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
On the way to shaping cohesion policy post-2027
While following developments towards the next European Framework Programme for R&I (FP10), ERRIN also keeps a close eye on the future of cohesion policy, its R&I dimension and coherence with R&I policy post-2027. Have a look at recent key highlights on the topic.
The European Capital of Innovation Awards
In 2024, the European Innovation Council is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the European Capital of Innovation Awards. The competition rewards those European cities that are courageous enough to open their governance practices to experimentation and push the boundaries of technology for the benefit of their citizens. In addition to the monetary reward, the prize brings high visibility in the form of renewed public interest and increased media coverage. The deadline for submission is 18 June 2024, 17:00.
The EIC launches a consultation on its Business Acceleration Services
The European Innovation Council (EIC) is launching a survey open to EIC beneficiaries, aiming to collect information regarding the use of the EIC Community Platform and the EIC Business Acceleration Services. The survey is open until 12 April 2024.
9th Cohesion Report is published
On 27 March, the Commission published the 9th Cohesion Report. The document presents an assessment of the state of cohesion in the Union, shows the progress made and draws lessons for the future.
NEIA implementation report & Regional Innovation Valleys update
On 20 March, the Commission published the first report on the state of play of the New European Innovation Agenda, following its launch in July 2022. The document outlines the progress and achievements with regard to the 25 actions under Agenda’s five flagships, including the Regional Innovation Valleys. On the same day, an EU R&I Days debate on the way forward for RIVs was also held.
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.
Latest Updates
- By Ewa Chomicz
S3 Forum completed!
The S3 Forum – the first EU-level, in-person gathering on S3 since 2020 – took place on 28-29 November in Barcelona. ERRIN Secretariat joined the event alongside many network members and hundreds of S3 practitioners and experts from across Europe. The days were packed with discussions around perspectives for smart specialisation and interregional collaboration on innovation.
- By Sandra Jansson
Jönköping Region wants to cooperate on Smart Specialisation
Region Jönköping County is interested in cooperating with actors in other regions within smart specialisation (in general and in their focus areas: Smart industry, manufacturing, Forestry and Wood Industry, Foodstuffs, Tourism, E-commerce and logistics in order to create a network to exchange ideas.
- By Ewa Chomicz
A look forward: Launching ERRIN reflections on regional dimension in R&I post-2027
Autumn 2023 marked the start of ERRIN’s targeted reflections on regional dimension in research and innovation in the new EU Multiannual Financial Framework post-2027, relating to the next EU Framework Programme for R&I (FP10) and future cohesion policy. We are offering a recap of our activities so far, first messages and planned next steps.
- By Ewa Chomicz
Management Board elections 2023 – results
Following the call for nominations for ERRIN Management Board held between 20 September and 5 October, we are happy to announce the nominated Management Board members. The five nominees will be approved as new Management Board members at the ERRIN Extraordinary General Meeting on 16 November.
- By Rodolphe Doité
Release of LORDIMAS, a digital maturity assessment tool for Regions and Cities
During the European Week of Regions and Cities 2023, a dedicated session was organised to launch LORDIMAS, a digital maturity assessment helping local and regional governments to understand where they are in their digital transformation journey. The tool is now accessible online.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Shape ERRIN's agenda 2024 - Annual Member Survey
In view of the annual strategy workshops that we will organise with all the Working Group (WG) and Task Force (TF) leaders in the second half of November, all members are invited to provide input on priorities, topics, and activities that should be addressed in 2024.