Science & Education for Society

The Science & Education for Society Working Group addresses topics related to the concept of place-based universities and engagement with society and citizens while also working on the role of education (both VET and Higher Education) in the Research and Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3) as well as education and skills for research and innovation. The Working Group facilitates information sharing, knowledge development, and aims to strengthen existing and build new relationships with the EU institutions. Facilitating project development is also part of the Working Group's scope. For this purpose, the Working Group assesses the interest of the membership for specific calls under Erasmus+ and support in the most efficient way the members in building consortia, primarily with the ERRIN online tool for project development.  

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

Design & Creativity WG

The Pact for Skills for CCIs - What next after the Year of Skills?

Francesca Pozzebon

The European Year of Skills is coming to an end after the Pact for Skills Forum (21- 22 March) and the Closing event, taking place on 30 April, which will reflect on the achievements of the past year

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-

WG Related Events

WG Related Events

EU Green Week Partner Event 2023: Local Actors driving the greening of VET

Gothenburg European Office invites you to an event showcasing local VET initiatives in the green transition, with highlights from the cities of Gothenburg, Copenhagen, and Turku. The hybrid event will take place on 6 June from 09:30-11:45.

CareAge Conference - Ageing societies: research, education, and practice – Sustainable collaboration in old age care

The CareSam network is organising a conference on ageing societies in an EU perspective, the challenges and opportunities. The number of older adults living with chronic diseases, multi-morbidity and dementia or other mental health illnesses is growing, leading to pressure on both the old age care sector and on relatives. This can only be understood, dealt with, and taken advantage from through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Webinar "How to support the skills development of the circular construction sector?" The case of the LIFE WASTE2BUILD project

This webinar, taking place on 5 June from 11:00-12:00, is organised in the frame of the EU Green Week and will present the LIFE WASTE2BUILD project of the Metropolis of Toulouse. The webinar will tackle the question of skills development for the circular construction sector.

UNEXPECTED Arts and Science Innovation Forum

The UNEXPECTED Arts and Science Innovation Forum will take place in Lund on 1 June 2023. UNEXPECTED is a forum for cultural professionals, researchers, civil servants, politicians, and entrepreneurs daring to delve into art and science innovation to address societal challenges. Existential Sustainability and innovation in the cultural and creative sector will be explored through six Innovation Spaces.

Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform: ‘Rethinking local policies'

The Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform is hosting an event on ‘Rethinking local policies’, held in Ghent, Belgium on 31 May and 1 June 2023.

Regional development in light of research infrastructures – the importance of ESS & MAX IV for local, regional, national and European innovation capacity

On 31 May, Region Skåne is organising a seminar in Brussels with important discussions about regional development in light of large research infrastructures. The event aims to highlight the importance of the research infrastructures for the local and regional development in Skåne, as well as how the infrastructures contribute to national and European competitiveness and innovation capacity. 

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.

WG Related Content

WG Related Content

The European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary schools

Secondary school students from across the EU are invited to enter the ImagineEU competition by creating and sharing a short video about an innovative idea that would improve their communities and that could be the object of an EU law.

Shape ERRIN's agenda 2024 - Annual Member Survey

In view of the annual strategy workshops that we will organise with all the Working Group (WG) and Task Force (TF) leaders in the second half of November, all members are invited to provide input on priorities, topics, and activities that should be addressed in 2024. The input can be provided by 31 October 2023.

Sparking collaborations and project opportunities within the ERRIN Culture & Creativity Cluster

Last month, the Cultural Heritage & Tourism Working Group, alongside the Design & Creativity Working Group and the New European Bauhaus Task Force, launched a survey to map members' interest in the upcoming Horizon Europe calls focusing on cross-cutting areas such as culture, creativity, and tourism, circular economy and design with deadlines in early 2024. Following the positive response and active participation of over 50 ERRIN members in the consultation, ERRIN hosted a project development session to foster collaboration opportunities and spark project ideas.

169 country actions in support of the New European Innovation Agenda

On 19 September 2023, the European Commission published the list of actions that Member States and Associated Countries to Horizon Europe are so far undertaking or planning to undertake in support of one or more of the five flagships of the New European Innovation Agenda, including Flagship 3 closely followed by ERRIN. 20 countries have so far reported 169 actions in total, with their scope ranging from regional, through national to European.

Management Board elections 2023 – call for nominations launched!

Every year ERRIN holds elections for the Management Board. Becoming a member of the Board offers a great opportunity to develop ERRIN further and strategically lead the network’s activities. You can put forward your candidature for this year’s elections until 5 October.

Open call for technical assistance: Harnessing talent, empower regions

Until 20 October 2023, 46 regions that have been identified as facing a sharp working-age population decline, in combination with a low and stagnating share of people with tertiary education and brain drain can apply for an open call for technical assistance under the Talent Booster Mechanism.

Latest Updates

  • By Alis Socea

Botoșani County Council, Romania is seeking a project partner for the Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values Programme (CERV) Town Twinning call.

Botoșani County Council, Romania is seeking a project partner for the Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values Programme (CERV) Town Twinning call. The deadline for interest is 21 July.

  • By Helga Aunemo

Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE) looking for consortium: Horizon-CL-2024 - TRANSFORMATIONS-01-03: Minimize costs and maximise benefits of job creation and job destruction

Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE_ researchers Egil Kjerstad and Alice Milivinti are looking for a consortium for the call HORIZON-CL2-2024-TRANSFORMATIONS-01-03, with a planned opening date of 4 October 2023.

  • By Greater Copenhagen EU Office

Halsnæs Municipality (Denmark) looking for partners for an Erasmus+ small-scale partnership

Halsnæs Municipality in Denmark is looking for 1-2 partners (preferably municipalities/primary schools) for a small-scale partnership in Erasmus+ to support sustainable mobility by increasing primary school students’ use of bicycles and the quality of road safety classes.

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

ERRIN Spring AGM 2023 – taking stock of the EU Missions

ERRIN’s Spring Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023 took place on 22 June this year. As always, it brought together the large and dynamic community of member regions and cities. Following the format part with the update from the network, the main focus was the EU Missions, approached in two policy debates, on the support and implementation frameworks in Adaptation, Ocean and Waters and Soil Missions, and the governance innovation and the perspective on Cities and the Cancer Missions.

  • By Astrid Hannes

SEFS WG: Call for a new leader

The Science and Education for Society Working Group (SEFS) is looking for a new co-leader to join Lärosäten Syd (Universities in South Sweden), Lombardy Region and Welsh Higher Education Brussels - Welsh Government in steering the WG activities and priorities. 

  • By Maria Sofie Juhl

Mobility for everyone – Erasmus+ Accreditation Student Exchange

Vittrup Fri Fagskole is a boarding school with a focus on pre-vocational training, where the prioritisation of general education, community, and new tools for mastering your own life gives energy and motivation to continue onto a vocational education and take responsibility for your own life in general. Vittrup Fri Fagskole is looking for a similar partner school for a student and/or staff exchange within the framework of the Erasmus+ Accreditation.