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
ERA-LEARN Workshop: Synergies with Cohesion Policy Funds
ERA-LEARN is holding a webinar workshop on Synergies with Cohesion Policy Funds on 10 May from 10:00-12:30.
Discovering regional innovation valleys
Lithuanian RDI Liaison Office in Brussels (LINO), the NCBR Office in Brussels – Business & Science Poland, the Slovenian Business & Research Association, the European Office of Cyprus – Brussels Office, Eötvös Loránd University and the National Research, Development, and Innovation Office in Hungary are organising a virtual event “Discovering regional innovation valleys” on 10 May from 9:30-11:15 (CEST).
IMPROVE Project - Final Dissemination Event
The final event of the IMPROVE project will be held on 3 May. The event will present the project results around new perspectives on smart specialisation. The event is open to all interested in the topic and project stakeholders.
Policy WG meeting: Regional Innovation Valleys call for proposals under Horizon Europe
Given the advanced planned launch of the highly anticipated “Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys” HORIZON-EIE-2023-CONNECT-03-01 call for proposals on 17 May 2023, ERRIN’s Policy Working Group will organise a dedicated meeting on 25 April. Mapping of ERRIN members’ interest to develop project proposals under this call is also underway.
AI and the role of the Public Sector - examples of AI in practice from West Sweden
Region Västra Götaland, in collaboration with RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, and Business Region Göteborg, is organising a workshop on AI and the role of the Public Sector, taking place on 24 April between 14:00 and 16:00.
Fostering transregional S3-based cooperation: Advancing the sustainable blue economy through macroregional innovation collaboration
The event, hosted by Technology park Ljubljana and the Slovenian Business & Research Association (SBRA), will explore the potential of macroregional smart specialisation-based cooperation in advancing sustainable development in EU macro-regions and Euroregions. Utilising the Interreg Adrion project BLUEAIR as a case study, the event aims to demonstrate the steps taken towards S3-based cooperation in the sustainable blue economy in the Adriatic and Ionian Region.
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
Largest public consultation on Horizon programmes 2014-2027 now open
The Commission has launched the largest public consultation ever held on the past, present and future of the European Research & Innovation Framework Programmes 2014-2027. Stakeholders are invited to share their views on the performance of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, as well as shaping the strategic orientations for the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027. The consultation will stay open for 12 weeks, closing in February 2023.
Draft Horizon Europe 2023-24 work programmes published
The European Commission has published the draft 2023-2024 Horizon Europe work programmes. The drafts have not yet been adopted or endorsed by the European Commission, but have been made available to provide potential participants with the currently expected overview of this work programme.
ERRIN Autumn AGM 2022 – Towards the Year of Skills
ERRIN’s 2022 Autumn Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on 8 December 14:30-18:15 CET, followed by networking drinks from 18:15 CET. We cordially invite all the network members to join us – registration is now open!
ERRIN annual member survey: Shape ERRIN's agenda for 2023!
All members are invited to provide input on our priorities, topics, and activities that should be addressed in 2023. Your inputs are essential as they will provide a basis for the discussions during the workshops, and for the overall planning process for 2023, which will define ERRIN’s work next year.
Call for Expression of Interest - 'Clusters meet Regions' workshops
The European Cluster Collaboration Platform launched a Call of Expression of Interest to select the national/regional authorities and clusters organisations to run 13 European ‘Clusters meet Regions’ workshops in the second half of 2022 and throughout 2023. The new deadline for making an application is 2 December 2022, at 18:00 CEST.
Second set of calls for proposals under CEF Digital programme launched
The European Commission has launched the second set of calls for proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility Digital programme, with a budget of €277 million. The deadline to apply is 23 February 2023. One of the calls that could be of particular interest to ERRIN members is the '5G for Smart Communities'.
Latest Updates
- By Hilary Webb
Managing authorities and intermediate bodies to participate in pilot action on engaging citizens with cohesion policy
DG Regio has launched a call for expressions of interest for managing authorities and intermediate bodies of Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund programmes wishing to explore closer cooperation with citizens in the implementation of cohesion policy.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
'Evidence informed policymaking' training course by JRC
A 2-day training course is organised on “Evidence informed policymaking” which will aim to introduce participants to useful tools, train them to navigate between different types of evidence and research methods, and reflect on how to deal with the many challenges of evidence-informed policymaking. ERRIN has been invited to nominate up to 3 candidates.
- By Aija Konisevska Azadi
Erasmus+ VET Centres of Excellence: /AI,VR,AR Companies and VET within Healthcare and Technical sector needed
Partners from Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Sweden and Malta are sought for a VET TNE project.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Call for examples of citizen engagement at regional level
DG REGIO is looking for examples of citizen engagement in regional development processes e.g. related to Smart Specialisation. Selected examples will be showcased at a Conference organised by the European Commission on 6 February 2020. In addition, we will promote all collected examples on the ERRIN website.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Smart Regions Conference 3.0: Transformation through Smart specialisation
On 14-15 November in Brussels a third edition of Smart Regions conference will take place. During the event the achievements of the current financial period 2014-20 and key directions for smart specialisation as a tool for an effective economic transformation in 2021-27 will be presented by the European Commission, Member States and regions.
- By Aija Konisevska Azadi
Digitalising products - unlocking the potential
An emerged technology-push within Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has led to an evolving digital transformation within industry (Lasi et al., 2014). The digital transformation is often described as a revolution due to the expected impact on industry, changing the competition and business.