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

European Research and Innovation Days 2022

The European Research and Innovation Days (RiDaysEU) is the European Commission’s annual flagship Research and Innovation event. This year’s edition will take place online on 28 – 29 September.

Brussels Talks: The new European Innovation Agenda

The Polish National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) Office in Brussels / Business and Science Poland is organising a webinar on the new European Innovation Agenda in the framework of its „Brussels Talks” series. The guest of the event will be Anna Panagopoulou, Director of European Research Area & Innovation at the Directorate General for Research and Innovation, European Commission. The event will take place on 16 September from 14:00-15:00 CEST.

European Innovation Campus

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region, Nice-Côte d'Azur Metropolis and Côte d'Azur University are delighted to invite you to the first edition of the European Innovation Campus, 14th & 15th september 2022, in Nice, France, with Commissionner Mariya Gabriel's presence.

Training workshop: Randomized Controls Trials applied to innovation actions

The Institute for Business Competitiveness of Castilla y León - ICE, organises a training workshop on Randomized Controls Trials applied to innovation actions. The event, which will take place online on Tuesday 19 July 2022 at 9:00 CEST, is organised by ICE as a beneficiary of the DIHnamic project.

Czech Presidency Conference on Synergies in the Research and Innovation Funding in Europe

As one of the first events in its programme, the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU will organise a flagship conference "Synergies in the Research and Innovation Funding in Europe" on 7-8 July 2022 in Prague. The conference shall be held as a physical event, but following web streaming will be available. Pre-registration is obligatory.

ERRIN Spring Annual General Meeting 2022

ERRIN's Spring Annual General Meeting will be held this year on 23 June at 15:00-17:30 CEST followed by a networking cocktail from 18:00 CEST. In addition to discussing formal issues and offering an opportunity to network, the event will feature debates around the new European Innovation Agenda.

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 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 Ilaria d'Auria

Contribute to the EASME study on the effectiveness of public innovation support for SMEs

The European Commission’s Executive Agency for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (EASME) commissioned a study on the effectiveness of public innovation support for SMEs in Europe.

  • By Hilary Webb

European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) Award applications re-open

Applications for the European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) Award have re-opened with the 2021 and 2022 application process being merged for the EER label to be extended over two years.

  • By Hilary Webb

EIT Crisis Response Initiative launched

EIT has launched the EIT Crisis Response Initiative as part of the EU's collective response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

  • By Hilary Webb

EIT Manufacturing: Gazelle Accelerator programme

EIT Manufacturing is calling for participation in a Call of Interest for SMEs and start-ups as part of the Gazelle Accelerator programme.

  • By Hilary Webb

Additional €150 million for EIC to fund coronavirus innovations

The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Pilot now has an extra €150 million to work with as it supports game-changing innovation in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

  • By Simon De Wachter

Innovation in Flanders to combat the SARS-COV-2 virus or its derived effects

The Flemish Department of Economy, Science and Innovation has published an overview of the ongoing initiatives in Flanders to combat the coronavirus and its derived effects.