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
Digital Europe Programme Info Day - Deployment of the Data Space for Smart Communities
Information day on the Digital Europe Programme topic "Data Space for Smart Communities - Deployment". Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and present project ideas for proposals.
Translating EU Missions into regional policy
The TRAMI project and ERRIN are organising a mutual learning event on 18 October. The event will aim to showcase a successful translation of the EU Missions approach into concrete policies and tools on the regional level and to foster the discussion on challenges and opportunities with its implementation.
Covenant of Mayors Investment Forum - Energy Efficiency Finance Marketplace
The Covenant of Mayors Investment Forum – Energy Efficiency Finance Market Place annual conference will be held this year on 18 October in Brussels. The event will showcase successful projects on financing energy efficiency, climate adaptation and innovative energy planning.
Delivering 100 Smart and Climate Neutral Cities by 2030
Stockholm, Valencia, Angers Loire Métropole, and Copenhagen are four of the cities selected for the Mission Climate Neutral and Smart Cities. These 4 cities are hosting an event on 17 October that will provide inspiration to experts and policymakers, from cities and regions around Europe and beyond, looking to reinforce their own efforts and get new ideas.
Facilitating RePowerEU – Cities as Frontrunners and Facilitators in Sustainable Energy
A hybrid workshop “Facilitating RePowerEU – Cities as Frontrunners and Facilitators in Sustainable Energy” will take place on 12 October from 15.00-16.30 CEST in the frame of the European Week of Regions and Cities 2022. The session is organised in collaboration with the Helsinki EU Office and the Finnish Cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa.
Regions addressing integrated sustainable urban development through cohesion policy projects
This workshop, hosted online on 12 October in the frame of the European Week of Regions and Cities, will address the various challenges of urban life and present numerous solutions and best practices in sustainable urban development which have been achieved through an integrated approach and with strong partnerships between different stakeholders.
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
Exploring Synergies between European Partnerships and EU Missions – Mutual Learning Event
ERRIN and the TRAMI project are organising a Mutual Learning Event aiming to explore synergies between European Partnerships and EU Missions. The event will take place on Wednesday 7 February from 9:00 to 12:00 (CET) at the NCBR Brussels Office, Rue Belliard 40, Brussels.
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 Hilary Webb
Prize for innovative batteries for eVehicles
The EU is set to award €10 million for a fully functional prototype of high-performing, sustainable battery for electric vehicles.
- By Heidi Johansson
ERRIN Position on the Mission on Climate Neutral and Smart Cities
ERRIN has, under the leadership of the Smart Cities working group, developed a position paper on the development of the Mission on Climate Neutral and Smart Cities.
- By Gaia Ialisa Marotta
Join a consortium on participatory innovation processes in the context of mission-like challenges of Climate neutral and Smart Cities.
ERRIN is involved in a consortium for the call “Bottom-up approach to build SwafS knowledge base” (H2020-SwafS-31-2020). We are searching for cities interested in being involved in the activities of the project through a Letter of Support.
- By Heidi Johansson
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.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
European Climate Pact - public consultation
In order to gather inputs on the European Climate Pact, the Commission has recently launched a public consultation. We would like to collect your views on and expectations of the Pact as well as explore what role ERRIN could take in this new initiative.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Update on ERRIN's work
The current outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a lot of uncertainty in Brussels and across the whole of Europe. We would therefore like to reassure all of you, that despite the current situation, the ERRIN Secretariat will stay operational and work remotely.