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

SEFS WG meeting: COST info session

During this information session ERRIN members will be able to explore COST, including benefits and ways of involvement. COST speakers will highlight the opportunities for different regional stakeholders and outline how engagement in COST can serve as a stepping stone to the Horizon Europe projects.

Defending academic freedom by supporting students at risk. Towards a European approach?

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) and the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) are organising the joint event 'Defending academic freedom by supporting students at risk. Towards a European approach?'

Technology for society: Are we getting it right?

EuroTech Universities Alliance organises a high-level event exploring the benefits and limitations of technology for society. It will offer an opportunity to engage in a discussion with citizens, policymakers and researchers.

European Universities Initiative Brokerage event

Following the latest developments of the European Commission regarding the European Universities Initiative (EUI), there will be new calls for new EUI alliances to be funded under Erasmus+ starting from next year. The Universities Informal Liaison Offices Network, UnILiON, invite ERRIN members to participate in a brokerage event on the morning of 4 November. 

Connecting social innovation in Scotland and the UK

How can we create a more connected UK social innovation ecosystem with stronger transnational ties to Europe and beyond? This event will mark the beginning of the SI Connect initiative in the UK and will bring together social innovation leaders, researchers and practitioners in Scotland.

New European Research Area – Towards a Responsible Knowledge-Driven Society of the 3rd Millennium

The Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union is organising a conference on the new European Research Area as one of its flagship events in the field of research and innovation. The event will be held in a hybrid format (both physically and virtually).

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 Vendula Novackova

South Moravian CEITEC Will Lead the New Alliance4Life_ Action Project

Alliance4Life’s new project A4L_ACTIONS, submitted under the Horizon 2020 programme, has been selected for funding. Alliance4Life’s next three years will thus be co-financed with a grant of 2 mil. EUR, which will allow a number of already successfully piloted good practices to be put into action. The new project will further strengthen the international reputations of Alliance4Life and project leader CEITEC Masaryk University, in terms of improving the culture and governance of health research-performing institutions, and in serving as an inspiration for research policy reforms in Central and Eastern Europe.

  • By Hilary Webb

24 factsheets produced by European Universities alliances

Each of the 24 European Universities alliances selected in the 2020 call has now published a factsheet detailing their vision and activities.

  • By Aija Konisevska Azadi

Looking for Erasmus+ project partners working in VET field having focus on addressing early school leaving challenges for 16-24 years old youngsters in the light of COVID-19 situation.

This project will develop an interactive digital toolbox providing online space for 16-24 years old children in Vocational education to find and apply relevant tools to support mental health, work with gender-based ESL in VET as well as provide more inclusive tools for students with mental handicap enrolled in VET. The online toolbox provides a more inclusive framework to address challenges as gender-based ESL enrolled in VET, providing a more individual approach.

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

Now available: ERRIN priorities 2021 and Working Groups annual plans

Every year ERRIN defines workstreams to guide its work throughout the coming 12 months, closely linking to its core missions and indicating the crucial interests towards the EU R&I agenda. 

  • By Hilary Webb

European Parliament approves €672.5 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility

The European Parliament has approved the Recovery and Resiliency Facility, which aims to ensure that European economies recover from the pandemic while preparing for a sustainable and digital future.

  • By Hilary Webb

EIT Strategy agreed for 2021 - 2027

This week a political agreement was reached between the EU Member States and the European Parliament on the EIT and its new Strategic Innovation Agenda 2021-2027. Also agreed was the launch of two new Knowledge and Innovation Communities.