Smart Specialisation Working Group

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

Smart Specialisation

The Smart Specialisation Working Group aims to monitor and contribute to key policy developments related to S3 by enhancing dialogue with relevant EU institutions and stakeholders. The goal is to strengthen the regional perspective in the wider smart specialisation agenda and facilitate the interregional cooperation. The WG actively engages in the debate around shaping the cohesion policy post-2027 and the future of S3. It also follows different interregional collaboration instruments for innovation, their state of play and upcoming opportunities.

ERRIN Contact

Last Working Group Meetings

Previous Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings

Smart Specialisation WG meeting: S3 and PRI – the way ahead

Smart Specialisation WG meeting: S3 and PRI – the way ahead

Ewa Chomicz

The year 2024 marks the opening of a new chapter for the Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI) as a JRC-CoR initiative building on S3 to support innovation for place-based transformations. In

Strengthening skills governance in regional innovation ecosystems:  lessons learnt and remaining challenges

Strengthening skills governance in regional innovation ecosystems: lessons learnt and remaining challenges

Astrid Hannes

As the activities of the EU Year of Skills came to an end in April 2024, the Science and Education for Society Working Group is organising a Working Group meeting to reflect on the lessons learnt

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

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-

WG Related Events

WG Related Events

Industry 4.0 - a key element for a green transition

The session will present challenges and obstacles that the industry is facing in the field of the green transition and explore possible solutions and new paths of collaborations between R&I and industry 4.0, that could support the decarbonisation.

Conference on H2 skills for sustainable industries

The European Hydrogen Valleys S3 Partnership (which includes 3 ERRIN members among its coordinators: Aragon, Auvergne Rhône Alpes and Normandie) will organise a webinar dedicated to H2 skills for sustainable industries, during the next edition of the EU Industry Days.

Health data for innovation - opportunities and societal challenges

SAPHIRe presents an interactive workshop on health data for innovation. The session will discuss how the smart specialisation agenda can leverage regional healthcare innovation to improve citizens' lives. 

Annual Strategy Workshops - co-designing priorities and activities for 2021

To start planning the activities in the WGs for 2021, the WG leaders will meet according to the clusters to discuss the policy context, project development, and possible topics for the year ahead. All members are warmly invited to provide input in advance.

EWRC session: Interregional Innovation Investments

By bringing quadruple helix stakeholders together and stimulating key actors of the interregional innovation ecosystems, the intention of the workshop is to animate the debate on how to use public money to de-risk cooperation, accelerate innovation and unlock private investments.

EWRC session: Resilience of EU innovation ecosystems

The session will analyse the various aspects of the impact of COVID-19 on the EU and how S3 models have helped during the lockdown and will help further in the post-crisis transition.

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.

WG Related Content

WG Related Content

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.

ERRIN at the 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities & 30th anniversary of CoR

On 18-19 March, the 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities took place in Mons, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). ERRIN joined the summit for debates on the future of cohesion policy and promotion of the Living-in.EU movement, all while recognising the long-standing dialogue with CoR.

Systems to quantify nitrogen fluxes and uncertainties in European landscapes

Call for Partner interest under the Mission Soil calls, focusing on Systems to quantify nitrogen fluxes and uncertainties in European landscapes.

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.

Open call for regions to host S3 Conference 2024

The S3 Community of Practice (S3 CoP) Secretariat, where ERRIN is a partner, opened a call to all EU regions and member states to express their interest in hosting the Smart Specialisation (S3) Conference 2024 this autumn. The event will be at the forefront of discussions on Smart Specialisation and its key role in fostering local economic development. Deadline for applications is 15 March.

ERRIN at CoR SEDEC conference on place-based innovation

On 23 February, SEDEC Commission of the European Committee of the Regions and Regione Marche organised a conference on place-based innovation for the EU's green and digital transition. ERRIN was invited to share its messages, linking to the network's ongoing work around the future cohesion and R&I policies post-2027.

Latest Updates

  • By Magdalena Ujejska

Małopolska Region's search for partners - Adapting cities and regions to climate change

Małopolska Region looking for partners for a project within LIFE Subprogramme Climate Action (Adapting cities and regions to climate change).

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Management Board elections 2022 – call for nominations launched!

Every year ERRIN holds elections for the Management Board. You can put forward your candidature for this year’s elections until 17 October.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

REGIONS2030: Call for expression of interest - deadline extended

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) is inviting European regions to express their interest to contribute to the Pilot Project "REGIONS2030: Monitoring the SDGs in the EU regions - Filling the data gaps", supported by the European Parliament. The deadline for submitting an expression of interest is now extended until 10 October 2022.

  • By Rodolphe Doité

DT4REGIONS Ideathon: AI potential in Preventive Health Care

In October 2022, ERRIN's DT4REGIONS project in cooperation with the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council will organise four ideathon workshops for Artificial Intelligence Potential in Preventive Healthcare. We are looking for new ideas how to use AI for preventive healthcare – awards are waiting for the best ones!

  • By Eva Damm

Research in Saxony - Regional foresight and innovation ecosystems

The Free State of Saxony is interested in contact with other European regional authorities with experiences in regional foresight/ strategy processes and regional innovation ecosystems in the fields of AI, Quantum Technologies and Personalised Medicine/ Life Sciences.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Call for regional pitches for the Smart Specialisation WG breakfast on S3

The ERRIN Smart Specialisation Working Group is looking for regional examples for its upcoming "S3 Breakfast: Pitch your S3!" meeting. The event will take place in person on 18 October from 09:00-10:30 in Brussels. The call for pitches will be open until 7 October (extended deadline).