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
NEB in Regions and Cities event
A two-day NEB in Regions and Cities event will take place on 21 and 22 June in Brussels. The event will serve as a forum for learning and exchange among people, institutions, municipalities, and regions who are implementing or have an interest in developing NEB projects on the ground.
6th European climate change adaptation conference
The 6th European climate change adaptation conference, ECCA 2023, takes place from 19 to 21 June 2023.
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.
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
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.
MOSAIC wraps up a successful co-creation journey with EU cities
In a dynamic two-day event held on 21 and 22 November, MOSAIC, project in which ERRIN is a partner, successfully hosted its final event 'Co-creation in EU Missions'. City representatives, European Commission policy officers, researchers, private sector representatives and co-creation experts converged to delve the immense potential of co-creation in addressing complex challenges, particularly those posed by the Horizon EU Missions. Learn more and discover the MOSAIC resources available for cities.
Pathways2Resilience: First Call for Regions and Communities- Deadline extended until May
Pathways2Resilience (P2R), an ERRIN project, has opened its first call for Regions and Communities for subgrant applications to co-design visions of a climate-resilient future and transformative adaptation pathways that will ensure long-term impact. The first call has had the deadline extended until 6 May 2024 12:00 CEST. Following updated guidance from CINEA, UK regions are now eligible to apply.
Test bed on NEB Food Innovation looking for consortium to join
A Testbed on NEB Food Innovation is looking for consortium to join: Transforming an old factory building into a “food experience factory” in accordance with NEB principles.
A look forward: Launching ERRIN reflections on regional dimension in R&I post-2027
Autumn 2023 marked the start of ERRIN’s targeted reflections on regional dimension in research and innovation in the new EU Multiannual Financial Framework post-2027, relating to the next EU Framework Programme for R&I (FP10) and future cohesion policy. We are offering a recap of our activities so far, first messages and planned next steps.
Latest Updates
- By Heidi Johansson
European Commission publishes Horizon Europe Work Programme for EU Missions
The European Commission has published the Horizon Europe Work Programme for 2021-2022, including the Work Programme for the five EU Missions. As a result of a budget increase, 19 new calls dedicated to the roll-out of the EU Missions have been announced.
- By Hilary Webb
ERRIN members preparing for Cities Mission co-creation activities with MOSAIC
Last month, ERRIN’s project MOSAIC ran an open call to find cities and regions preparing for the Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, interested in collaborating with MOSAIC on their citizen engagement activities. ERRIN is pleased to share that 14 ERRIN members are being engaged under this initiative.
- By Hilary Webb
NetZeroCities: contribute to the upcoming City Panels
The NetZeroCities project is now preparing two City Panels, which will give cities a chance to provide direct input and help shape NetZeroCities' products, services and processes. Any city is eligible to apply to participate in the panels, where they will be able to share their experience and expertise, crucial for ensuring the success of the NetZeroCities platform. Deadline: 4 February 2021.
- By Allan Nordby Ottesen
Boosting Mental Health - Horizon Europe: HORIZON-HLTH-2022-STAYHLTH-01-01
The ambition of this project is to contribute to more equality in health by working on ways to secure that marginalized citizens and vulnerable people with one or more chronical disease profit from prevention care and interventions increasing their individual health literacy. To reach this ambition, the project aims for two general goals: • Increasing organizational health literacy among relevant public or private actors delivering public services to marginalized citizens. • Increasing the individual health literacy of marginalized citizens with one or more chronical disease. Digital tools and services are used as a tool to reach the ambition of the project with the underlining assumption, that the use of digital tools and services support the increase of organizational as well as individual health literacy. The project is innovative in taking on the perspective of the citizens and investigating ways of using digital tools and services to break from the existing hierarchical organization in
- By Hilary Webb
Cities Mission: Call for Expressions of Interest now open!
The European Commission has launched its call for Expression on Interest for the Horizon Europe Mission on Climate-neutral and Smart Cities. Applications are open until 31 January 2022.
- By Heidi Johansson
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.