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
Net-Zero Industry Act: Implementation and Opportunities
In the context of the EU Green Deal and the new Clean Industrial Deal, the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) is a key EU initiative that aims to strengthen Europe’s net-zero technology manufacturing
Previous Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings
Transport WG meeting: Innovation and funding - Regional participation in key programmes
This Transport Working Group meeting will focus on strategies to enhance regional participation in European innovation projects. It will explore best practices for successful involvement in EU
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’
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.
Net-Zero Industry Act: Implementation and Opportunities
On 1 July (14:00-15:00), the Energy and Climate Change Working Group is organising an online webinar to update its members on the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA)’s implementation. This meeting aims to support discussion on the potential roles of regions within the NZIA framework, highlight members’ interests and challenges and encourage reflections on the concept of Net-Zero Acceleration Valleys.
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.
Third Edition of the C4T Conference | Hybrid
The third edition of the Cohesion for Transitions (C4T) Conference will take place on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 9:00 to 17:00. This event, hosted by DG REGIO and the C4T Secretariat, aims to bring together managing authorities, regions, local authorities, and other stakeholders involved in implementing investments financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF).
EU Hydrogen Valleys Days 2025
On 24-25 June (Brussels), the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and the European Commission are organising the second edition of the Hydrogen Valleys Days, this year focusing on 'Driving Europe’s Competitiveness'. This two-day in-person event will bring together key players from across the hydrogen value chain to accelerate the development of Hydrogen Valleys across Europe.
WG Documents
Shaping the future EU Agenda for Cities – ERRIN’s key messages
As Europe advances its Green Deal and sets its sights on competitiveness and the next Multiannual Financial Framework, cities, urban areas and metropolitan regions must be at the heart of the transformation. Building on the network’s long-standing expertise and recent input papers, ERRIN contributed to the call for evidence launched by the European Commission on the future EU Agenda for Cities.
ERRIN’s 10 key messages towards the next Multiannual Financial Framework
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…
Case studies: The role of regions in the Mission on 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030
As part of its work within the NetZeroCities project, ERRIN has developed three case studies showcasing the critical role that regions can play in the EU Mission on climate-neutral and smart cities, using examples from ERRIN member regions. With their climate-related competencies and responsibilities within national governance structures, and role in implementing national policies and facilitating financing, regions are uniquely positioned to support cities in achieving their climate neutrality goals.
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.
WG Related Content
Info Session on Pathways2Resilience Second Open Call: Funding Opportunity for Regions
P2R Second Open Call is now open, apply to become part of the programme and receive sub-grants of up to €210,000, as well as the project's capacity building services. ERRIN Adaptation Task Force's info session (online) will support you in learning more about the project, the call, and present feedback from regions part of the P2R.
Smart Cities WG Study trip to Mechelen
A few regional offices including Cities Northern Netherlands EU Office, Turku-Southwest Finland European Office and Stavanger Region European Office are organising a study trip to Mechelen on Thursday 12 June in the afternoon. Mechelen has been very active and successful in EU projects, and they will present some of their project work and concrete projects on water and urban nature.
Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programmes are out: Express your interest on ERRIN’s Project Development Tool
The European Commission has published the 2025 Horizon Europe Work Programme, outlining €7.3 billion in funding for research and innovation projects across the EU. The calls are now available also on ERRIN’s Project Development Tool (PDT). ERRIN members and interested organisations are invited to navigate the PDT, express interest and search for partners.
Launch of CapaCITIES 2.0: Advancing climate neutral cities with national and regional support
On May 8, ERRIN participated in the kick-off meeting for the CapaCITIES 2.0 project, as part of the Cities Mission Conference 2025 in Vilnius. CapaCITIES 2.0 is a two-year Horizon Europe project aiming to support national and regional authorities in strengthening their governance structures, where ERRIN contributes as a key partner in the consortium. The final objective is to help cities reach climate neutrality, in line with the EU Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission and its related platform NetZeroCities.
Register now: ERRIN Spring Annual General Meeting 2025
Registration in now open for ERRIN’s Spring Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will take place in person on Tuesday, 17 June from 16:30 to 20:00 CEST, generously hosted by Wielkopolska Region, Emilia-Romagna Region, the Representation of the State of Hessen to the EU and Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region (Rue Montoyer 21, 1000 Brussels).
The 2nd Pathways2Resilience Call Now Open
The Pathways2Resilience programme – the flagship initiative of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change – launched its Second Call for funding on the 15 May 2025. With €21 million in sub-grants available across two open calls, the programme supports over 100 European regions and communities in co-designing locally led pathways to a climate-resilient future.
Latest Updates
- By Sandra Jansson
The Southeastern Sweden is searching for international exchange on cross-regional urban development
Southeast Sweden is looking for international exchange! We are looking for possibilities to discuss and compare our work with other cities and regions that also have an ambition to strengthen functional integration in a sustainable manner. Stakeholders from South Eastern Sweden visits Brussels on the 11th of June, and wishes to meet stakeholders from other European regions or cities for a meeting to exchange ideas and practices.
- By Paul Brunet
Smart Cities WG Study trip to Mechelen
A few regional offices including Cities Northern Netherlands EU Office, Turku-Southwest Finland European Office and Stavanger Region European Office are organising a study trip to Mechelen on Thursday 12 June in the afternoon. Mechelen has been very active and successful in EU projects, and they will present some of their project work and concrete projects on water and urban nature.
- By Marco Grippa
Launch of CapaCITIES 2.0: Advancing climate neutral cities with national and regional support
On May 8, ERRIN participated in the kick-off meeting for the CapaCITIES 2.0 project, as part of the Cities Mission Conference 2025 in Vilnius. CapaCITIES 2.0 is a two-year Horizon Europe project aiming to support national and regional authorities in strengthening their governance structures, where ERRIN contributes as a key partner in the consortium. The final objective is to help cities reach climate neutrality, in line with the EU Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission and its related platform NetZeroCities.
- By Gianpiero Petruzziello
Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programmes are out: Express your interest on ERRIN’s Project Development Tool
The European Commission has published the 2025 Horizon Europe Work Programme, outlining €7.3 billion in funding for research and innovation projects across the EU. The calls are now available also on ERRIN’s Project Development Tool (PDT). ERRIN members and interested organisations are invited to navigate the PDT, express interest and search for partners.
- By Maria Bostrom
Register now: ERRIN Spring Annual General Meeting 2025
Registration in now open for ERRIN’s Spring Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will take place in person on Tuesday, 17 June from 16:30 to 20:00 CEST, generously hosted by Wielkopolska Region, Emilia-Romagna Region, the Representation of the State of Hessen to the EU and Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region (Rue Montoyer 21, 1000 Brussels).
- By Inès Moualil
The 2nd Pathways2Resilience Call Now Open
The Pathways2Resilience programme – the flagship initiative of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change – launched its Second Call for funding on the 15 May 2025. With €21 million in sub-grants available across two open calls, the programme supports over 100 European regions and communities in co-designing locally led pathways to a climate-resilient future.