication alongside insights from several territories on their innovative place-based transformations. As the ACTIONbook builds on the experiences from the PRI Pilot Action, next steps linked to this initiative will also be shared.

The next steps on the Tourism Transition Pathway - Cultural Heritage and Tourism Working Group Meeting

Following the T4T stakeholder event that will be held on 15 March and the continuous interest of ERRIN members towards the Tourism Transition Pathway (TTP), ERRIN's Cultural Heritage & Tourism Working Group is planning an online meeting taking place on 26 March, with the aim to provide members with the latest information on its initiatives and concrete achievements.

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

ERRIN two-page input on FP10 for the attention of the Expert Group

As the work towards the next EU Framework Programme for R&I (FP10) continues, ERRIN is pleased to share its two-page input for the attention of the Expert Group on the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe. The document is a concise compilation of the reflections on FP10 done at ERRIN so far, highlighting topics of key importance. Work on a series of broader input papers is underway.

Extended deadline: Call for Circular Economy Experts providing personalised support for cities and regions

To better support the implementation of circular systemic solutions at the local and regional levels, the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative just launched a call for external experts who can offer personalised support to cities and regions. Experts should have at least five years of experience in the fields of stakeholder and citizen engagement, innovation and technology, business models and financial support, public procurement, or impact evaluation and can express their interest until 14 June 2024.

H-ARPA project proposes a healthcare model that integrates technological solutions to improve access, continuity of care, early detection of complications, and the quality of care for people with chronic diseases in rural settings

Rural areas face significant healthcare challenges. An aging population, a shortage of professionals, and geographic dispersion make it difficult to provide adequate care for chronic diseases. This leads to health inequalities between rural and urban populations and negatively impacts socioeconomic development. The H-ARPA project proposes a healthcare model that integrates technological solutions to improve access, continuity of care, early detection of complications, and the quality of care for people with chronic diseases in rural settings. The project will be supported by local healthcare…

ERRIN is looking for a Head of projects - Extended Deadline

In view of the upcoming departure of ERRIN's current Director of projects, Ryan Titley, ERRIN is looking for a replacement to start in September 2024. The new colleague will work closely with the ERRIN Director on strategic planning, and lead the implementation and development of ERRIN's current and future project portfolio. Extended deadline: Applications are open until 26 May at 17.00 CEST.

Empowering Innovation: Overview of Public Engagement in Research & Innovation

DG RTD has recently released a thematic report titled "Overview of Public Engagement in Research & Innovation", which provides an introductory overview of Public Engagement in Research and Innovation in Europe. The document aims to inspire and help public actors and policymakers to promote and support public engagement.

CircularInvest call for project promotors aiming to increase the investment readiness of their local and regional circular economy projects

CircularInvest helps cities and regions implement circular strategies by removing obstacles and closing the gap between circular economy project promoters and investors. A new CircularInvest call has been launched for project promotors who want to increase the investment readiness level of their local and regional circular economy projects. The deadline for applications is 13 September 2024.

Latest Updates

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

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.

  • By Anonymous

Usti region's proposal under i3 I3-2022-CAP2b — Capacity Building Strand 2b. 

Usti region is a heavily industrialised region in the northwest part of the Czech Republic. It is facing challenges of decarbonisation, coalmines and brown coal power stations phase-out. The region could use an EC Just Transitions Mechanism for supporting new specialisation domains like hydrogen or geothermal energy as well as green chemistry (nanotechnologies). The region will be submitting a proposal under i3 I3-2022-CAP2b — Capacity Building Strand 2b. 

  • By Astrid Hannes

Harnessing Talent in Europe: a new boost for EU Regions

Ensuring that regions facing a talent development trap become more resilient and attractive is crucial in the EU's commitment to leaving nobody and no place behind. For that reason, the Commission launched a new ‘Talent Booster Mechanism', supporting EU regions affected by the accelerated decline of their working age population to train, retain and attract the people, the skills and the competences needed to address the impact of the demographic transition.

  • By Nathalie Alvarez

The Region of Murcia (Spain) is coordinating a proposal towards the call: HORIZON-EIE-2023-CONNECT-01-02: Preparatory action for setting up joint programmes among innovation ecosystems actors

The region of Murcia (Spain) is coordinating a proposal towards the call : HORIZON-EIE-2023-CONNECT-01-02: Preparatory action for setting up joint programmes among innovation ecosystems actors.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

I3 Instrument “Capacity Building - Strand 2b” call now open

In the framework of the I3 Instrument, a new “Capacity Building in Less Developed Regions - Strand 2b” call was published in December 2022 with a deadline of 16 March 2023, 17:00 (CET). The objective of the call is to test new approaches in order to increase the capacity of regional innovation ecosystems in less developed regions participating in EU value chains.

  • By Lucy Hammond

HORIZON CL4 2023 TWIN TRANSITION 01 08: Foresight and technology transfer for Manufacturing as a Service (Made in Europe Partnership)

The GIE ALBATROS is a cluster of 16 industrial SME and mid-caps where decision makers are looking for diversification, organic growth and development of disruptive technologies. GIE ALBATROS is looking to join a consortium on Horizon Call HORIZON CL4 2023 TWIN TRANSITION 01 08.