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.

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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

Smart Specialisation WG meeting: R&I in cohesion policy post-2027

As discussions around the new cohesion policy framework post-2027 are gaining momentum, this ERRIN S3 WG meeting will focus on the need for closer links with R&I policies. Sari Rautio, member of the Commission’s high-level group on the future of cohesion policy, and Francesco Molica, expert to the CoR President on the thematic CoR opinion, will present their proposals and exchange with members. The event will take place on 27 September from 14:30-16:00 in person at ERRIN premises, with welcome coffee from 14:00.

Science meets Regions final event

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.

Matchmaking Event for territories interested to become Regional Innovation Valleys

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.

Discover Multi Country Projects and the European Digital Infrastructure Consortiums (EDICs)

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.

CoR stakeholder consultation on the future of cohesion policy post-2027

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.

Virtual workshop with Smart Cities and Communities on a European Local Digital Twins Toolbox

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 .

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

Management Board elections 2022 – call for nominations launched!

Every year ERRIN holds elections for the Management Board. You can put forward your candidature for this year’s elections until 17 October.

REGIONS2030: Call for expression of interest - deadline extended

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) is inviting European regions to express their interest to contribute to the Pilot Project "REGIONS2030: Monitoring the SDGs in the EU regions - Filling the data gaps", supported by the European Parliament. The deadline for submitting an expression of interest is now extended until 10 October 2022.

DT4REGIONS Ideathon: AI potential in Preventive Health Care

In October 2022, ERRIN's DT4REGIONS project in cooperation with the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council will organise four ideathon workshops for Artificial Intelligence Potential in Preventive Healthcare. We are looking for new ideas how to use AI for preventive healthcare – awards are waiting for the best ones!

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.

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.

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.

Latest Updates

  • By Rodolphe Doité

ICT WG Meeting - Digital and cybersecurity skills

The next ICT WG meeting on 15 November will be an opportunity to discuss and exchange good practices regarding digital and cybersecurity skills with representatives from the European Commission and different initiatives implemented in the field.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Annual Research Conference 2023

The Annual Research Conference 2023 will be held on 13-15 November in Brussels. The fully hybrid event is the European Commission’s flagship research forum bringing together leading researchers working on economic policy design at European and national levels. ERRIN Director Pirita Lindholm will speak in a session on Institutions and Innovation on 15 November.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Smart Specialisation WG meeting: Interregional collaboration instruments to boost innovation: taking stock & next steps

Within the complex landscape of interregional collaboration instruments, this S3 WG meeting will focus on selected four: Thematic S3 Partnerships, I3 Instrument, PRI and RIVs. The aim is to facilitate potential engagement of interested ERRIN members by taking stock and systematising understanding, opportunities and next steps of each initiative. Practical experiences as well as hands-on insights including encountered challenges and benefits, will also be shared. The event will take place on 9 November from 10:15-12:00 in person at ERRIN premises, with welcome coffee from 10:00.

  • By Rodolphe Doité

Living-in.EU: Monitoring and Measuring Subgroup meeting #3 - Presentation of LORDIMAS

The Monitoring and Measuring subgroup of Living-in.EU is organising its third meeting in 2023 on 27 October 2023, from 10:30 to 12:00 (CEST). LORDIMAS, a digital maturity assessment, will be presented to Living-in.EU signatories and other interested cities and regions.

  • By Adrianna Frankowska

Sustainable Economy in Horizon Europe: International matchmaking & networking (INSE)

On October 25-26, 2023, the second edition of Sustainable Economy in Horizon Europe: International matchmaking&networking (INSE) will take place in Warsaw. Sustainable Economy in Horizon Europe is a unique opportunity to establish direct contacts between scientists/researchers and entrepreneurs.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

ERRIN Intro Coffee

The ERRIN Secretariat is pleased to invite you to the upcoming ERRIN Intro Coffee, aiming to offer a concise introduction to ERRIN and its services, as well as encourage networking between members. The meeting is directed mainly towards new network members and colleagues, but all interested members are welcome to participate. Join us in person at ERRIN on 20 October!