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
3rd ERA CoBioTech Hub Meeting
During its final ERA CoBioTech Hub Meeting, which will take place as a virtual conference on 19 May 2022, ERA CoBioTech gathers the diverse actors of the new European Partnerships and in the fields of biotechnology, bioeconomy, life sciences and other innovative technologies.
EU Missions Info Days
The European Commission has announced dedicated Info-Days for the EU Missions to be held virtually on 17 and 18 May 2022. The event will provide prospective applicants with specific information on the new Missions’ Work Programme calls, funding opportunities and timelines.
Digital Transformation for Urban Sustainability
On 11 May 2022 in Brussels will be held ‘Digital Transformation for Urban Sustainability’ event. The event will focus on how digital innovation can support sustainable urban development and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs and will be followed by a policy dialogue on urbanisation and digitalisation.
WIRE 2022: Towards a leading Europe in breakthrough innovation: unleashing the potential of regions
This year's edition of the Week of Innovative Regions in Europe (WIRE) will take place on 11-13 May 2022 under the theme “Towards a leading Europe in breakthrough innovation: unleashing the potential of regions”. The event will be hosted by Université Paris-Saclay, France, under the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Nordic Edge Expo 2022
Nordic Edge Expo 2022, 10-11 May The 8th leading Nordic event for future cities and communities will be a physical event in the city centre of Stavanger. 10-11 May we will bring you a meeting place focusing on the topics: Urban Energy, Life Actually, On the Move and Spaces & Places. We call out to politicians, leaders, technology inventors, students, investors, start-ups, artists and citizens who wants smarter and more sustainable cities and communities.
European Regions for Smart Communities Summit
The European Regions for Smart Communities Summit will be the celebration of the success and achievements of cooperation across Smart Communities and an opportunity to mutually commit to sharing challenges and smart solutions. It will take place from 9-14 May 2022 in Évora (Alentejo, Portugal) and online.
WG Documents
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.
ERRIN Input to the City Mission Implementation Plan
Please find attached ERRIN's input to the Implementation Plan of the Mission on climate-neutral and smart cities.
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.
WG Related Content
Shape ERRIN's agenda 2024 - Annual Member Survey
In view of the annual strategy workshops that we will organise with all the Working Group (WG) and Task Force (TF) leaders in the second half of November, all members are invited to provide input on priorities, topics, and activities that should be addressed in 2024. The input can be provided by 31 October 2023.
Lyon Métropole seeks to join a consortium for Horizon Europe call on Zero Pollution
Lyon Métropole would be interested in joining a consortium as a partner working on the topic of urban pollution and population exposure. The consortium would work to better understand the scope of the problem and contribute to identifying actions that could be promoted to better protect both its population and environment.
13 cities from ERRIN member regions selected as NetZeroCities Twin Cities
The NetZeroCities project, in which ERRIN is a partner, has through its Twinning Programme matched 40 Twin Cities from across Europe with the 53 Pilot Cities that were selected earlier this year. ERRIN is pleased to see that 13 of the selected Twin Cities come from ERRIN member regions.
169 country actions in support of the New European Innovation Agenda
On 19 September 2023, the European Commission published the list of actions that Member States and Associated Countries to Horizon Europe are so far undertaking or planning to undertake in support of one or more of the five flagships of the New European Innovation Agenda, including Flagship 3 closely followed by ERRIN. 20 countries have so far reported 169 actions in total, with their scope ranging from regional, through national to European.
Management Board elections 2023 – call for nominations launched!
Every year ERRIN holds elections for the Management Board. Becoming a member of the Board offers a great opportunity to develop ERRIN further and strategically lead the network’s activities. You can put forward your candidature for this year’s elections until 5 October.
City of Jyväskylä is looking for Transfer Partners for EUI Greening Cities call
Jyväskylä (FI) is looking for 3 Transfer Partners for project preparation for the Second Call for Proposals EUI - Innovative Actions in Topic 1: “Greening cities”. Deadline 24 September.
Latest Updates
- By Ewa Chomicz
Take part in a survey and shape the future DT4REGIONS platform - deadline extended!
ERRIN’s DT4REGIONS project is gaining pace. We invite all regional and local administrations with an interest in digital transformation to take part in a survey as part of DT4REGIONS stakeholder mapping and capacity building efforts, carried out in collaboration with the Living-in.EU initiative. Gathered input will contribute to shaping the future DT4REGIONS platform.
- 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.