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.  

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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

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

Policy WG: Towards FP10 – internal member exchange

The Policy Working Group is organising an internal member exchange to discuss the regional activities planned around the next European Framework Programme for R&I, as well as the structuring and focus of ERRIN’s input to FP10. The event will take place in person at the ERRIN premises on 22 February from 14:30-16:00, with welcome coffee from 14:00.

#EURegionsWeek 2024 kick off meeting

The 22nd edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities will take place on 7-10 October 2024. The kick-off meeting for potential partners will take place on Thursday, 22 February, from 10:00 - 11:30 at the European Committee of the Regions. It is also possible to follow this meeting online.

Exploring Synergies between European Partnerships and EU Missions – Mutual Learning Event

ERRIN and the TRAMI project are organising a Mutual Learning Event (MLE) aiming to explore synergies between European Partnerships and EU Missions. The event will take place on Wednesday 7 February from 9:00 to 12:00 (CET) at the NCBR Brussels Office, Rue Belliard 40, Brussels.

Research and Innovation for Sustainable Growth: The Case of Bergamo and Brescia Ecosystems

Regione Lombardia EU Delegation is hosting the event "Research and Innovation for Sustainable Growth: The Case of Bergamo and Brescia Ecosystems" on 31 January. The conference will present the joint research and innovation strategies of Bergamo and Brescia Universities, focusing on sustainable manufacturing ecosystems and the valorisation of territorial and cultural assets.

Policy WG meeting: Kick-starting 2024: Towards R&I and cohesion policies post-2027

The Policy Working Group will kick off 2024 with a meeting offering the latest insights about the work at the EU level towards future R&I and cohesion policies post-2027, as some of ERRIN's priority focus areas for the coming years. The event will take place in person at the ERRIN premises on 30 January from 14:00-15:30, followed by networking coffee until 16:00.

The Role of Civil Society in Building a Strong, Dynamic and Cohesive Europe

Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD) and Welsh Higher Education Brussels (WHEB) are holding an event focused on the role of civil society in building a strong, dynamic and cohesive Europe. The workshop will be held on 25 January at Wales House, Brussels.

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 Astrid Hannes

Call to join the European Union campaign to boost knowledge valorisation

The European Commission’s Directorate for Research & Innovation is organising an awareness raising campaign on knowledge valorisation, with the aim to introduce this policy and demonstrate how to better translate research and innovation results into benefits for the economy and society. The awareness raising campaign is envisaged for a period of 18 months, starting in spring 2023.

  • By Astrid Hannes

SEFS Working Group: Call for a new leader

Due to changes in the leadership, the Science and Education for Society Working Group leaders are looking for a new working group leader to join them. Express your interest by 11 January 2023.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Management Board elections 2022 – results

Between 3 and 17 October, ERRIN members could put forward their candidatures for this year’s ERRIN Management Board elections. Five new Management Board members were selected and approved at the Autumn Annual General Meeting on 8 December.

  • By Lucy Hammond

Horizon Europe work programme 2023-24 adopted

The Horizon Europe work programme 2023-24 has been adopted by the European Commission.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

New European Innovation Agenda: Council conclusions adopted

On 2 December, the Council adopted the conclusions on the New European Innovation Agenda. We have collected some key points highlighted by the Council and ERRIN remarks on the document. The CoR opinion on the same topic, to which ERRIN provided comments, was also adopted on 1 December.

  • By Lucy Hammond

Agricultural VET school looking for partners for a Erasmus+ Forward-Looking Project

Agricultural VET school looking for partners for a Erasmus+ Forward-Looking Project. They will apply within LOT 2: Vocational Education and Training (VET); priority 5: Green skills in the VET sector