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
EWRC session: Industrial cooperation & smart recovery
The COVID-19 crisis is having a devastating impact on industrial activities in the EU. The whole industrial model in EU regions will need to be reconstructed.
EWRC session: Cohesion and cooperation in transition
This workshop will press the importance of EU funding for research and interregional cooperation and facilitate active knowledge exchange between policy experts from partner regions.
High-level Webinar of the Baltic Sea Region – Towards Sustainable Economic Transformation
A High-level Webinar of the Baltic Sea Region – Towards Sustainable Economic Transformation over Zoom will take place on the 28th of September with Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, European Commission and Markku Markkula, Vice President, European Committee of the Regions.
Smarter 2020 Conference: Place-based responses to the COVID-19 economic crisis
An uncomping webinar will focus on short-term reactions to the COVID-19 crisis that relate to S3/S4 governance and what role it will play in the longer recovery.
Boosting SME Internationalisation
We will gather online to discuss how we best support SMEs' internationalisation. At these times, due to COVID-19, it is harder than ever to work internationally, and nonetheless increasingly vital for small and medium-sized businesses to do so. This online conference will table issues and provide examples of how we as local and regional business support organisations can improve internationalisation, growth and thus wellbeing.
European Cluster Alliance Against Coronavirus Webinars on Recovery and Resilience
Hosted by the European Cluster Alliance (ECA), Eurada and the European Commission, the overall aim is to link and reinforce industrial ecosystems in the European Recovery Plans the Smart Specialisation Strategies.
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
The Forward-Looking Survey - European Urban Initiative
The European Urban Initiative (EUI) has launched a forward-looking survey to gather vital insights from urban practitioners and policymakers across Europe. This survey, hosted on Portico, aims to identify key trends, challenges, knowledge gaps and support needs in European sustainable urban development. The survey will be open from 6 June until 12 July.
Third Call for Proposals EUI - Innovative Actions
The third EUI-Innovative Actions (EUI-IA) Call for Proposals is launched now and will close on 14 October 2024 at 14.00 CEST with an allocated indicative budget of EUR 90 million ERDF. Each project can receive up to a maximum of 5 million EUR ERDF co-financing and project implementation should take place within a maximum period of 3.5 years.
New EU Preparatory Action on innovation for place-based transformations
A new EU Preparatory Action (PA) on innovation for place-based transformations was publicly announced for the first time by the JRC of the European Commission during the ERRIN S3 Working Group meeting on 25 June. The challenge-oriented PA will offer several opportunities for regional engagement and will be based on the experience of Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI), with a call for EoI expected to launch in October 2024.
ERRIN two-pager for European decision-makers
ERRIN is pleased to share a two-pager for the incoming European decision-makers, aiming to present the network and our value to the new MEPs, raising a voice for the importance of place-based R&I in the changing landscape. We encourage all ERRIN members to share the document with their MEPs to introduce ERRIN and the value of place-based R&I.
Over 70 ERRIN member regions announced as Regional Innovation Valleys
On 19 June, the Commission announced the 151 regions identified as Regional Innovation Valleys following the call for EoI and calls for proposals in 2023. 75 successful regions come from ERRIN members. RIVs will aim to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystems, bridge the innovation gap and improve Europe's overall innovation performance. New calls for proposals under Horizon Europe are expected in 2025.
How is cultural heritage integrated into regional development? CHARTER Alliance publishes new report on six regional case studies conducted by ERRIN
CHARTER, the European Cultural Heritage Skills Alliance funded by Erasmus+, has released a new report showcasing findings and conclusions from six regional case studies conducted by ERRIN members in the Basque Country (Spain), Sibiu (Romania), Bremen (Germany), Alentejo (Portugal), Tuscany (Italy), and Västra Götaland (Sweden) in 2021-2023. The report synthesises how skills for cultural heritage are integrated into regional development policies and strategies, examining sector-integrated dynamics within these regional ecosystems. The report provides recommendations for developing long-term…
Latest Updates
- By Francesca Pozzebon
Energy & Climate Change WG meeting on Sustainable Buildings - call for presentations
On Friday 30 September from 10:30-12:00, the Energy and Climate Change Working Group will host a hybrid event on the topic of Sustainable Buildings. A call for presentations to be presented during the meeting is now open until 25 September.
- By Ewa Chomicz
New members of the EU Missions Boards announced
Yesterday the European Commission announced 75 new top experts who will advise on the five EU Missions through serving on their Boards. ERRIN is thrilled that Françoise Guaspare from Île-de-France Europe, one of the Transport Working Group leaders, will join the Mission Board of the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission.
- By Ewa Chomicz
ERRIN autumn perspectives: R&I policy outlook
The first half of 2022 offered several key policy developments. To kick off the autumn, we propose a short outlook of what will keep ERRIN busy when it comes to the R&I policy perspective.
- By Ewa Chomicz
ERRIN input to call for evidence for Horizon Europe interim evaluation
ERRIN has submitted its messages in response to the European Commission's call for evidence for the Horizon Europe programme interim evaluation.
- By Teresa Vio
ERRIN is looking for a Communications Assistant (traineeship)
ERRIN is looking for a new trainee! The Communications Assistant will have the opportunity to participate in the daily work of the organisation by carrying out communications and member related tasks, as well as supporting daily office activities. The deadline to apply is 10 August.
- By Ewa Chomicz
Interreg Europe 2021-2027 Cooperation Programme approved
On 8 July, the European Commission approved the Interreg Europe 2021-2027 Cooperation Programme. The document outlines the programme strategies and priorities.