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
Previous Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings
Smart Specialisation WG meeting: S3 and PRI – the way ahead
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
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
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
Smart Soils: Smart Specialisation meets EU Soil Mission
ERRIN's member Junta de Extremadura (FUNDECYT-PCTEX) is co-organising on 24 January 2024 a thematic NatiOOns webinar focusing on Smart Soils that will zoom into how Smart Specialisation meets the EU Soil Mission. It explicitly addresses two objectives of the EU Mission: A Soil Deal for Europe: reduce the EU global footprint on soils and improve soil literacy in society.
Smart Specialisation meets EU Soil Mission/ NATI00NS Project
The NATI00NS, a Soil Mission Project, is hosting the event: Smart Specialisation meets EU Soil Mission, which will take place online on 24 January 2024 at 10:00 CET. It will feature a Europe-wide discussion about the relationship, at a regional level, between the Smart Specialisation Research and Innovation Strategies (RIS3) and the Soil Mission (SM), creating a debate that, for sure, will enrich both working areas.
Join the RIPEET Lab: sharing key learnings on stakeholders’ engagement methods
The RIPEET Lab is the closing chapter of the project peer-learning programme where RIPEET's mirrors and pilot territories will exchange good practices. The event will involve RIPEET partners and external stakeholders, focusing on key learnings to replicate stakeholder engagement methods in other contexts and expressing interest in future collaboration opportunities on upcoming calls.
ERRIN end-of-year Reception
We warmly invite you to the ERRIN end-of-year Reception to take stock and celebrate the network’s accomplishments in 2023. The reception will take place on 7 December at 18:00 at the ERRIN premises, Rue du Luxembourg 3, 1000 Brussels.
S3 Forum
The Smart Specialisation (S3) Forum 2023 is the second in a series of events that the European Commission’s DG REGIO, with the support of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the S3 Community of Practice Secretariat, is organising for S3 stakeholders from across EU regions. This bottom-up region-centric event will take place on 28 November 2023 in Barcelona. Register until 13 November 2023.
Online Info Session on the I3 Instrument Call "Strand 2b Capacity Building in Less Developed Regions"
On 23 November 2023, EISMEA and DG REGIO will organise an informative session about the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument call for proposals "Strand 2b - Capacity Building in Less Developed Regions", expected to be launched on 15 November 2023. Registration is open until 20 November.
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
Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2023 published
On 6 July, the Commission released the newest bi-annual Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS). The RIS allows for a closer examination of the innovation performance within European regions and the new edition is to be taken as a reference for consortium eligibility in the current Regional Innovation Valleys call for proposals under Horizon Europe. The 2023 edition of the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) was also published.
ERRIN Spring AGM 2023 – taking stock of the EU Missions
ERRIN’s Spring Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023 took place on 22 June this year. As always, it brought together the large and dynamic community of member regions and cities. Following the format part with the update from the network, the main focus was the EU Missions, approached in two policy debates, on the support and implementation frameworks in Adaptation, Ocean and Waters and Soil Missions, and the governance innovation and the perspective on Cities and the Cancer Missions.
Plenary Meeting of the S3 European Hydrogen Valleys Partnership and call for input
On 20 June 2023, ERRIN participated in the Plenary Meeting of the S3 European Hydrogen Valleys Partnership, hosted in the House of the Dutch Provinces in Brussels. In this context, ERRIN with its Energy & Climate Working Group is in the process of producing an input paper building on the work of the S3 Partnership on Hydrogen Valleys and collecting ERRIN’s members’ needs, challenges and solutions.
Local Digital Twins toolbox project launches survey
The European Commission has recently launched a project to “Co-design the Local Digital Twins (LDT) toolbox technical specifications for advancing the transformation of Smart Communities”. To support the design process, they have launched a survey to gather insights. The deadline for the survey is 30 June at 23:59 CEST.
Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys - Heat networks
Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys – Decarbonising Heat & Cooling, with proposed focus on next generation heating & cooling networks
New ERA Forum sub-group on ‘Access to excellence’ and funding synergies kicked off
On 7 June 2023, the first meeting of the ERA Forum sub-group ‘Access to excellence’ – ‘R&I and Cohesion Managing Authorities’ Network (RIMA) was held. The discussion focused on operationalising funding synergies, a topic covered also in the DUT & ERRIN Policy Working Group workshop on 8 June.
Latest Updates
- By Ewa Chomicz
Management Board elections 2021 – 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 18 October.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Join the S3 WG as a co-leader
Due to changes in the leadership, the Smart Specialisation (S3) Working Group is looking for a new WG leader to co-lead the group together with the current leaders from Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, North-East Romania, and Wielkopolska.
- By Hilary Webb
Stakeholder survey on Europe's innovation ecosystem
The European Commission is running a survey to gather views on challenges faced by European innovation ecosystem actors, their future opportunities and expectations.
- By Hilary Webb
Science meets Regions: Call for expressions of interest
Express interest by 24 September to support the implementation of the JRC's Science meets Regions action via innovation camps, participatory events and networking activities.
- By Hilary Webb
First Horizon Europe calls launch
The first calls for proposals in the EU's new key funding programme for research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, are now open.
- By Hilary Webb
Main Horizon Europe work programme adopted
The European Commission has adopted the main work programme of Horizon Europe for the period 2021-2022. The programme outlines the objectives and topic areas that will receive a share of €14.7 billion in funding.