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
GovTech Connect Launch Webinar
The Fostering digitisation of public sector and green transition in Europe through the use of an innovative European GovTech platform (GovTech Connect) project will host its first webinar to launch their community. The webinar will take place on 17 April from 14:30 to 16:30.
Forum Rhine-Meuse "Mobility in Europe: Which solutions to a sustainable and borderless transport?"
Co-organised by Grand Est-Europe and the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the EU, the Rhine-Meuse Forum 2023: "Mobility in Europe: Which solutions for sustainable and borderless transport" is taking place on 12 April.
DT4REGIONS Blockchain Hackathon – Let’s Build the Future of Web 3.0!
DT4REGIONS, and their project partner bwcon, are holding a hybrid 'Challenges for the Blockchain Hackathon' as part of the web3week in Stuttgart and online on 22-23 March 2023. The Challenge for the Hackathon is: Renewable Energy Distribution and Management for Sustainable Municipalities.
Cities Forum 2023
The 5th edition of the Cities Forum will take place in Torino from 16-17 March 2023. It will consider current urban challenges, with a focus on green transition in cities and social inclusion.
ERRIN Intro Coffee
The ERRIN Secretariat is pleased to invite you to the upcoming ERRIN Intro Coffee, aiming to offer a concise introduction to ERRIN and its services, as well as encourage networking between members. The meeting is directed mainly towards new network members and colleagues, but all interested members are welcome to participate. Join us in person at ERRIN on 15 March!
SEFS WG Meeting: Kicking off the European Year of Skills in the ERRIN Network: State of play of the Pact for Skills and its regional dimension
This first SEFS WG meeting will kick off the European Year of Skills in the ERRIN network and is open to members of all Working Groups. ERRIN members will have an in-depth look at the Pact for Skills and we will learn about the state of play of this first flagship of the new European Skills Agenda. We will also discuss with the European Commission the regional dimension of the Pact for Skills, the Regional Skills Partnerships and showcase examples from the Lombardy Region and the European Chemical Regions Network.
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
ERRIN Spring AGM 2023 – taking stock of the EU Missions
ERRIN’s Spring Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023 took place on 22 June this year. As always, it brought together the large and dynamic community of member regions and cities. Following the format part with the update from the network, the main focus was the EU Missions, approached in two policy debates, on the support and implementation frameworks in Adaptation, Ocean and Waters and Soil Missions, and the governance innovation and the perspective on Cities and the Cancer Missions.
A look back at the Final Conference of DT4REGIONS
On Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 June 2023, ERRIN participated in the Final Conference of the DT4REGIONS project.
ERRIN at the Living-in.EU Mayors’ Digital Assembly
On Thursday 15 June 2023, ERRIN participated to the first Living-in.EU Mayors Digital Assembly at the Brussels Urban Summit.
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.
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.
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.
Latest Updates
- By Heidi Johansson
Public consultation to shape the European Partnership on Driving Urban Transitions
The Driving Urban Transitions to a Sustainable Future (DUT) Partnership aims to address the complex set of urban challenges, which cities and urban communities are facing today, with an integrated approach to offer decision makers in municipalities, companies and society the means to act and enable the necessary urban transformations.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
State of play - European Partnerships under Horizon Europe
The European Partnerships are set to deliver on the objectives of Horizon Europe and the priorities of the European Union through concerted research and innovation effort with the Member States, private sector, foundations and other stakeholders. Ideally the European Partnerships allow bringing together a broad range of actors to work towards a common vision and translating it into concrete roadmaps and coordinated implementation of activities.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Information concerning ERRIN Working Group meetings
In light of the current COVID-19 concerns and the guidelines given by the Belgian authorities, we regret to inform you that our upcoming Working Group meetings will be postponed or will take place online.
- By Heidi Johansson
ERRIN Draft Contribution to the Mission on Climate Neutral Cities
Please find attached ERRIN's first draft contribution to the Mission on Climate Neutral Cities.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Information concerning the COVID-19 outbreak and ERRIN meetings
Considering the current outbreak of the Coronavirus and cancellations of some events taking place in Brussels, we would like to inform members that for the time being all ERRIN Working Group meetings will take place as planned, unless communicated otherwise.
- By Hilary Webb
Europe Towards Positive Energy Districts
The Programme of Positive Energy Districts and Neighbourhoods (PED Programme) has just released the first update to its booklet, which so far maps 60 urban projects.