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
Info session on Technical Assistance EU Mission Adaptation
This online event is for Charter Signatories to receive further information about the technical assistance services offered by MIP4Adapt.
Online training event for Horizon Europe Cluster 5 applicants
The network of Horizon Europe National Contact Points (NCPs) for Cluster 5 ‘Climate, Energy and Mobility’ – GREENET will organise online training for stakeholders from all types of organisations planning to submit a project application on a topic of the calls opened on May 4, 2023. The online training will take place on 30 May from 13:00-16:30.
EU Design Day 2023
This year's edition on EU Design Day will focus on creative use of public spaces: ideas, projects and collaborations to re-imagine the spaces of our communities. Come on 25 May and join the discussions with experts, practitioners, designers, researchers and policymakers!
The 24th edition of the European Energy Transition Conference 2023
The 24th edition of the European Energy Transition Conference will be held in Bordeaux from 23 to 25 May 2023. The session on 25 May will be dedicated to the Mission Cities in the presence of representatives of 100 Cities, European institutions, Member States and European associations.
EU Missions creating new markets: the crucial role of the triple helix collaboration
The TRAMI project, in collaboration with ERRIN, is organising a Mutual Learning Event exploring the role of industry, academia and public authorities in achieving the objectives of the five EU Missions through triple helix collaboration. This event offers a unique opportunity for industry, public authorities and academia to discuss how to intensify collaboration and joint action toward achieving the ambitious goals defined by the EU Missions. The event will take place on 17 May from 09:00-12:00.
Adaptation TF meeting: EU Mission on adaptation opportunities
We are happy to invite you to the first Adaptation Task Force meeting! Our event will focus on the current and upcoming opportunities and support measures within the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, including the open calls.
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
Third NetZeroCities call for Pilot Cities now open!
NetZeroCities has opened its third and final call for cities to join the two-year Pilot Cities Programme. The call is open only to Mission Cities who are not yet part of the Pilot Cities Programme. The deadline for applications is 18 March 2024.
Innovation Fund calls to drive net-zero technologies open until April 2024
With a budget of €4 billion, the Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting innovative projects that contribute to the EU’s green transition goals. The Innovation Fund 2023 calls covering sectors including decarbonisation, hydrogen, cleantech manufacturing, and maritime and energy-intensive industries are open until 9 April 2024, 17:00 (CET).
Scalable Cities Action Grant: third call for proposals open
The third call for proposals of the Scalable Cities Action Grant is open until the end of January 2024. The grant aims to financially support cities and ad-hoc partnerships that wish to replicate measures that were successfully implemented through Smart Cities and Communities projects to facilitate the transition towards climate neutrality.
The European Heritage Hub project is looking for good practices
The European Heritage Hub is collecting good practices to share throughout Europe and beyond! Administrations of a city or region are asked to submit highlights of their work in heritage in the context of the ‘triple transformation ’ – green, digital and social – of our society. Ten practices will be selected for publication and promotion through the European Heritage Hub. Cities whose good practices are selected also get the opportunity to host a peer learning visit with a delegation of 20 participants funded by the project (3 peer learning visits will take place between Q2 2024 and Q1 2025).
Available support to regions in EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change
On 12 December 2023, the ERRIN Adaptation Task Force organised a hybrid event providing an overview of the available financial and technical support for regions and communities under the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. Here is a summary of the opportunities provided within three initiatives running under the Mission Adaptation.
ERRIN end of year reception - 2023 Highlights
On 7 December, ERRIN celebrated the network’s achievements in 2023. Following an engaging meeting with leaders of our 15 Working Groups, all ERRIN members were invited to a cocktail reception featuring a keynote from Markus Schulte, Head of Cabinet of Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. Check out ERRIN 2023 highlights in a 3-minute video.
Latest Updates
- By Bénédicte Blaudeau
Angers Loire Métropole is looking for a Consortium Coordinator and partners on transformative solutions to protect critical infrastructure from climate change, mainstreaming nature based solutions (HORIZON-MISS-2023-CLIMA-01-02)
Angers Loire Metropole (France, 310 000 inhabitants), is looking for a Consortium Coordinator and partners (including regions/agglomeration from Southern Europe for heat and drought related topics) for the call of the EU Mission Adaptation to Climate Change "Testing and demonstrating transformative solutions to protect critical infrastructure from climate change, mainstreaming nature based solutions" - HORIZON-MISS-2023-CLIMA-01-02
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
ERRIN Spring AGM 2023
Save the date for ERRIN’s 2023 Spring Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will take place on 22 June from 14:30-18:00 CET, followed by a networking reception. We are happy to announce that this year the event will be held in person with online streaming available, and will be hosted at Scotland Europa Office in Brussels.
- By Francesca Pozzebon
Call for Application: Voices of Culture - CCIs driving Green Transition and facing the Energy Crisis – 6 April to 3 May
Voices of Culture, the platform for dialogue offered to civil society by the European Commission, is inviting interested organisations from EU member states to apply to participate in the upcoming topic on Culture and Creative Sectors and Industries driving Green Transition and facing the Energy Crisis.
- By Lucy Hammond
NetZeroCities Call for Twin Cities opening on 3 May
On 3 May 2023, NetZeroCities, in which ERRIN is a partner, will launch a Call for Twin Cities. This Twinning programme is a tailored learning programme for knowledge sharing and transfer of good practices between European cities, selected as Twins, and the 53 cities that were selected to join the NetZeroCities’ Pilot Cities Programme in March 2023. Applications will be accepted from 3 May until 30 June 23:59 CEST.
- By Ewa Chomicz
Interest mapping: Regional Innovation Valleys call for proposals under Horizon Europe
In anticipation of the launch of the “Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys” HORIZON-EIE-2023-CONNECT-03-01 call for proposals on 17 May 2023, ERRIN opened a mapping of members’ interest in developing project proposals under this call, to facilitate consortium building. ERRIN members are encouraged to share their interest by filling in a short survey by 20 April.
- By Gianpiero Petruzziello
Survey on Research & Innovation Gaps in Circular Economy
ERRIN invites its members to take part in the survey on Research and Innovations Gaps in circular economy, which is part of Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) of the European Commission (DG Research and Innovation). Local and regional policymakers, researchers from academia and industry can share their inputs by 14 April 2023.