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

Policy WG meeting: Regional Innovation Valleys call under Horizon Europe – dealing with co-funding

In the frame of ERRIN’s focus on the Regional Innovation Valleys call under Horizon Europe (EIE RIV call), the requirement of 50% co-funding emerges as one of the most challenging aspects of the call for prospective applicant regions. The online Policy WG meeting on 29 June aims to discuss this urgent issue to further support network members in applying to the EIE RIV call by 17 October.

Stakeholder workshop on the progress of Horizon Europe

The European Commission is organising a stakeholder workshop on the progress of Horizon Europe in the context of the mid-term review. The event will take place online on 29 June from 10:00-13:00 CEST. Participants will be invited to take the floor and share their individual experiences with Horizon Europe up until now. Widening countries are particularly encouraged to take part.

All Hands On Deck: Mobilising the EU's Cohesion Policy to unlock Europe's Cities & Regions' potential to save energy

The Regione Lombardia and the European Alliance to Save Energy are organising an event on 29 June aiming to build forward-looking partnerships between regions & businesses on energy efficiency.

ERRIN Spring AGM 2023

ERRIN's Spring Annual General Meeting will take place on 22 June from 14:30-17:45 CEST, followed by networking reception. This year the event will be held in-person, with online streaming available for members who aren’t based in Brussels.

Connecting regional innovation valleys through circular industries

The Principality of Asturias through IDEPA, and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission will organise the event "Connecting regional innovation valleys through circular industries" on 21-22 June in Gijón, Asturias (Spain). The conference will build on the experiences and learnings of the Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI) Pilot.

Joint I&I and Energy & Climate Change WG: The Net-Zero Industry Act for regional and local authorities

The Innovation & Investment and Energy & Climate Change Working Groups jointly organised an in-person meeting on 16 June 2023 (10:00 - 11:00) on the Net Zero Industry Act for regional and local authorities.

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

Management Board elections 2022 – call for nominations launched!

Every year ERRIN holds elections for the Management Board. You can put forward your candidature for this year’s elections until 17 October.

Third set of calls for proposals under Digital Europe Programme now open

The Commission has opened the third set of calls for proposals of the Digital Europe Programme, worth €200 million, under the 2021-2022 Work Programmes. A new call is also open for European Digital Innovation Hubs with additional €30 million.

REGIONS2030: Call for expression of interest - deadline extended

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) is inviting European regions to express their interest to contribute to the Pilot Project "REGIONS2030: Monitoring the SDGs in the EU regions - Filling the data gaps", supported by the European Parliament. The deadline for submitting an expression of interest is now extended until 10 October 2022.

The RECIPROCITY project has launched a call for tender to select financial experts for mobility projects

RECIPROCITY has launched a call for tenders to select a Technical Service of Financial Experts for Mobility Projects. The contract will be for 8 months and should cover around 20 consultations for a maximum allocated contract budget of 15,000€.

2023 announced as the European Year of Skills

In her 2022 State of the Union Address, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced the upcoming year as the European Year of Skills. ERRIN welcomes this announcement, as skills are among the priority areas where potential new activities are currently under discussion in the ERRIN Management Board.

RIPEET launches a Call for Innovative Energy Solutions in its Pilot Regions

In the frame of the H2020 funded project RIPEET ‘Responsible research and Innovation Policy Experimentations in Energy Transition’, the Pilot Regions: Outer Hebrides (UK), Ostrobothnia (FI) and Extremadura (ES) are launching a call for innovative energy solutions to best tackle the regions' specific challenges and contribute to sustainable energy transition.

Latest Updates

  • By Hilary Webb

Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2021

The 2021 Regional Innovation Scoreboard has been published, revealing that innovation performance has increased for 225 out of 240 regions over the last seven years.

  • By Hilary Webb

European innovation scoreboard 2021

The 2021 European innovation scoreboard is now available, showing that the bloc's innovation performance continues to improve. Innovation performance across the EU has increased by 12.5% on average since 2014, while the 2021 innovation leader was named as Sweden.

  • By Hilary Webb

Consultation on first ERA industrial technology roadmap on low-carbon tech

The co-creation process of the first European Research Area (ERA) industrial technology roadmap on low-carbon technologies has begun with a stakeholder consultation.

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

Making digital transition work for all SMEs: study available

A new CoR study "The state of digital transformation at the regional level and COVID-19 induced changes to the economy and business models, and their consequences for regions" is now available for download.

  • By Hilary Webb

EC adopts package of legislative tools for EU Green Deal

The European Commission has adopted a package of proposed actions that will transform the EU's climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies in a bid to realise the European Green Deal.

  • By Hilary Webb

Survey on Commission's science, research & innovation communication

The European Commission has launched an anonymous survey, which it hopes will improve its communication on science, research and innovation.