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

Last Working Group Meetings

Previous Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings

Smart Specialisation WG meeting: S3 and PRI – the way ahead

Smart Specialisation WG meeting: S3 and PRI – the way ahead

Ewa Chomicz

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

Strengthening skills governance in regional innovation ecosystems: lessons learnt and remaining challenges

Astrid Hannes

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

Policy & Smart Specialisation WGs meeting: Widening in FP10 and impact on cohesion policy post-2027

Ewa Chomicz

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

WG Related Events

GROW your REGIOn conference: Boosting smart interregional collaboration through clusters

The 2nd edition of the 'Grow your region' conference will take place in Valencia, Spain, on 8 and 9 November.

Croissant Event - UAS4EUROPE for FP9

This event will reflect on the role of universities of applied sciences (UAS) in FP9.

Smart Specialisation WG Meeting

We are happy to invite you to the first Smart Specialisation WG Meeting for 2018.

MOOC: Monitoring Smart Specialisation Strategies

What are the principles underpinning RIS3 and RIS3 monitoring? What are the core-indicators of the sound implementation of Research and Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3)?

WG Documents

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

WG Related Content

Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027 is out

On 20 March, the Commission adopted the second Horizon Europe strategic plan. The plan sets out three key strategic orientations for the EU's research and innovation funding for the last three years of the programme (2025-2027). Find out what novelties the new strategic plan brings.

ERRIN at the 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities & 30th anniversary of CoR

On 18-19 March, the 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities took place in Mons, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). ERRIN joined the summit for debates on the future of cohesion policy and promotion of the Living-in.EU movement, all while recognising the long-standing dialogue with CoR.

Systems to quantify nitrogen fluxes and uncertainties in European landscapes

Call for Partner interest under the Mission Soil calls, focusing on Systems to quantify nitrogen fluxes and uncertainties in European landscapes.

Marching towards FP10 – ERRIN activity update

As we enter March and approach the European R&I Days, several ERRIN activities planned for 2024 with a link to FP10 have already taken place, and more are on their way. Have a look at an update with the outcomes of our recent work on the next European Framework Programme for R&I, next steps and opportunities to get involved.

Open call for regions to host S3 Conference 2024

The S3 Community of Practice (S3 CoP) Secretariat, where ERRIN is a partner, opened a call to all EU regions and member states to express their interest in hosting the Smart Specialisation (S3) Conference 2024 this autumn. The event will be at the forefront of discussions on Smart Specialisation and its key role in fostering local economic development. Deadline for applications is 15 March.

ERRIN at CoR SEDEC conference on place-based innovation

On 23 February, SEDEC Commission of the European Committee of the Regions and Regione Marche organised a conference on place-based innovation for the EU's green and digital transition. ERRIN was invited to share its messages, linking to the network's ongoing work around the future cohesion and R&I policies post-2027.

Latest Updates

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

2021 kicks off with new R&I opportunities and the 20th anniversary of ERRIN

2021 marks a start of the new EU financial period that comes with new programmes, instruments and actions. Taking full advantage of those new opportunities for regions and regional innovation ecosystems is one of our key priorities this year.

  • By Hilary Webb

Share a message to celebrate 20 years of ERRIN

The year 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of ERRIN! As we prepare to celebrate this milestone moment for the network we invite members, partners and friends of ERRIN to share a celebration message about the occasion. 

  • By Anonymous

Looking for partners for COSME call on innovation uptake and digitalisation in the tourism sector

The Department of Tourism of the Autonomous province of Trento (Trentino) is looking for partners to address the digital transformation and growth of local service providers, mainly SMEs, whose level of digital literacy is not uniform and, on average, is quite low. The first objective is to develop, test and validate useful methods to deepen digital culture in the involved SMEs, and then to spread knowledge outside the scope of the project.

  • By Hilary Webb

AGM Virtual networking: Discover secret talents within ERRIN!

The ERRIN team has designed a festive networking game that will take place at the end of the Autumn AGM. In order to make it happen, we need your secret talents!

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

ERRIN Autumn Annual General Meeting – registration open!

We are happy to invite you to ERRIN’s Autumn Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will take place on 10 December, 14.00-17.00. Even if the AGM takes place on-line, it will include several interactive elements and an occasion to virtually connect with colleagues in the network.

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

We want to hear from you! Provide your input on priorities, topics, and activities for ERRIN in 2021.

To start planning the activities in the WGs for 2021, the WG leaders will meet according to the clusters to discuss the policy context, project development, and possible topics for the year ahead. All members are encouraged to feed in ideas.