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.
Future Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings
Cities Mission – focus on sustainable urban mobility
The meeting organised by the Transport and the Smart Cities WGs will focus on the proposed mobility strategies in the Climate Cities Contracts and the measures needed to reduce emissions.
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
NEB in Regions and Cities event
A two-day NEB in Regions and Cities event will take place on 21 and 22 June in Brussels. The event will serve as a forum for learning and exchange among people, institutions, municipalities, and regions who are implementing or have an interest in developing NEB projects on the ground.
6th European climate change adaptation conference
The 6th European climate change adaptation conference, ECCA 2023, takes place from 19 to 21 June 2023.
Living-in.EU Mayors' Digital Assembly 2023
The first Mayors’ Digital Assembly of the Living-in.EU movement will be organised on 15 June, in the framework of the Brussels Urban Summit (BUS), taking place from 12 to 15 June 2023.
Second Forum of the Mission adaptation to climate change
The annual Forum of the Mission adaptation to climate change will be the moment to take stock, identify issues, steer the Mission and define the path ahead.
Velenje on the Path to Climate Neutrality
The municipality of Velenje has won EU Green Leaf Award 2024, taking part in the Cities Mission, and faces a transition from a coal mining region to new green perspectives. We invite you to join us at the event where the mayor of Velenje will sign the letter of intent for EU Green Leaf 2024 on 8 June from 10:00-13:00.
DUT & ERRIN Policy WG workshop: Funding synergies – from theory to practice
Driving Urban Transitions Partnership and ERRIN Policy Working Group are organising a workshop on "Funding synergies – from theory to practice". The event will take place on 8 June from 9:30-11:30 CEST, focusing on operationalising synergies between cohesion and R&I funding. Participation is possible online and in-person at the ERRIN premises, for additional networking.
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
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.
ERRIN at the Cities Mission Conference and EURESFO 2024
This year, the Cities Mission Conference will take place in Valencia, Spain, on 25-26 June. ERRIN will participate in the conference as a partner in the NetZeroCities project, which manages the Cities Mission Platform. As the event is partly organised in collaboration with the European Urban Resilience Forum this year, ERRIN will also be there to promote its two Mission Adaptation projects: RESIST and Pathways2Resilience.
Join the Urban Agenda for the EU public consultation on the Greening Cities and Sustainable Tourism Partnerships
The Greening Cities Partnership and EU Sustainable Tourism Partnership of the Urban Agenda for the EU invites you to reply to the public consultations on the draft Action Plans. You will have the opportunity to help shape the future of urban green infrastructure by providing your insights and feedback on key Actions aimed at enhancing urban biodiversity, climate adaptation, and residents' wellbeing in EU and address key challenges faced in the framework of urban tourism today.
Cities Mission Enabling City Transformation call now open!
The Cities Mission Platform has opened a call for the Enabling City Transformation Programme. The Enabling City Transformation call invites Mission Cities to propose innovative actions to overcome systemic challenges faced when implementing climate action. This 18-month programme aims to foster large-scale, city-wide transformation, building upon and progressing beyond the Pilot Cities programme. The call is open until 14 October.
Cascade funding available to deploy data spaces for cities and communities
The EU-funded project Data Spaces for Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities opened a call in June 2024 to select pilot projects for the deployment of Data Spaces.
Latest Updates
- By Gianpiero Petruzziello
NetZeroCities Call for Pilot Cities
The NetZeroCities project, in which ERRIN is a partner, has opened a second Call for Pilot Cities. Mission Cities which are not yet part of the Pilot Cities Programme can apply to test and implement innovative approaches towards rapid decarbonisation. The Call for Pilot Cities is open until 6 November 2023 17.00 CET.
- By Ewa Chomicz
ERRIN Extraordinary General Meeting on 16 November 2023 – important announcement for members
All ERRIN members are invited to save the date for the ERRIN Extraordinary General Meeting, which will take place on 16 November 2023 in the ERRIN premises. The meeting is organised to make the necessary changes to the ERRIN Articles of Association and a minimum of 2/3 of the ERRIN members must be represented. Therefore, the engagement of each member is of key importance (participation is possible online for associate members).
- By Teresa Vio
ERRIN is looking for a Project and Policy Manager (Climate)
ERRIN is looking for a Project and Policy Manager to join its Secretariat! The successful candidate will support the delivery of the Horizon Europe Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities and take an active role in some of the thematic working groups related to tackling climate and the green transition. Apply by 20 September!
- By Julie Delcroix
Blue Economy WG: Call for regional examples on water-related nature-based solutions
The Blue Economy Working Group is looking for regional examples of water-related nature-based solutions for climate change, to be presented in its upcoming meeting ‘Water issues in the era of climate change’. The meeting will take place on 5 October between 10:00 and 11:30 CEST. Deadline for contributions is on Friday 8 September.
- By Silvia Ghiretti
RECIPROCITY Catalogue of Mobility Solutions
The RECIPROCITY project, in which ERRIN is a partner, has published a helpful “Catalogue of Mobility Practices”. This guide is for regions and cities, as well as mobility providers, interested in replicating sustainable and innovative mobility solutions.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Call for regional examples: New European Bauhaus
Following the announcement on an NEB mission the ERRIN Task Force is organising an event focusing on the bottom-up approaches to NEB that have been developed during the last few years and their role in the Mission’s development.