Working Group Leaders

Representatives of Brussels-based offices leading the work of the Smart Cities Working Group.

Pieter Faber

Leader

Pieter Faber

Cities Northern Netherlands

Miia Paananen

Leader

Miia Paananen

Turku-Southwest Finland European Office

Runa Monstad

Leader

Runa Monstad

Stavanger Region European Office

Helle Bech Sørensen-Hylle

Leader

Helle Bech Sørensen-Hylle

South Denmark European Office

Alis Socea

Leader

Alis Socea

ADR Nord-Est

ADR Nord-Est

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.

Next Working Group Meetings

Future Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings

NEB Task Force Satellite Event: Regions & Cities paving the future of the NEB

NEB Task Force Satellite Event: Regions & Cities paving the future of the NEB

Francesca Pozzebon

ERRIN New European Bauhaus Task Force is organising a NEB Festival Satellite event on the role of regions and cities in shaping the future of the NEB.  In the summer of 2023, ERRIN launched an

Policy WG meeting: Role of EU Missions in FP10

Policy WG meeting: Role of EU Missions in FP10

Ewa Chomicz

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

Policy & Smart Specialisation WGs meeting: Widening in FP10 and impact on cohesion policy post-2027

Policy & Smart Specialisation WGs meeting: Widening in FP10 and impact on cohesion policy post-2027

Ewa Chomicz

Widening and deepening engagement in R&I to achieve a more inclusive ecosystem approach across Europe has been one of ERRIN’s network priorities since 2021. As such, it has been regularly covered

Last Working Group Meetings

Previous Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings

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Cities Mission: Experiences and lessons learned from the Climate City Contract process

Heidi Johansson

As a follow-up to the Smart Cities Working Group meeting organised in 2023, the Working Group is inviting two cities that have successfully developed their Climate City Contracts to share their

Energy and Climate Change Working Group

Insights into the European Wind Power Package and Net-Zero Industry Act

Silvia Ghiretti

The Energy and Climate Change Working Group is organising a session to provide ERRIN members and their regional stakeholders with a comprehensive update on two new initiatives currently shaping the

Policy WG: Towards FP10 – internal member exchange

Policy WG: Towards FP10 – internal member exchange

Ewa Chomicz

To build the ground for ERRIN’s targeted work around the development of the next European Framework Programme for R&I (FP10) in the coming years and to assist members’ undertakings on the topic,

WG Related Events

WG Related Events

Towards a research agenda for the EU Mission on Climate-neutral and Smart Cities

Researchers who have actively worked with Pilot Cities or Mission Cities within the frame of the EU Mission on 100 Climate-neutral and Smart Cities by 2030 are invited to join a collaborative event geared towards advancing research in the Cities Mission. The event aims to develop and foster a robust network of universities and research institutions actively engaged in this endeavour while allowing participants to learn more about the NetZeroCities project and the Mission Cities and potentially develop shared research outputs. The event will be organised on 25 June in Valencia, Spain.

Cities Mission Conference 2024

The third annual conference for the Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities will be held in Valencia, Spain, on 25-26 June 2024. The European Commission and NetZeroCities invite political representatives and practitioners from the 112 Mission Cities to celebrate the Mission’s progress and to share valuable insights, experiences, and inspiration. 

European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW)

The 2024 edition of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) will take place from 11 to 13 June 2024 in Brussels and online. The theme for EUSEW 2024 will be “Net zero energy solutions for competitive Europe”.

Policy & Smart Specialisation WGs meeting: Widening in FP10 and impact on cohesion policy post-2027

Widening and deepening engagement in R&I has been one of ERRIN's priorities. This joint Policy and Smart Specialisation Working Groups meeting will concentrate on widening as one of the key issues to address in the FP10 debate, considering also its impact on cohesion policy post-2027. The event will be held in person at the ERRIN premises on 22 May from 10:00-12:00.

EU Missions Info Days

On 25 and 26 April, the European Commission is organising Info Days dedicated to the EU Missions 2024 calls for proposals. The event will provide potential applicants with information on the new topics included in the EU Missions work programme 2024 under Horizon Europe. An update on the implementation of each Mission will also be provided.

Matchmaking Horizon Europe - Cluster 5

Smart Energy Alliance (SEA) partnership, linked to energy and mobility, the European Commission's Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and the French national contact points are organising a matchmaking on Cluster 5 destinations 2,3 and 6. Schedule your BtoB meetings with your future partners on 25 and 26 April 2024.

WG Documents

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

WG Related Content

Third Call for Proposals of the European Urban Initiative- Innovative Actions

The third call for proposals of the European Urban Initiative (EUI) - Innovative Actions will be launched in May 2024 and close in October 2024. The call is targeting innovative projects focusing on two topics: 'energy transition' and 'technology in cities', and has an indicative budget of €90 million ERDF.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Latest Updates

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Marching towards FP10 – ERRIN activity update

As we enter March and approach the European R&I Days, several ERRIN activities planned for 2024 with a link to FP10 have already taken place, and more are on their way. Have a look at an update with the outcomes of our recent work on the next European Framework Programme for R&I, next steps and opportunities to get involved.

  • By Francesca Pozzebon

The CrAFt Cookbook: A Recipe for Climate-Positive Cities and Communities

This publication is CrAFt's contribution towards climate-positive cities and communities —less greenhouse gas emissions, better quality, for more people— with local collaboration at the core. The CrAFt Cookbook outlines seven stages for urban transformation inspired by the New European Bauhaus, covering everything from conceptualisation to execution, documentation, and replication. Each stage highlights key principles and joint strategies, with real-life examples from CrAFt Cities, to inspire any city’s initiatives.

  • By Lucy Hammond

ERRIN is looking for a Communications Assistant (traineeship)

ERRIN is looking for a Communications Assistant! This role is a perfect opportunity to gain first-hand experience in Research and Innovation and participate in the daily work of the organisation. The deadline to apply is 27 February.

  • By Gianpiero Petruzziello

Introducing ERRIN’s Project Development Tool: a gateway to your next project

ERRIN is excited to announce the launch of its new Project Development Tool, a significant game-changer in how ERRIN members and their stakeholders engage in project development activities. We encourage all members to log in, explore this tool and leverage it for their project development needs.

  • By Gaia Ialisa Marotta

A new transition pathway for a green, digital, and resilient EU mobility industrial ecosystem

The European Commission launched a new transition pathway for the EU mobility industrial ecosystem, outlining a strategic roadmap for a sustainable and resilient future. Find more on the report and register for the dedicated event.

  • By Mariona Campmajó

Improvement of the bus network service in Barcelona

The Barcelona Innova Lab Mobility project, in collaboration with Fira de Barcelona and the Barcelona Institute of Technology for the Habitat, aims to innovate urban mobility, focusing this year on improving Barcelona's bus network service. The goal is to enhance user experience, optimise efficiency, and develop self-driving bus technologies within a project duration of 18 months.