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

European Research Council Info Days

Research support teams at universities or other institutions play a key role in the process of applying for ERC grants. They can help researchers and scholars build competitive grant proposals. Because of this, the ERC is hosting an info session to help project managers, grant officers and other staff in writing and submitting grant proposals. This event will take place online on 02 July, 09:30-12:00 CEST.

Workshop on regional policies to promote the adoption of innovation by public administrations

The EU project Prepare brings together four regions that are interacting with the local ecosystems to design novel policies that promote demand-driven co-creation for the benefit of local public services, SMEs and citizens. The aim is to help unlock the potential of innovation procurement to turn regional needs into opportunities. A workshop with thematic insights, resources and best practices will take place on 27 June from 9:00-12:30 in Brussels.

EuroINNOWorkshop&Aperitif - "Veneto Data Platform"

VENETO DATA PLATFORM - Collection, analysis, and use of data for managing cities and territories to provide better services to citizens. The event will take place in Brussels on 24 June, 16:30-19:00.

ERRIN Spring AGM 2024

ERRIN’s 2024 Spring Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on 20 June from 15:00 to 17:15 CEST, followed by networking drinks until 19:00. This year, the event will be held in person at Scotland House (Scotland Europa, Rdpt Robert Schuman 6, 1040 Bruxelles).

Training workshop: Making innovation work for society

The REINFORCING project will host a series of training workshops focused on enhancing innovation through co-creation. These workshops will cover identifying societal needs, methods for integrating co-creation into research and innovation, and developing skills for effective uptake and facilitation. The first workshop will be organised online on 18 June between 14:30-16:30 CET.

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

The forthcoming SEFS Working Group meeting will be dedicated to strengthening skills governance in regional innovation ecosystems. The members will learn about CHARTER's results, the first Erasmus+ funded sectoral blueprint that involved six regions to explore the place-based perspective on skills governance from a regional innovation ecosystem’s perspective. The event will take place online on 14 June at 10:00.

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

Regional Innovation Valley for Circular Economy (RIVCircular) - Madrid

Comunidad de Madrid is looking for partners to join a consortium for the first call worth € 60 million linked to the Regional Innovation Valleys initiative: Horizon Europe, Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems (2023.3) (HORIZON-EIE-2023-CONNECT-03), in which about 6 projects are expected to be funded.

Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys - Heat networks

Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys – Decarbonising Heat & Cooling, with proposed focus on next generation heating & cooling networks

5G for Smart Communities Support Platform Launches Insight Consultation for Third Call

In preparation for an upcoming call, the 5G for Smart Communities Support Platform is conducting a consultation to gather valuable insights and feedback from key stakeholders. The deadline for responses is 7 June 2023. All responses are anonymous and will contribute to identifying concrete 5G use cases for future application developments.

Covenant of Companies for Climate and Energy launch pledging scheme  

The Covenant of Companies has launched a brand-new pledging scheme where companies, in making a pledge with our programme, commit to taking action to decarbonise. In return, they offer companies the knowledge and support they need to carry out these measures including a suite of advisory services. The second call for technical assistance is now open and the deadline for submission is 31 August 2023 18:00 CEST

Regional Innovation Valleys calls for proposals launched!

The first Regional Innovation Valleys calls for proposals under the European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) part of Horizon Europe and under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument of the ERDF were launched by the European Commission on 17 May with an overall budget of EUR 122 million. The closing date for applying is 17 October 2023.

Call to join the Commission Expert Group on the Interim Evaluation of Horizon Europe

On 15 May, the European Commission's DG RTD launched a call for applications for the Commission Expert Group on the Interim Evaluation of Horizon Europe. The group shall gather 15 highly experienced members with the aim to provide the Commission with strategic recommendations to feed into the design of the next Framework Programme 2028-2034.

Latest Updates

  • By Gianpiero Petruzziello

Covenant of Companies for Climate and Energy survey

The European Commission (DG ENER) has started a pilot project on how to best support companies and in particular SMEs towards their clean energy transition and climate action – called the ‘Covenant of Companies for Climate and Energy’ (CCCE). As part of this initiative the CCE is conducting a survey on the needs of EU companies and SMEs in terms of clean energy transition and climate action.

  • By Gianpiero Petruzziello

New cascade funding page is available now

The European Commission has created a new Funding & Tenders portal page to find and collect all cascade funding opportunities from all EU projects.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

EU R&I community providing support for Ukrainian researchers

In the context of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing war, members of the EU R&I community are mobilising efforts to support Ukrainian researchers. To engage and inspire, ERRIN members are encouraged to share information about their regional activities and initiatives in support of Ukraine's R&I ecosystem on the ERRIN website, using the tag ‘Solidarity with Ukraine’.

  • By Hilary Webb

UniLiON vademecum on implementing synergies with Horizon Europe

The UniLION working group on synergies has published a vademecum 'Implementing synergies with Horizon Europe.'

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Call for short videos on innovative regional initiatives to be presented at WIRE 2022

To highlight innovation in Europe during this year's edition of the Week of Innovative Regions in Europe (WIRE) in France, short videos will be played during the event, presenting innovative R&I related activities/initiatives/projects led by the European regions. Regions interested in showcasing their initiatives can submit the videos until 29 April 2022.

  • By Astrid Hannes

ERRIN Erasmus+ PDW 2022: Call for task force members

The Science & Education for Society Working Group is preparing the 2022 Erasmus+ project development workshop and is looking for new task force members to shape the 2022 PDW.