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

CoR stakeholder consultation "Towards an integrated EU policy approach to support place-based innovation for the green and digital transition"

​​​The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is drafting an opinion "Towards an integrated EU policy approach to support place-based innovation for the green and digital transition". Interested stakeholders are invited for a thematic consultation and exchange of views on 3 October 2023 from 10:00-12:00 at the CoR premises. Registration is possible by 29 September.

KEP 2.0 seminar: Implementation of the New European Innovation Agenda – What is in it for regions and cities?

​​​The European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission are organising a seminar on "Implementation of the New European Innovation Agenda – What is in it for regions and cities?" in the framework of their Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP 2.0). The event will take place on 28 September from 14:30-18:00 in-person in Brussels, with ERRIN Director Pirita Lindholm as one of the speakers.

Knocking on the Door of Higher Education Institutions: The AU-EU Innovation Agenda and the Involvement of Nordic Actors

Knocking on the Door of Higher Education Institutions: The AU-EU innovation Agenda and the involvement of Nordic actors the event organised by the Brussels Offices of Nordic Universities on the 27th of September.

Science meets Regions final event

Science meets Regions aims to boost evidence for policy at local and regional level through various mechanisms: participatory events and innovation camps on specific policy issues, pairing schemes between researchers and policymakers at local level, as well as skills training on working with evidence for policymakers. The closing event on 27-28 September will bring together current and former participants in the project, taking stock of the results but also reflecting on the future of the project.

ERRIN Culture & Creativity Cluster Project Development Session

The Cultural Heritage & Tourism Working Group is hosting a project development session in collaboration with the Design & Creativity Working Group and the NEB task force, following call for all members and their regional ecosystems to express their interest in the HORIZON Europe calls focusing on culture, creativity and cross-cutting areas such as tourism, circular economy and design.

2nd International Symposium on Digital Transformation

The 2nd International Symposium on Digital Transformation (ISDT) organised by Linnaeus University will be held on 21–23 August 2023 in Växjö, Sweden. Researchers and practitioners working on digital transformations are invited to submit their contributions. Linnaeus University invites you to the 2nd International Symposium on Digital Transformation (ISDT) to be held on 21–23 August 2023 in Växjö, Sweden. We invite researchers & practitioners working on technical, organisational, & social aspects of digital transformations to submit your contribution. One of our main goals is…

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

European Heritage Hub announces grants to 14 heritage projects in EU neighbouring countries and calls for increased funding

The European Heritage Hub, a pilot project co-funded by the EU connecting heritage stakeholders across Europe, has selected 14 heritage projects across 11 EU neighbouring countries for its Small Grants Scheme (see annexe for the complete list of projects). Around 250,000 EUR has been allocated to the selected initiatives led by civil society organisations, distributed among small, medium, and large-scale grants. The Scheme is run by Europa Nostra, the Project Leader of the European Heritage Hub, in consultation with other members of the Hub consortium, and is co-funded by ALIPH Foundation.

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.

How is cultural heritage integrated into regional development? CHARTER Alliance publishes new report on six regional case studies conducted by ERRIN

CHARTER, the European Cultural Heritage Skills Alliance funded by Erasmus+, has released a new report showcasing findings and conclusions from six regional case studies conducted by ERRIN members in the Basque Country (Spain), Sibiu (Romania), Bremen (Germany), Alentejo (Portugal), Tuscany (Italy), and Västra Götaland (Sweden) in 2021-2023. The report synthesises how skills for cultural heritage are integrated into regional development policies and strategies, examining sector-integrated dynamics within these regional ecosystems. The report provides recommendations for developing long-term…

Call for Applications for IN SITU Summer School

Applications are now open to join IN SITU Summer School, “Place-based creative solutions for cultivating caring and sustainable communities" (20-24 September 2024), and the IN SITU Conference "Horizons of Sustainability: The power of creative innovation for transformation of rural and non-urban futures" (25-27 September 2024), both held in the beautiful island of Zlarin, Croatia.

ERRIN two-page input on FP10 for the attention of the Expert Group

As the work towards the next EU Framework Programme for R&I (FP10) continues, ERRIN is pleased to share its two-page input for the attention of the Expert Group on the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe. The document is a concise compilation of the reflections on FP10 done at ERRIN so far, highlighting topics of key importance. Work on a series of broader input papers is underway.

Latest Updates

  • By Hilary Webb

Consultation on brain drain - mitigating challenges associated with population decline

The European Commission is running a consultation targeted at individuals, regional authorities, academics, civil society and professional organisations on the scale and dynamics of brain drain.

  • By Gianpiero Petruzziello

Survey: Digital education and skills on regional and local level

The SEDEC Commission of the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) are inviting local and regional authorities to take part in a survey to share their experiences on digital education and skills. The deadline to fill in the survey is 23 May 2022.

  • By jessica mitchell

Coventry University (CU) and Aarhus University (AU) fully funded PhD in Education starting September 2022

Coventry University (CU) and Aarhus University (AU) are inviting applications from suitably-qualified British and international candidates for a fully-funded PhD studentship which will start in September 2022. Application deadline: 15 May 2022.

  • By Anna Grimault

Call for MSCA postdoctoral fellowship - University of Angers & Nantes

The Universities of Angers and Nantes, in Western France, have each released a call for manifestation of interest for MSCA postdoctoral fellowship. The call is open to post-doc researchers of any nationality, looking for expanding their experience and boosting their career with a stay in a French research group. Both universities are among the 592 organisations that have received the HR Excellence in Research award.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

EU R&I community providing support for Ukrainian researchers

In the context of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing war, members of the EU R&I community are mobilising efforts to support Ukrainian researchers. To engage and inspire, ERRIN members are encouraged to share information about their regional activities and initiatives in support of Ukraine's R&I ecosystem on the ERRIN website, using the tag ‘Solidarity with Ukraine’.

  • By Hilary Webb

UniLiON vademecum on implementing synergies with Horizon Europe

The UniLION working group on synergies has published a vademecum 'Implementing synergies with Horizon Europe.'