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
Breakfast Seminar on Impact Investment
Stockholm Region EU Office, together with Stockholm Business Region, welcomes you to a breakfast seminar on Impact Investment, at the Stockholm Region's EU Office on 25 April between 09:00 and 10:00.
New European Bauhaus Festival
In April 2024, the European Commission organises the second edition of the New European Bauhaus Festival.
GovTech Connect Launch Webinar
The Fostering digitisation of public sector and green transition in Europe through the use of an innovative European GovTech platform (GovTech Connect) project will host its first webinar to launch their community. The webinar will take place on 17 April from 14:30 to 16:30.
Forum Rhine-Meuse "Mobility in Europe: Which solutions to a sustainable and borderless transport?"
Co-organised by Grand Est-Europe and the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the EU, the Rhine-Meuse Forum 2023: "Mobility in Europe: Which solutions for sustainable and borderless transport" is taking place on 12 April.
DT4REGIONS Blockchain Hackathon – Let’s Build the Future of Web 3.0!
DT4REGIONS, and their project partner bwcon, are holding a hybrid 'Challenges for the Blockchain Hackathon' as part of the web3week in Stuttgart and online on 22-23 March 2023. The Challenge for the Hackathon is: Renewable Energy Distribution and Management for Sustainable Municipalities.
Cities Forum 2023
The 5th edition of the Cities Forum will take place in Torino from 16-17 March 2023. It will consider current urban challenges, with a focus on green transition in cities and social inclusion.
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
Apply for the European Green Capital & European Green Leaf Awards 2026
European cities committed to sustainability are encouraged to apply for the 2026 edition of the European Green Capital and Green Leaf Awards before the deadline on 30 April 2024. The Awards promote and reward the efforts of European towns and cities that strive to reduce their impact on the local and global environment, improving the quality of life for their inhabitants.
23 new Mission Cities awarded the Mission Label
During a dedicated session at the EU Research & Innovation Days, 23 new cities part of the EU Mission on 100 climate-neutral and smart cities were awarded the Mission Label for their plans to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. ERRIN is pleased to see that 15 cities are located in ERRIN member regions.
Express your interest in the 3rd Interreg Europe call via the ERRIN Project Development Tool
Interreg Europe's 3rd call for proposals, launched on 20 March, supports interregional cooperation projects addressing common regional development challenges. Organisations can use the ERRIN Project Development tool to express interest and find partners. The call is open until 7 June 2024.
Partner Search Interreg Europe – Tuscany Region - Exchange of experiences on affordable housing enhancement
Project Title - Affordable Housing Enhancement and Regional Oversight for European Sustainability (HEROES) The project aims to equip authorities with the necessary tools and knowledge to establish a sustainable housing policy that harmonizes public and private efforts within comprehensive planning.
Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027 is out
On 20 March, the Commission adopted the second Horizon Europe strategic plan. The plan sets out three key strategic orientations for the EU's research and innovation funding for the last three years of the programme (2025-2027). Find out what novelties the new strategic plan brings.
Coventry University Open for MSCA PF Fellows
Marie Skłodowska Curie (MSCA) European Postdoctoral Fellowships - If you are looking to grow in your research profile, keen to boost your career prospects and ready to be part of our thriving research environment, Coventry University invites you to get in touch about suitability for the following MSCA postdoctoral European fellowships at our Coventry campus.
Latest Updates
- By Hilary Webb
Five Horizon Europe Missions launch
The European Commission has today launched its five Horizon Europe Missions as a new way to work towards ambitious goals related to health, the climate and the environment by 2030. Read about the announcements and ERRIN's work on the Missions so far.
- By Heidi Johansson
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.
- By Hilary Webb
Consultation on education & training for environmental sustainability
Individuals and organisations from international, European, national, regional and local levels are invited to give their feedback on the European Commission's proposal on education for environmental sustainability.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Get involved in a project: Transition super-labs call
ERRIN member regions are invited to express interest in becoming involved in a Horizon Europe project focusing on transition super-labs.
- By Hilary Webb
EC adopts package of legislative tools for EU Green Deal
The European Commission has adopted a package of proposed actions that will transform the EU's climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies in a bid to realise the European Green Deal.
- By Heidi Johansson
Call for examples related to the Cities Mission’s Expression of Interest
The Smart Cities working group will in September organise an information session on the call for Expressions of Interest, which will be launched by the European Commission in early autumn within the frame of the Mission on climate-neutral and smart cities. As part of this meeting, the WG is now collecting inspirational examples related to the different elements of the Expression of Interest.