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.
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
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
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-
Science meets Regions aims to boost evidence for policy at local and regional level through various mechanisms: participatory events and innovation camps on specific policy issues, pairing schemes between researchers and policymakers at local level, as well as skills training on working with evidence for policymakers. The closing event on 27-28 September will bring together current and former participants in the project, taking stock of the results but also reflecting on the future of the project.
On 12 September 2023, the Commission is organising an online matchmaking event for territories interested in becoming RIVs. It aims at creating opportunities for participants to meet and connect with a view of responding to the RIVs call for expression interest by 18 September 2023 and/or finding partners for applications to RIVs calls for proposals under Horizon Europe and I3 Instrument by 17 October 2023.
Organised by the Living-in.EU Finance subgroup, this online webinar will offer the opportunity to discuss the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) mechanism on behalf of the European Commission. The webinar will take place on 11 September from 11:00-12:30.
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is currently drafting an opinion on the future of cohesion policy post-2027. Representatives of local and regional authorities and other relevant stakeholders are invited for a topical consultation and exchange of views on 13 July from 10:00-12:00 at the CoR premises and online. ERRIN members are encouraged to register.
An online workshop is organised on 12 July (14:00 to 16:00 CEST) to gather feedback from local and regional authorities on the composition of the Local Digital Twins (LDT) toolbox .
In the frame of ERRIN’s focus on the Regional Innovation Valleys call under Horizon Europe (EIE RIV call), the requirement of 50% co-funding emerges as one of the most challenging aspects of the call for prospective applicant regions. The online Policy WG meeting on 29 June aims to discuss this urgent issue to further support network members in applying to the EIE RIV call by 17 October.
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.
ERRIN is collaborating with the TRAMI project to organise a Mutual Learning Event on the Wednesday 17 May from 9:00-12:30, exploring the role of industry, academia and public authorities in achieving the objectives of the five EU Missions through triple helix collaboration.
Save the date for ERRIN’s 2023 Spring Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will take place on 22 June from 14:30-18:00 CET, followed by a networking reception. We are happy to announce that this year the event will be held in person with online streaming available, and will be hosted at Scotland Europa Office in Brussels.
On 30 March, the new Smart Specialisation Strategies Community of Practice (S3 CoP) was launched as the central knowledge and information hub for S3, with ERRIN as part of the S3 CoP Secretariat. Two calls for Expression of Interest to join the S3 CoP working groups and S3 CoP pool of experts were opened on this occasion – ERRIN members are encouraged to apply.
In line with the New European Innovation Agenda, the European Commission has launched a call for Expression of Interest for European regions to become Regional Innovation Valleys. Furthermore, two calls for proposals under EIE part of Horizon Europe and I3 Instrument of ERDF will open on 17 May 2023. In this context, ERRIN is planning dedicated activities.
Applications for the Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards 2023 are now open! The theme of the 2023 edition is “Smart Tourism – Smart Destinations: Cultural Heritage & Creativity, Digitalisation, Sustainability”. The Awards will be given to cultural tourist destinations that have produced significant results, such as enhancing the visitor experience, respecting traditions and involving local communities. The deadline for applications is 1 June 2023.
The European Hydrogen Valleys S3 Partnership has published a position paper "Through the Valley to the top: Why the EU needs a dedicated roadmap for Hydrogen Valleys".
Every year ERRIN holds elections for the Management Board. You can put forward your candidature for this year’s elections until 18 October.
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.
The European Commission is running a survey to gather views on challenges faced by European innovation ecosystem actors, their future opportunities and expectations.
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.
The first calls for proposals in the EU's new key funding programme for research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, are now open.
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.