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

ERRIN Intro Coffee

The ERRIN Secretariat is pleased to invite you to the upcoming ERRIN Intro Coffee, aiming to offer a concise introduction to ERRIN and its services, as well as encourage networking between members. The meeting is directed mainly towards new network members and colleagues, but all interested members are welcome to participate. Join us in person at ERRIN on 20 October!

Policy WG meeting: Looking ahead: Horizon 2025-2027, EU Missions & FP10

The upcoming ERRIN Policy Working Group meeting on 19 October will focus on Horizon Europe strategic planning for 2025-2027, taking stock of EU Missions and preparations to FP10. A European Commission representative will join the event to present the latest insights and discuss with members. We will also explore how ERRIN could best contribute to the ongoing work.

Territories as leaders in responsible research and innovation

The Responsible Research and Innovation in Territories Leaders (RRI-LEADERS) project is holding its final policy conference on 19 October from 08:30-20:30 in Brussels. It will bring together participants from across Europe to explore the diverse experience of European territories in integrating Responsible Research and Innovation in territorial policymaking.

Birmingham Tech Week 2023

Birmingham Tech Week 2023, the UK’s largest regional tech conference will take place from 16-20 October. It will be a week of events aimed at showcasing the region’s innovation opportunities to an international audience, including future mobility and decarbonisation.

Moving on: towards a circular and sustainable European society

The MISTRA REES research program is organising a 2-day in-person workshop on 12 and 13 October about the circular transition from an industry perspective in Brussels. Several experts, both from industry as well as from academia, will discuss developments in policies, standards and business models.

Clusters meet Regions - Lyon, France

The European Cluster Collaboration Platform, is organising the “Clusters meet Regions” workshop on 12 and 13 October 2023, in Lyon, France.

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 Paper Series: Towards the 10th Framework Programme - EU Missions

ERRIN is pleased to launch a series of input papers on the 10th Framework Programme, with this paper focusing on EU Missions. ERRIN has been closely involved in the design and implementation of the EU Missions since their inception, making them a priority for the network. This input paper on the role of EU Missions in FP10 has been created with contributions from ERRIN members and their ecosystems.

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.

Latest Updates

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

Information concerning ERRIN Working Group meetings

In light of the current COVID-19 concerns and the guidelines given by the Belgian authorities, we regret to inform you that our upcoming Working Group meetings will be postponed or will take place online.

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

The European Industrial Strategy announced

The Commission has announced a new strategy that focuses on a new approach to European industrial policy. The new industrial strategy aims to drive competitiveness and strategic autonomy by supporting all players of European industry.

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

Information concerning the COVID-19 outbreak and ERRIN meetings

Considering the current outbreak of the Coronavirus and cancellations of some events taking place in Brussels, we would like to inform members that for the time being all ERRIN Working Group meetings will take place as planned, unless communicated otherwise.

  • By Hilary Webb

The European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) Award 2020

The annual prize for the European city best demonstrating its ability to harness innovation to improve its citizens' lives is now accepting applications for 2020.

  • By Hilary Webb

Social Innovation: an add-on to classical technology-focused innovation or a driver of the whole transition process?

Last week ERRIN was invited to moderate a KEP peer-to-peer event on social innovation in Zagreb, Croatia.

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

'Evidence informed policymaking' training course by JRC

A 2-day training course is organised on “Evidence informed policymaking” which will aim to introduce participants to useful tools, train them to navigate between different types of evidence and research methods, and reflect on how to deal with the many challenges of evidence-informed policymaking. ERRIN has been invited to nominate up to 3 candidates.