Working Group Leaders
Representatives of Brussels-based offices leading the work of Innovation & Investment Working Group.
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
Previous Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings
Strengthening skills governance in regional innovation ecosystems: lessons learnt and remaining challenges
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
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
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
KEP 2.0 seminar: Implementation of the New European Innovation Agenda – What is in it for regions and cities?
The European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission are organising a seminar on "Implementation of the New European Innovation Agenda – What is in it for regions and cities?" in the framework of their Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP 2.0). The event will take place on 28 September from 14:30-18:00 in-person in Brussels, with ERRIN Director Pirita Lindholm as one of the speakers.
AI REGIO project final event
The AI REGIO project is organising its Final Event at the BluePoint in Brussels on the 27 September 2023 from 09:00-17:00. This hybrid event will be back-to-back with the Manufacturing Partnership Event of EFFRA on 26 September. AI and Manufacturing solutions of involved SMEs and Digital Innovation Hubs will be presented during this event.
Deep tech ventures in Europe: when gazelles meet dolphins
The Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU is organising a workshop "Deep tech ventures in Europe: when gazelles meet dolphins" on 15 September 2023 from 10:00-13:00 in person in Brussels. The workshop aims to delve into the potential that deep tech entrepreneurship has to transform the technological excellence that exists in Europe into GDP.
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.
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
ERRIN two-pager for European decision-makers
ERRIN is pleased to share a two-pager for the incoming European decision-makers, aiming to present the network and our value to the new MEPs, raising a voice for the importance of place-based R&I in the changing landscape. We encourage all ERRIN members to share the document with their MEPs to introduce ERRIN and the value of place-based R&I.
PRIMED - First open call for potential end users to obtain funding for testing and validating bio-based products
The PRIMED project has released its first open call to identify and engage potential end users interested in testing and validating bio-based ingredients and products. The open calls, offering a total amount of €500k, are split into €100k for each living lab, providing selected end-users for the opportunity to test and validate the added-value bio-based materials/chemicals/fuels/end products. The deadline for the application is on 30 September 2024.
Over 70 ERRIN member regions announced as Regional Innovation Valleys
On 19 June, the Commission announced the 151 regions identified as Regional Innovation Valleys following the call for EoI and calls for proposals in 2023. 75 successful regions come from ERRIN members. RIVs will aim to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystems, bridge the innovation gap and improve Europe's overall innovation performance. New calls for proposals under Horizon Europe are expected in 2025.
EIB's Circular City Centre (C3) initiative continues: support to thrive the circular transition in cities
The European Investment Bank is launching a new support phase of their Circular City Centre (C3) scheme. The C3 targets cities and the public sector promotors on their behalf and offers advice on their circular economy agenda and investment projects. Cities can benefit from guidance documents, resources, circular city advisory and capacity building workshops and project advisory services.
Launch of the new CCRI Knowledge Hub for Circular Economy
The Circular Cities and Regions Initiative has launched its Knowledge Hub to consolidate and expand the support activities made available for boosting circularity in European cities and regions. The CCRI Knowledge Hub will foster knowledge-sharing, mentoring, and capacity-building within the CCRI community and beyond.
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.
Latest Updates
- By Hilary Webb
Main Horizon Europe work programme adopted
The European Commission has adopted the main work programme of Horizon Europe for the period 2021-2022. The programme outlines the objectives and topic areas that will receive a share of €14.7 billion in funding.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Survey on the state of digital transformation at the regional level and Covid-19 induced changes
The European Committee of the Regions and EUROCHAMBRES invite you to participate in a short survey on 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.
- By Anonymous
Reduction of plastics and recycling of plastic waste through public procurement and public-private innovation across the plastics value chain
In Denmark, approx. 370.000 tons of plastic are incinerated every year which results in emission of approx. 1 million tonnes of CO2/year. In order to achieve Denmark’s target to reduce CO2 emissions by 70 percent by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality in 2050, long-term efforts must be made to minimize our plastic consumption and production and management of plastic waste. There is a need for innovation, which is aimed at reducing plastic consumption as well as waste management and treatment of plastics. In order to develop and test systemic solutions for reduction and increased recycling of plastic waste, there is a need for a strong partnership across several links in the value chain of plastics that can create holistic and practical solutions.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
The new European Innovation Procurement Awards open
Call for public and private procurers: the new European Innovation Procurement Awards are open for applications.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
First European Innovation Council Accelerator calls open
The European Commission opened the first EIC Accelerator calls following the launch of the European Innovation Council (EIC). The funding is worth over €1 billion and will help scale up start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses that have the potential to achieve high impact.
- By Anonymous
Search engine innovation platforms in East and North Finland
Regions of East and North Finland (ENF) collaborate to develop new approaches based on smart specialisation. One of the goals is to develop new practices that support companies in utilising the expertise and versatile network of innovation platforms in the ENF area. The innovation platforms in East and North Finland have been collected to the East and North Finland Industrial Transition website. The website contains almost 50 service providers, or the so-called innovation platforms. The purpose of the site is to provide information of the different services offered to companies across the seven regions of East and North Finland, and to encourage interregional and international collaboration.