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
ERRIN Spring Annual General Meeting 2021
Welcome to ERRIN Spring Annual General Meeting 2021! Taking place on 22 June just before the EU R&I Days, it will provide a great opportunity to exchange on the role and contribution of regional and local research and innovation ecosystems in the EU. The Spring AGM will also be a very special occasion as this year marks 20 years of ERRIN.
Smart Specialisation WG meeting: New opportunities for interregional collaboration in 2021 – 2027
We are happy to welcome you to the first Smart Specialisation WG meeting for 2021 which will focus on S3 and interregional collaboration. The meeting will take place on 17 May between 14:00-15:30.
The European Regions for Smart Communities Summit
Under the scope of the Portuguese Presidency of the European Council, ERRIN member Alentejo is one of the organisers of an upcoming summit of local and regional communities sharing a common vision for a smarter tomorrow.
Smart Specialisation for the Recovery Workshop
This event aims to deepen our understanding as to how Smart Specialisation can be an effective tool to help territories recover from the current pandemic-induced crisis and discover new opportunities for more sustainable and inclusive economies.
EU Industry at the crossroads of Covid-19 pandemic, Green Growth and digital transformation
An open conversation about the EU Industry at the crossroads of Covid-19 pandemic, endless trade wars, industrial revival in Europe, world regions competitors, internationalisation vs nationalisation, green & digital transition and workforce.
Building a Hydrogen Economy in Scotland and Germany
Scotland House Brussels is organising a series of events focussing on ‘the road to COP 26'. The months leading to COP 26 in Glasgow are critical for galvanising global ambition and building consensus on the approach needed to tackle the global climate emergency, to deliver a Green Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and to rapidly and fairly transform our societies and economies. The second webinar of our series, in collaboration with Scotland House Berlin and Hydrogen Europe will focus on the role hydrogen will play in delivering Scotland’s, Germany’s and the EU’s net zero ambitions.
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
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.
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.
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.
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. The input can be provided by 31 October 2023.
ERRIN members showcase good practices at ICLEI B@S event on circular cultural tourism
The last edition of ICLEI’s flagship Breakfast at Sustainability’s series took place on 5 October 2023 from 10:00-12:00 CEST , in collaboration with ERRIN and as part of the Be.CULTOUR project. On this occasion, ERRIN members had the opportunity to take the stand and showcase inspiring examples of good practices demonstrating how circular approaches to tourism, human-centred destinations, and heritage-led transformations can contribute to building a sustainable future for all.
169 country actions in support of the New European Innovation Agenda
On 19 September 2023, the European Commission published the list of actions that Member States and Associated Countries to Horizon Europe are so far undertaking or planning to undertake in support of one or more of the five flagships of the New European Innovation Agenda, including Flagship 3 closely followed by ERRIN. 20 countries have so far reported 169 actions in total, with their scope ranging from regional, through national to European.
Latest Updates
- 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.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Call to organise events as part of the 'EU Cluster Weeks 2018-2019' (Deadline: 29 March 2019)
On November 20th the European Commission launched “EU Cluster weeks 2018-2019”, a campaign aimed at offering communication support to cluster events organised all around Europe before April 30th, 2019.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Adoption of the CoR opinion on "Strengthening Innovation in Europe's Regions"
On 16th May, the opinion on “Strengthening Innovation in Europe’s Regions: Strategies for resilient, inclusive and sustainable growth” drafted by Mikel Irujo Amezaga, Head of the Navarre Government Delegation in Brussels and member of ERRIN Management Board, was adopted unanimously during the Committee of the Regions Plenary.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Call for special sessions proposals for 2018 SMARTER Conference on Smart Specialisation and Territorial Development (Deadline 17 May)
On 26-28 September 2018 the 2018 SMARTER Conference on Smart Specialisation and Territorial Development: Implementation across global networks of regions, cities and firms will take place in Seville (Spain) and will be co-organised by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the Regional Studies Association European Foundation (RSA Europe). At the moment there are two calls open, one f