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
Science & Education for Society WG Meeting: Towards a Union of Skills: what can regions expect?
After concluding the Year of Skills in April 2024, the European Commission announced the Union of Skills as one of the new initiatives for its first 100 days. This initiative aims to address Europe’s
Previous Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings
Transport WG meeting: The future of European Competitiveness and new transport-related priorities
Continuing the series of ERRIN events the future of European competitiveness, this session will focus on the automotive sector and new transport-related priorities, including the Clean Industrial
Regional Innovation Valleys: lessons learned and next calls
This joint Policy and Smart Specialisation Working Group meeting will focus on two upcoming calls for proposals on ‘Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys’
Low Carbon Cluster meeting: Clean Industrial Deal and Competitiveness
Following up on an ERRIN meeting on competitiveness earlier this February, the Low Carbon Cluster will organise a session on the Clean Industrial Deal, focusing on energy, transport and urban
WG Related Events
Save the date: EU Hydrogen Week 2025
The European Hydrogen Week 2025 will take place from 29 September to 3 October at The Square in Brussels, both in person and online. The event will feature a high-level policy conference as well as a series of impactful sessions and side events focused on the key aspects of hydrogen development.
Save the date: European Research and Innovation Days 2025
Save the date for the European Research & Innovation (R&I) Days 2025, taking place 16-19 September in Brussels. The European Commission’s flagship research and innovation event will bring together policymakers, researchers, business leaders and innovation experts to discuss how research and innovation drive Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability and industrial leadership.
Science & Education for Society WG Meeting: Towards a Union of Skills: what can regions expect?
After concluding the Year of Skills in April 2024, the European Commission launced the Union of Skills as one of the new initiatives for its first 100 days. This meeting will inform the membership about the key aspects of the Union of Skills. Additionally, the event aims to provide insights into the regional dimension in this initiative and the reorientation for the skills funding that is envisaged.
ERRIN Spring Annual General Meeting 2025
Save the date for ERRIN’s 2025 Spring Annual General Meeting (AGM)! This year's AGM will be held on 17 June in the afternoon (the exact start time will be shared soon with the agenda), followed by networking drinks. The event will be kindly hosted by Emilia Romagna Region, the Representation of the State of Hessen to the European Union, Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and Wielkopolska Region in their premises located in Rue Montoyer 21, 1000 Brussels.
Cities Forum 2025 in Krakow: collecting ideas for the development of the EU policy agenda for cities
The Cities Forum, the European Commission’s flagship event on the urban dimension of the EU Cohesion Policy, is back from 17 to 19 June 2025 in Kraków, Poland.
Policy session (EUSEW): Exploring local actions for energy systems integration
The session's objective is to share relevant questions and best practices about the efficient use of energy infrastructure whilst adding renewable energy to the energy system. The session offers inspiration and discussion for policy makers at all levels. It aims to make collective sense of this new challenge for all EU cities as they make their way towards a climate neutral energy system in 2050. This is an official policy session as part of the EU Sustainable Energy Week.
WG Documents
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.
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.
WG Related Content
Shaping the future of EU’s long-term budget post-2027
This week marked an important step in shaping the EU’s next long-term budget. On 6 May, the European Commission’s public consultations on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) closed. ERRIN submitted responses to three key consultations, grounded in extensive work with our members and outlined in 10 key messages calling for a place-based, ecosystem-driven approach in the future EU R&I funding. The following day, the European Parliament adopted its own initiative report on the future MFF, clearly rejecting elements of the Commission’s direction – notably the proposed single…
Pre-publication of the Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programmes
The European Commission has published the draft version of the 2025 Horizon Europe Work Programme, outlining €7.2 billion in funding for research and innovation projects across the EU. The 2025 programme includes a notable shift toward competitiveness, supporting technologies critical to Europe's clean energy and digital transitions. This includes funding aligned with the proposed Clean Industrial Deal, reinforcing the EU’s net-zero ambitions.
Launch of the Preparatory Action: Innovation for place-based transformation
On 29 April 2025, ERRIN participated in the high-level launch event of the EU Preparatory Action 'Innovation for Place-Based Transformation', an initiative coordinated by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) with the support of the European Parliament. Bringing together stakeholders from the over 200 selected territories, many of which are ERRIN member, together with high-level speakers from the EU institutions, this event in the Berlaymont in Brussels marked the kick-start of the two-year innovation journey to tackle Europe’s most pressing territorial challenges through a place-based,…
LIFE Calls for proposals 2025
On 24 April 2025, the EU LIFE Programme launched the 2025 Calls for Proposals. The LIFE programme is the EU’s flagship funding instrument for environment and climate action. These calls represent a valuable opportunity for organisations working on environmental and climate projects to secure funding.
Contribute to the New Urban Policy in the EU
The DG REGIO has launched a Call for Evidence as part of its forthcoming EU Agenda for Cities. The Call for Evidence is open until 26 May. Your contribution will help inform the development of this important initiative, which aims to foster more sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban areas across Europe.
Call for applications: Join the EU Housing Advisory Board
The European Commission is seeking experts to join its new Housing Advisory Board, supporting EU action on housing affordability and policy development. Members will provide strategic recommendations feeding into the European Affordable Housing Plan. The deadline for application is 21 May 2025.
Latest Updates
- By Gianpiero Petruzziello
Pre-publication of the Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programmes
The European Commission has published the draft version of the 2025 Horizon Europe Work Programme, outlining €7.2 billion in funding for research and innovation projects across the EU. The 2025 programme includes a notable shift toward competitiveness, supporting technologies critical to Europe's clean energy and digital transitions. This includes funding aligned with the proposed Clean Industrial Deal, reinforcing the EU’s net-zero ambitions.
- By Maria Bostrom
Launch of the Preparatory Action: Innovation for place-based transformation
On 29 April 2025, ERRIN participated in the high-level launch event of the EU Preparatory Action 'Innovation for Place-Based Transformation', an initiative coordinated by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) with the support of the European Parliament. Bringing together stakeholders from the over 200 selected territories, many of which are ERRIN member, together with high-level speakers from the EU institutions, this event in the Berlaymont in Brussels marked the kick-start of the two-year innovation journey to tackle Europe’s most pressing territorial challenges through a place-based, transformative innovation policy approach.
- By Maria Bostrom
Shaping the future of EU’s long-term budget post-2027
This week marked an important step in shaping the EU’s next long-term budget. On 6 May, the European Commission’s public consultations on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) closed. ERRIN submitted responses to three key consultations, grounded in extensive work with our members and outlined in 10 key messages calling for a place-based, ecosystem-driven approach in the future EU R&I funding. The following day, the European Parliament adopted its own initiative report on the future MFF, clearly rejecting elements of the Commission’s direction – notably the proposed single national plans and a centralised Competitiveness Fund, in line with ERRIN's stance.
- By Maria Bostrom
Strengthening research, innovation and competitiveness – insights from 120 regional ecosystems
At this pivotal time for Europe, with the Commission's proposals for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) getting closer, European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN) is pleased to provide inputs on how the EU can create the right conditions for R&I to thrive for a competitive Europe post-2027. Drawing our comprehensive paper series 'Towards the 10th Framework Programme', with insights gathered from the 120 regional ecosystems that ERRIN brings together, ERRIN has put together 10 key messages on the next MFF.
- By Gianpiero Petruzziello
LIFE Calls for proposals 2025
On 24 April 2025, the EU LIFE Programme launched the 2025 Calls for Proposals. The LIFE programme is the EU’s flagship funding instrument for environment and climate action. These calls represent a valuable opportunity for organisations working on environmental and climate projects to secure funding.
- By Paul Brunet
Contribute to the New Urban Policy in the EU
The DG REGIO has launched a Call for Evidence as part of its forthcoming EU Agenda for Cities. The Call for Evidence is open until 26 May. Your contribution will help inform the development of this important initiative, which aims to foster more sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban areas across Europe.