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

S3 Conference: Launch of the S3 Community of Practice

The S3 Conference 2023 is the first in a series of events that DG REGIO is organising for S3 stakeholders from across regions in EU Member States. It is also the launch event for the new S3 Community of Practice, whose Secretariat is joined by ERRIN. The conference will take place online on 30 March and will be opened by Commissioner Elisa Ferreira.

PRI High-Level Event: “From Playbook to implementation”

The European Commission and the CoR are organising a High-Level Event of the Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI) “From Playbook to implementation” as a bridge between smart specialisation and other EU policies to promote innovation-driven territorial transformation. The event will take place on 28 March 2023 in Brussels. Participation is possible in person and online.

Launch of the OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook 2023

The OECD Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Outlook is a biennial publication that aims to inform policymakers and analysts on recent and future changes in global STI patterns and their potential implications on and for national and international STI policies. It will take place on 16 March from 14:30-17:00 at Conference Centre Albert Borschette, with online streaming also available.

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 15 March!

Smart Specialisation WG meeting: Steering PRI – expectations and future directions

The Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI) Pilot Action was launched by the JRC and CoR in May 2022 as an initiative building on the smart specialisation strategies. As we approach a key moment for defining PRI's future, this S3 WG meeting will allow all ERRIN members who are involved in or interested in the Pilot to hear from and engage in discussion on the future of the initiative with European institutions, as well as involved ERRIN regions.

Clusters meet Regions event, Lyon

A Clusters Meet Regions event will take place on 8-9 March in Lyon at the French industrial fair Global Industrie (Eurexpo Lyon - Boulevard de l'Europe, 69680 Chassieu, 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.

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.

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.

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

Five VIP Free Passes for the 3rd ECN CrowdCamp

The European Crowdfunding Network is offering five ERRIN members the opportunity to get a free access to the 3rd ECN CrowdCamp taking place on 28th and 29th June 2018 in Bologna (Italy).  This year's topic will be on the potential combinations between crowdfunding and ESIF, and how other alternative finance actors could also brought in the picture.  More information on the camp can be found here.

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

Regional examples of financial instruments - Key points from the I&I Meeting on 19 April

On 19th April, the ERRIN Innovation and Investment Working Group organised a meeting on "Regional examples of successful use of financial instruments" at the Common Representation of the European Region Tyrol - South Tyrol - Trentino in Brussels.

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

AM-motion and Vanguard Initiative are looking for experts to join a closed Financial Expert Working Group (Deadline: 5th April)

AM-motion and Vanguard Initiative are looking for experts to join a closed Financial Expert Working Group (see agenda attached herewith). If you have an expertise in the field and wish to participate, please get in touch with pierre.padilla@ideaconsult.be before 05/04/2018. Role.

  • By Bostjan Sinkovec

6th European Academic Symposium on EAF Steelmaking (EASES 2025)

The Laboratory of Control Systems and Cybernetics at the University of Ljubljana and the Department for Industrial Furnaces and Heat Engineering at RWTH Aachen University are organising the 6th European Academic Symposium on EAF Steelmaking in Ljubljana, Slovenia. This event will take place on 11-13 June 2025.

  • By Daniele Ruggiano

European Hydrogen Week 2024

Registrations are now open for the European Hydrogen Week 2024. This edition will count on three different conference streams: The High-Level Policy Conference, gathering high-level industry representatives and policymakers; the B2B Forum, the stage for market and technology perspectives on hydrogen deployment; and the newly added Innovation Hub, shedding the spotlight on research. This edition of the European Hydrogen Week will take place in Brussels, from 18 to 22 November 2024.

  • By Rebecca Timm

EURegionsWeek political workshop: Navigating smart and sustainable growth in cities and regions

Are you interested in learning more about how cities and regions navigate smart and sustainable growth? Join the Capital Cities and Regions Network (CCRN) during the European Week of Regions and Cities 2024. The event will take place in Brussels on 10 October, 09:30 - 11:00.