Working Group Leaders
Representatives of Brussels-based offices leading the work of the Smart Cities Working Group.
Smart Cities
The objective of the Working Group is to act as a platform to offer early information on priorities and funding opportunities linked to Smart Cities, with a focus on the EU Mission on 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030. The WG aims to facilitate sharing of experiences and support matchmaking to develop new partnerships and projects. The WG targets the smart city topic from an integrated and holistic approach, addressing issues such as citizen engagement, data-driven policy and smart governance models, while exploring synergies between the areas linked to smart cities as addressed by the ERRIN WGs on Energy and Climate Change, Transport and ICT.
ERRIN Contact
Mission on 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030
The Smart Cities WG has taken an active role in shaping the Mission on 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030 - one of the five mission areas under Horizon Europe - and is closely following the implementation of the mission. Visit our dedicated Cities Mission page to learn more about our work on this.
Previous Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings
Artificial Intelligence related strategies at local and regional level – ICT WG Meeting
In December 2023, the Council and the European Parliament reached a political agreement on the AI Act, setting out rules for the development and usage of AI in Europe. With AI's growing importance
Policy & Smart Specialisation WGs meeting: Widening in FP10 and impact on cohesion policy post-2027
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
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
Changemakers and Pioneers
The Changemakers and Pioneers event, hosted by Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of the West of Scotland at Scotland House, Brussels is a unique opportunity to showcase projects, hear of others’ experiences and broker new partnerships. There will also be a specific session updating on the UK's association to Horizon Europe/Plan B as well as the latest funding opportunities.
The CETPartnership Joint Call 2022 Info Day
The CETPartnership Joint Call 2022 is the first annual co-funded call under the CETPartnership and is co-funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Partnership scheme. This event, info day, is organised online.
Virtual info day for second Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital calls
The info day on the new calls launched under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital will take place virtually on 25 October from 9.30 to 13.00 CEST.
Brussels Talks: How to be an innovative region in Europe?
As part of the event series Brussels Talks, NCBR – Business & Science Poland are organising the online event 'How to be an innovative region in Europe?', with ERRIN director Pirita Lindholm as the main speaker. The event will discuss regional innovations ecosystems, how to support R&I capacities at local and regional level and how to reduce the innovation divide. Furthermore, the support offered by current EU funded programmes and initiatives will be explored.
Smart Cities WG meeting: Initiatives supporting the implementation of the Cities Mission
This Smart Cities WG meeting aims to provide an overview of initiatives that can support cities in the implementation of the Cities Mission, while exploring links and synergies between them. The Mission Secretariat will present the current state of the mission as well as its outlook in terms of funding opportunities and links to other EU initiatives and policies. Finally, the ERRIN Secretariat will give an update on its work within the NetZeroCities project. The meeting will be a physical event taking place on 20 October between 15:00-17:00.
MOSAIC's roadmap for co-creation
The MOSAIC project, in which ERRIN is a partner, is organising a workshop for its Community of Practice to introduce the MOSAIC's Roadmap for co-creation in the context of the Cities Mission. The event will take place online 20 October 2022 from 10:00 to 12:00 CEST.
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.
Letter on Cities' Concerns: Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities
The Smart Cities WG leaders developed a letter directed towards the Mission Manager and the Mission Secretariat of the Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, as a follow-up from the Smart Cities WG meeting on the Cities Mission and the Expression of Interest in November 2021.
Handbook on implementation and adoption barriers of urban living labs developing nature-based solutions
Developing Urban Living Labs is a relatively novel approach in urban areas, and consequently, there are many challenges and barriers that cities face during ULL adoption. This handbook, developed by the UNaLab project, aims to identify and explore some common barriers to the adoption of Urban Living Labs, and provide cities with a tool and an understanding of how to strategically address these barriers.
ERRIN Input to the City Mission Implementation Plan
Please find attached ERRIN's input to the Implementation Plan of the Mission on climate-neutral and smart cities.
ERRIN Contribution to the City Mission Interim Report and the Green Deal Call 1.2
Please find attached ERRIN's contribution to the interim report of the Mission on Climate Neutral and Smart Cities and the Green Deal Call 1.2.
Report by the Mission Board: 100 climate neutral cities by 2030 - by and for the citizens
The latest version of the interim report by the Mission Board on Climate Neutral and Smart Cities.
WG Related Content
3rd REINFORCING Open Call
REINFORCING supports European organisations and institutions in transitioning to a new paradigm where responsibility and openness drive research and innovation processes. REINFORCING Incubators Call supports organisations and territories active in contributing to European Missions by engaging relevant stakeholders, including citizens, in the R&I process and/or policies connected to one of the EU Missions.
Third Call for Proposals EUI - Innovative Actions
The third EUI-Innovative Actions (EUI-IA) Call for Proposals is launched now and will close on 14 October 2024 at 14.00 CEST with an allocated indicative budget of EUR 90 million ERDF. Each project can receive up to a maximum of 5 million EUR ERDF co-financing and project implementation should take place within a maximum period of 3.5 years.
The Forward-Looking Survey - European Urban Initiative
The European Urban Initiative (EUI) has launched a forward-looking survey to gather vital insights from urban practitioners and policymakers across Europe. This survey, hosted on Portico, aims to identify key trends, challenges, knowledge gaps and support needs in European sustainable urban development. The survey will be open from 6 June until 12 July.
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.
EIB's Circular City Centre (C3) initiative continues: support to thrive the circular transition in cities
The European Investment Bank is launching a new support phase of their Circular City Centre (C3) scheme. The C3 targets cities and the public sector promotors on their behalf and offers advice on their circular economy agenda and investment projects. Cities can benefit from guidance documents, resources, circular city advisory and capacity building workshops and project advisory services.
Latest Updates
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Plenary Meeting of the S3 European Hydrogen Valleys Partnership and call for input
On 20 June 2023, ERRIN participated in the Plenary Meeting of the S3 European Hydrogen Valleys Partnership, hosted in the House of the Dutch Provinces in Brussels. In this context, ERRIN with its Energy & Climate Working Group is in the process of producing an input paper building on the work of the S3 Partnership on Hydrogen Valleys and collecting ERRIN’s members’ needs, challenges and solutions.
- By Lucy Hammond
Local Digital Twins toolbox project launches survey
The European Commission has recently launched a project to “Co-design the Local Digital Twins (LDT) toolbox technical specifications for advancing the transformation of Smart Communities”. To support the design process, they have launched a survey to gather insights. The deadline for the survey is 30 June at 23:59 CEST.
- By Julie Delcroix
Mission City of Lyon: Pact towards climate neutrality co-designed with the local ecosytem
The City of Lyon, one of the 112 Mission Cities and central actor of the ERRIN member Auvergne Rhône Alpes Region, is at the forefront of engaging key actors from all sectors of society to accelerate action towards climate neutrality. After several assemblies, the 'Agora2030', composed of over 60 people representing the public sector, NGOs and private organisations, recently signed the territorial pact of Lyon, a milestone of their Climate City Contract.
- By Lucy Hammond
Province of Antwerp (Belgium) is looking for partners for LIFE-2023-CET-LOCAL call
The Province of Antwerp, Belgium is interested in joining a consortium for the LIFE-2023-CET-LOCAL call.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Call for regional examples of integrating adaptation to climate change into regional policies
The Adaptation Task Force is planning to organise a side event within the frame of the European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC). We are looking for two regional speakers to take part in a moderated panel discussion on how adaptation to climate change is integrated into regional policies across different sectors.
- By Lucy Hammond
Interreg Europe project on greening serching for a PTA/regional or city authority from the Interreg Region West
EIT Urban Mobility, a flagship EU initiative for sustainable urban mobility, is searching for a city/PTA partner for our Interreg Europe project on greening (and energy efficiency) of public transport. The objective is to set up a support system for decision-makers in designing policies/plans/strategies/action plans for sustainable urban mobility, helping to increase capacities and support consultations and knowledge-sharing.