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
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.
Transport Decarbonisation: Hydrogen's Role in Meeting Net Zero Ambitions
Scotland House Brussels and UK Transport in Europe are delighted to invite you to Scotland House for an in-person event on 6 June 2023. Currently one of the largest global emitters of greenhouse gases, the transport sector’s decarbonisation is absolutely crucial to achieving Net Zero ambitions.
EU Green Week Partner Event 2023: Local Actors driving the greening of VET
Gothenburg European Office invites you to an event showcasing local VET initiatives in the green transition, with highlights from the cities of Gothenburg, Copenhagen, and Turku. The hybrid event will take place on 6 June from 09:30-11:45.
WG Documents
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.
Proposal for the Driving Urban Transitions Partnership
Attached is the approved concept for the Driving Urban Transitions Partnership.
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
3rd REINFORCING Open Call on EU Missions
The REINFORCING project has opened a call to support organisations and territories that actively contribute to the EU Missions by engaging relevant stakeholders, including citizens, in the R&I process and/or policies connected to one of the Missions. Successful proposals will receive up to 60,000 euros to implement a 12-month project. The deadline for submitting proposals is 26 September 2024.
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 Lucy Hammond
Pathways2Resilience launch event Resilient Europe: Empowering regions for climate adaptation
ERRIN's project, Pathways2Resilience is a flagship project under the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, working to empower 150 regions in developing transformative adaptation plans. On 23 November, in Brussels and online, the first call for applicants will be presented, along with how regions are successfully implementing the EU Mission.
- By Gianpiero Petruzziello
Co-creation in EU Missions
The MOSAIC project, in which ERRIN is a partner, is organising the event ‘Co-creation in EU Missions’ in Brussels on 21 and 22 November. The two-days event will be an opportunity to learn how to make use of the several citizen engagement tools that MOSAIC makes available to support cities in starting their own co-creation processes, as well as network and exchange with the European Commission and other cities on the challenges around citizen/multi-stakeholder engagement and receive support during the participatory workshop.
- By Ewa Chomicz
ERRIN Extraordinary General Meeting
The ERRIN Extraordinary General Meeting will take place on 16 November 2023 from 14:00-16:00 CET in the ERRIN premises, with participation possible online. This Meeting is organised to make the necessary changes to the ERRIN Articles of Association following requirements by the new code for Belgian companies and associations. A minimum of 2/3 of the ERRIN members must be represented at the Meeting, and therefore engagement of each member is of crucial importance.
- By Rodolphe Doité
ICT WG Meeting - Digital and cybersecurity skills
The next ICT WG meeting on 15 November will be an opportunity to discuss and exchange good practices regarding digital and cybersecurity skills with representatives from the European Commission and different initiatives implemented in the field.
- By Rodolphe Doité
Living-in.EU: Monitoring and Measuring Subgroup meeting #3 - Presentation of LORDIMAS
The Monitoring and Measuring subgroup of Living-in.EU is organising its third meeting in 2023 on 27 October 2023, from 10:30 to 12:00 (CEST). LORDIMAS, a digital maturity assessment, will be presented to Living-in.EU signatories and other interested cities and regions.
- By Heidi Johansson
Smart Cities & Bioeconomy WG: Nature Restoration Law - Innovations for the creation of greener cities
The Smart Cities and Bioeconomy Working Groups are organising a meeting on the Nature Restoration Law, taking place on 26 October between 10:00-12:15 CEST in Brussels. The European Commission will present the current state of play of the Nature Restoration Law as well as funding opportunities for cities and regions to create greener cities. Three ERRIN members will present examples of innovative solutions that urban areas can adopt to fulfil the requirements of the law.