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
Webinar on the Pilot Call on Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI)
On 20 April 2022 at 12:00-13:00 CEST, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) are hosting an interactive webinar on the Pilot Call on Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI). The deadline for expressions of interest in the call is on 25 April.
CCRI information session: Call for Pilots and Fellows
On 20 April 2022 the Coordination and Support Office of the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI), managed by ERRIN, is organising a webinar on the call for expression of interest for Pilots and Fellows of the Circular Cities & Regions Initiative. During this informative session, you will receive information on the scope of the CCRI as well as on the open call for Pilots and Fellows.
'Europe, let's cooperate!' interregional cooperation forum
The 8th edition of 'Europe, let's cooperate!' interregional cooperation forum will take place online on 5 April 2022 at 09:30-16:00 CEST. The day will focus on the launch of the first call for project proposals under the Interreg Europe programme in the 2021-2027 period, which will be open from 5 April until 31 May this year.
NCP Brussels Workshop: Understanding your proposal evaluation under Horizon Europe
NCP Brussels is organising a webinar on 24 March dedicated to proposal evaluation under Horizon Europe and how to make the most of it. The webinar is open to any Brussels-based organisation interested in (re)submitting an application to Horizon Europe calls for proposals (Pillars 2 & 3 only).
Blue Platform Workshop: Aligning funding in Blue Bioeconomy
A Blue Platform workshop, 'Aligning funding in the Blue Bioeconomy - the new I3 programme as an opportunity to facilitate interregional innovation investments', will take place online on 24 March.
8th Cohesion Forum: recover, rebuild, reconnect
8th Cohesion Forum, organised by the European Commission on 17-18 March, will debate how Cohesion policy can ensure that no region is left behind in the ongoing structural changes, and that all regions can reap the benefits of the green and digital transitions.
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
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.
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.
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 Ewa Chomicz
Next Generation Innovators Summit
The Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in collaboration with the European Commission organises a high-level conference to reflect on the New European Innovation Agenda, and to discuss the challenges faced by public and private actors concerning deep-tech innovation and its contribution to the twin and digital transitions. The event will take place on 10 October 2023 in Madrid.
- By Rodolphe Doité
Innovation and Investment WG meeting: Exchange with the President of the EIC Board, Michiel Scheffer
ERRIN’s Innovation and Investment Working Group organised a meeting with EIC President of the Board, Michiel Scheffer on 9 October 2023.
- By Ewa Chomicz
ERRIN event: Organising a regional innovation ecosystem
This in-person ERRIN event on 4 October, organised in line with the Management Board priority on widening and deepening engagement in R&I, invites all ERRIN members to share and explore the ways to develop their regional innovation ecosystems going beyond any specific initiatives or funding opportunities. The event will enable informal mutual learning and exchanges of practices between network colleagues from across Europe in an interactive way.
- By Ewa Chomicz
CoR stakeholder consultation "Towards an integrated EU policy approach to support place-based innovation for the green and digital transition"
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is drafting an opinion "Towards an integrated EU policy approach to support place-based innovation for the green and digital transition". Interested stakeholders are invited for a thematic consultation and exchange of views on 3 October 2023 from 10:00-12:00 at the CoR premises. Registration is possible by 29 September.
- By Rodolphe Doité
European Hydrogen Observatory Relaunch
The Clean Hydrogen Partnership is organising an event for the launch of European Hydrogen Observatory, on 29 September 2023 from 10:00 - 12:00 CEST.
- By Ewa Chomicz
KEP 2.0 seminar: Implementation of the New European Innovation Agenda – What is in it for regions and cities?
The European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission are organising a seminar on "Implementation of the New European Innovation Agenda – What is in it for regions and cities?" in the framework of their Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP 2.0). The event will take place on 28 September from 14:30-18:00 in-person in Brussels, with ERRIN Director Pirita Lindholm as one of the speakers.