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

Floating Wind Days 2023

Floating Wind Days will take place on 24 and 25 May in Haugesund, Norway. Take a boat trip to see the world’s first floating turbine up close, and of course, meet, mingle and do business with the key people in the industry.

Partners for SMEs: Intermediaries in regional innovation ecosystems

Universities of Applied Sciences Netherlands is hosting an event on 24 May, from 10:00-13:30. In order to achieve an inclusive digital and green transition while ensuring Europe’s competitiveness, partnerships to innovate Europe’s SMEs are key to success. During this event, knowledge institutions will be brought together with public and private stakeholders, to explore how each of us can most effectively extend the EU’s support to SMEs.

‘Cookies, data and your privacy’?: Findings from Citizen Science CSI-COP Project

Join us in Brussels or online at one of the data protection and online privacy sessions organised as part of an EU-funded project (CSI-COP). This citizen science project is led by Coventry University, UK, with partners from across Europe.

Innovation and skills for a sustainable transport system

Meet Fordonsdalen, a mobility cluster from the Stockholm region, to learn more about the regional perspective on mobilising an innovation cluster, skills, and taking a systemic approach to the transition of the automotive sector.

The Research Needs for a Fire Safe Sustainable Built Environment

The Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia to the European Union is hosting an event that aims to introduce the emerging challenges and establish the funding required to ensure future sustainable and fire-safe built environments that contribute to local, regional and global sustainability goals across the entire EU.

EU Missions creating new markets: the crucial role of the triple helix collaboration

The TRAMI project, in collaboration with ERRIN, is organising a Mutual Learning Event exploring the role of industry, academia and public authorities in achieving the objectives of the five EU Missions through triple helix collaboration. This event offers a unique opportunity for industry, public authorities and academia to discuss how to intensify collaboration and joint action toward achieving the ambitious goals defined by the EU Missions. The event will take place on 17 May from 09:00-12:00.

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

Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027 is out

On 20 March, the Commission adopted the second Horizon Europe strategic plan. The plan sets out three key strategic orientations for the EU's research and innovation funding for the last three years of the programme (2025-2027). Find out what novelties the new strategic plan brings.

Express your interest in the 3rd Interreg Europe call via the ERRIN Project Development Tool

Interreg Europe's 3rd call for proposals, launched on 20 March, supports interregional cooperation projects addressing common regional development challenges. Organisations can use the ERRIN Project Development tool to express interest and find partners. The call is open until 7 June 2024.

Systems to quantify nitrogen fluxes and uncertainties in European landscapes

Call for Partner interest under the Mission Soil calls, focusing on Systems to quantify nitrogen fluxes and uncertainties in European landscapes.

Marching towards FP10 – ERRIN activity update

As we enter March and approach the European R&I Days, several ERRIN activities planned for 2024 with a link to FP10 have already taken place, and more are on their way. Have a look at an update with the outcomes of our recent work on the next European Framework Programme for R&I, next steps and opportunities to get involved.

EU's Knowledge Ecosystems: A Regional Stakeholder Survey

The ERA FABRIC project, which aims to define the ERA Hubs concept across Europe, launched a survey for regional stakeholders to identify the most recurrent characteristics and parameters of excellence of European knowledge ecosystems. ERA Hubs concept remains of particular interest for ERRIN. The survey will be open until 10 March 2024.

Rural toolkit - Guide to EU funding and support opportunities

The Rural toolkit is a comprehensive gateway to EU funding and support initiatives available for rural areas in the EU. The Rural toolkit is the comprehensive guide to EU funding and support opportunities for rural areas in the European Union. It aims to help local authorities, institutions and stakeholders, businesses and individuals to identify and take advantage of existing EU funds, programmes and other funding and support initiatives, and to foster development in rural territories.

Latest Updates

  • By Heidi Johansson

Co-creation and citizen engagement in EU Missions Workshop

ERRIN is supporting the REINFORCING project in organising an interactive workshop aimed at exploring the challenges and needs faced by cities and regions regarding citizen engagement within the EU Missions. The project will support organisations financially with specific training, capacity-building sessions, mentoring opportunities and peer learning. The workshop will be organised on 23 April between 11:30-13:00 at ERRIN’s office.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

ERRIN Intro Coffee

The ERRIN Secretariat team is pleased to invite you to the ERRIN Intro Coffee, aiming to offer a brief, to-the-point introduction to ERRIN and its services, as well as facilitate networking between members. We especially encourage new network members and colleagues to take part, but all interested members are welcome. Join us in person at ERRIN on 19 April!

  • By Angèle Liaigre

WCEF 2024 accelerator session: Inspiring best practices from a circular hub in Northern Netherlands

Chemport Europe, the provinces of Groningen and Friesland, the Municipality of Groningen, hubs Circulair Groningen and Circular Friesland, Groningen Seaports, Greenwise Circular Plastics, and Holland Circular Hotspot, collaboratively organise an official WCEF2024 accelerator session on the northern Netherlands’ bottom-up, regional approach towards circularity, illustrated by best practices in plastics, textile and construction on 18 April from 13:00-14:30 at the House of the Dutch Provinces.

  • By Gianpiero Petruzziello

Cities & regions getting ahead with the circular transition – a WCEF2024 accelerator session

The European Commission’s Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI), in which ERRIN is involved, is co-organising the session ‘how EU cities and regions are getting ahead with the circular transition’ during the World Circular Economy Forum 2024.

  • By Annamaria Cosattini

Big Science Business Forum

Insight into Europe's Premier Big Science Gathering. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with key figures shaping the event: Alessia Rosolen, Councillor for Research, University of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Paolo Acunzo, Director of BSBF Trieste 2024. The event will take place on 11 April, 14:30-16:00

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Smart Specialisation WG meeting: STEP - regional perspective

The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) is a new common European action to support EU industry and boost investments in critical technologies in Europe. The upcoming S3 WG meeting will offer a chance to gain an understanding of STEP from a general and regional perspective. It will also facilitate mutual learning with regard to integrating STEP into national and regional cohesion policy programmes such as ERDF or ESF+. The event will be held online on 10 April from 10:00-11:30 CEST.