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
Translating the EU Green Deal into local actions
The conference "Translating the EU Green Deal into Local Actions" is organised on 15 March in Brussels under the Belgian EU Presidency. The conference aims to highlight the way forward for the implementation of the EU Green Deal by sharing best practices from across Europe and discussions between experts from the local to the European level.
Insights into the European Wind Power Package and Net-Zero Industry Act
The Energy and Climate Change Working Group is organising an information session to provide ERRIN members and their regional stakeholders with a comprehensive update on two new initiatives currently shaping the European energy landscape: the European Wind Power Package and the Net-Zero Industry Act.
New Bauhaus Stories, Episode #1: Co-design of regeneration schemes
The NEBULA project is organising a series of peer learning activities to share experiences and insights about the New European Bauhaus. The first episode is entitled: “Co-creation of regeneration schemes’. It aims to discuss how two ongoing urban regeneration schemes are being co-designed in collaboration with citizens and various stakeholders from the construction value chain.
2nd European Mission Forum
The second edition of the European Mission Forum, taking place on 7 March in Brussels and co-organised by the TRAMI project under the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, will showcase EU Mission-related achievements and present outcomes of nearly 2 years of TRAMI project activities. ERRIN's director, Pirita Lindholm, will speak at the session on national, regional and European Mission Governance.
CrAFting Tomorrow's Cities
Join 100 city representatives and policymakers from CrAFt Cities and the NEB Alliance to delve into the potential of local stakeholder collaboration to shape the future of climate-neutral cities.
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.
WG Documents
Proposal for the Driving Urban Transitions Partnership
Attached is the approved concept for the Driving Urban Transitions Partnership.
ERRIN Input to the Driving Urban Transitions Partnership Consultation
ERRIN provided input to the public consultation to shape the European Partnership on Driving Urban Transitions.
ERRIN Contribution to the Mission on Climate Neutral and Smart Cities
Please find attached ERRIN's contribution to the Mission on Climate Neutral and Smart Cities.
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.
Policy Recommendations - Regional R&I Ecosystems: Contributing to a competitive Europe
Going towards FP9, several reports - including the Lamy report - underlined the necessity to address the challenge of turning research knowledge into innovation and growth.
WG Related Content
Feedback opportunity for Horizon Europe work programme 2025
The European Commission opened an opportunity to provide input for the development of the Horizon Europe ‘main’ work programme 2025. Submitted responses will contribute to the co-design of the work programme 2025, covering all six clusters, research infrastructures, European innovation ecosystems, the five EU Missions and the New European Bauhaus facility. The deadline for feedback is 6 May 2024 midday, CEST.
Mobility Transition Pathway: Open call for Stakeholders' Pledges to drive green and digital transition
The European Commission has opened an online call, inviting stakeholders from various sectors to submit pledges aligned with the Mobility Transition Pathway. This inclusive approach welcomes participation from individual companies, business associations, social partners, NGOs, and local authorities.
The Cities Mission Platform extends its support to all European cities
The Cities Mission Platform, supporting the work of the 112 Mission Cities towards climate neutrality, is now extending part of its support to any European city aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest. Through this programme, cities across Europe will be able to learn from the approaches implemented by Mission Cities, engage in online and in-person city-to-city exchanges at the EU and national level, and gain access to the online Mission Portal and its resources. To better tailor the programme to the needs of cities, the platform has developed a needs-assessment survey that…
The European Capital of Innovation Awards
In 2024, the European Innovation Council is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the European Capital of Innovation Awards. The competition rewards those European cities that are courageous enough to open their governance practices to experimentation and push the boundaries of technology for the benefit of their citizens. In addition to the monetary reward, the prize brings high visibility in the form of renewed public interest and increased media coverage. The deadline for submission is 18 June 2024, 17:00.
Deadline extension: application for the Cities Mission Twinning Learning Programme
Deadline extended until 7 June! Cities across the EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply to join the EU Cities Mission’s Twinning Learning Programme between 8 April and 7 June 2024. Facilitated by the NetZeroCities project, in which ERRIN is a partner, the Twinning Learning Programme will pair applicants with the second cohort of Pilot Cities, who act as innovation hubs to pursue activities related to rapid decarbonisation.
Enhancing Baltic Sea Region District Heating through Transnational Collaboration and Technological Innovations
A consortium of Danish and Ukrainian partners is searching for additional partners from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia for the Interreg Baltic Sea call. The project will focus on fostering transnational collaboration, sharing best practices, and adopting innovative technologies to optimise district heating operations, reduce carbon footprints, and enhance energy efficiency. The deadline for expressions of interest is 17 April.
Latest Updates
- By Ebba Bjerkander
Energy communities – New business models for sustainable housing
Together with representatives from the European Commission, Housing Europe, the energy community company Via Europa and the Swedish municipalities of Lund and Örebro would like to invite you to a seminar on energy communities. There will be discussions on the role of energy communities from an EU perspective as well as sharing of knowledge and experience from two successful projects in Sweden. The seminar will take place in Nordic House, Rue du Luxembourg 3, 1000 Brussels on 11 June, 18:30-20:00.
- By Silvia Ghiretti
European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW)
The 2024 edition of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) will take place from 11 to 13 June 2024 in Brussels and online. The theme for EUSEW 2024 will be “Net zero energy solutions for competitive Europe”.
- By Annelie Zapfe
Presentation of the Interregional Partnership on Virtual and Smart Cultural Tourism
You are cordially invited to a presentation on the Interregional Partnership on Virtual and Smart Cultural Tourism, spearheaded by our colleagues from Thuringia. The event will take place in Brussels on 05 May, 10:00 - 12:00.
- By Ewa Chomicz
2nd C4T Conference: Sustainability Transitions in Cohesion Policy: From Policy to Practice
The C4T Community of Practice is a community-based platform that aims to support EU Member States and regions to make a better use of EU funds for sustainability transitions. With this in mind, DG REGIO and the C4T Secretariat will be hosting the second edition of the C4T Conference "Sustainability Transitions in Cohesion Policy: From Policy to Practice" on 4 June 2024, in Brussels and online.
- By Rodolphe Doité
Living-in.EU WG Meeting - Information session on EU initiatives related to monitoring and measuring digital transformation
The Monitoring and Measuring Working Group of Living-in.EU is organising its first meeting in 2024 on Friday 31 May 2024, from 11:00 to 13:00 (CEST). This event will be held online only and will be open to all interested participants. The meeting will tackle the existing initiatives and projects implemented at European, regional and local levels to measure and monitor digital transformation.
- By Angèle Liaigre
Water4All Partnership - Green Week Partner Event 2024
In the frame of the Green Week, the Horizon Europe Partnership Water4All, together with the WaterCampus in Leeuwarden, organises an event to highlight the results of the first calls and highlight solutions for water resilience in cities and industries. The event will take place in Brussels on 30 May, 13:00 - 17:30.