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

ERRIN event: Organising a regional innovation ecosystem

This in-person ERRIN event on 4 October, organised in line with the Management Board priority on widening and deepening engagement in R&I, invites all ERRIN members to share and explore the ways to develop their regional innovation ecosystems going beyond any specific initiatives or funding opportunities. The event will enable informal mutual learning and exchanges of practices between network colleagues from across Europe in an interactive way.

CoR stakeholder consultation "Towards an integrated EU policy approach to support place-based innovation for the green and digital transition"

​​​The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is drafting an opinion "Towards an integrated EU policy approach to support place-based innovation for the green and digital transition". Interested stakeholders are invited for a thematic consultation and exchange of views on 3 October 2023 from 10:00-12:00 at the CoR premises. Registration is possible by 29 September.

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.

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 input to Horizon 2014-2027 consultation

ERRIN is pleased to share its input to the largest public consultation on the past, present and future of the Horizon programmes 2014-2027. The document is structured around four main areas based on the network’s priorities: EU Missions, European Partnerships, widening, and ecosystem approach.

ERRIN's EU Missions project mapping: express your interest

ERRIN aims to provide support to its members in developing successful proposals under the EU Missions of the Horizon Europe 2023-2024 work programme. ERRIN designed a brief survey with the upcoming EU Missions calls that may be of interest to regional and local stakeholders. Express your interest by 22 March.

Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument Work Programme 2023-2024 published

The Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument Work Programme 2023-2024 is out now. New calls will be launched in the second quarter of 2023 to address digital, green transition and smart manufacturing challenges linked to issues identified in the New European Innovation Agenda.

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. 

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.

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.

Latest Updates

  • By Hilary Webb

Join the city of Eindhoven in a consortium of 5/6 public buyers purchasing innovative blockchain solutions for social services

The city of Eindhoven is looking for 5 other cities/regions interested in cooperation amongst public buyers towards the increased use and impact of public procurement to develop innovative blockchain solutions for social services.

  • By Hilary Webb

Drive efficient and impactful climate adaptation and mitigation actions in your region with ERRIN

ERRIN has been approached by the European Science Foundation (coordinator) and University College London (Principal Investigator) for a proposal under the European Green Deal area 9, call 9.2 and is launching a call for expressions of interest for ERRIN members to join the proposal as third parties.

  • By Hilary Webb

Big Buyers for climate and environment - Public procurement opportunities

The Big Buyers for Climate and Environment Initiative seeks public entities working in health, clean energy, low-carbon construction or intelligent transport for the next phase of collaboration.

  • By Hilary Webb

AGM Virtual networking: Discover secret talents within ERRIN!

The ERRIN team has designed a festive networking game that will take place at the end of the Autumn AGM. In order to make it happen, we need your secret talents!

  • By Hilary Webb

CoR, JRC & DG R&I share Joint Action Plan

Innovation, research, culture and education are at the centre of a new action plan launched by the Committee of the Regions, DG R&I and the JRC. The plan contains 26 concrete actions under four priority areas.

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

ERRIN Autumn Annual General Meeting – registration open!

We are happy to invite you to ERRIN’s Autumn Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will take place on 10 December, 14.00-17.00. Even if the AGM takes place on-line, it will include several interactive elements and an occasion to virtually connect with colleagues in the network.