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

Get in Touch
Wim De Kinderen
Wim De Kinderen

Brainport Eindhoven EU Office Brussels

Get in Touch
Loles Vidal
Loles Vidal

Generalitat Valenciana

Get in Touch

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Commission adopts Sustainable Finance Strategy

The European Commission has adopted the Sustainable Finance Strategy, which sets out several initiatives to tackle climate change and other environmental challenges while increasing investment.

First Horizon Europe calls launch

The first calls for proposals in the EU's new key funding programme for research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, are now open.

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.

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.