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
2nd European Mission Network (EMiN) meeting- Making missions work - How to involve regions in the mission implementation process?
Following the Mutal Learning Event, organised jointly by TRAMI (Transnational Cooperation on the Missions Approach) and ERRIN in October, the 2nd European Mission Network (EMiN) meeting Making missions work - How to involve regions in the mission implementation process? is taking place online on 7 December 14:00-16:00.
European Partnership Stakeholder Forum - One-year review of European Partnership Initiatives in Horizon Europe
On 15 and 16 November 2022, the European Commission will launch its first European Partnership Stakeholder Forum. The Forum focuses on reviewing the first year of partnerships and, in particular, how they can contribute to the twin green and digital transitions, and increase Europe’s resilience. Participation is possible online or in person in Brussels.
iWATERMAP Conference: A Blueprint for place-based Innovation Ecosystems
The iWATERMAP conference will be hosted at the Committee of the Regions. The iWATERMAP project focuses on supporting the innovation policies in water technology sector, helping to increase the critical mass of innovation ecosystems in partner regions in this sector.
Virtual info day for second Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital calls
The info day on the new calls launched under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital will take place virtually on 25 October from 9.30 to 13.00 CEST.
Brussels Talks: How to be an innovative region in Europe?
As part of the event series Brussels Talks, NCBR – Business & Science Poland are organising the online event 'How to be an innovative region in Europe?', with ERRIN director Pirita Lindholm as the main speaker. The event will discuss regional innovations ecosystems, how to support R&I capacities at local and regional level and how to reduce the innovation divide. Furthermore, the support offered by current EU funded programmes and initiatives will be explored.
Translating EU Missions into regional policy
The TRAMI project and ERRIN are organising a mutual learning event on 18 October. The event will aim to showcase a successful translation of the EU Missions approach into concrete policies and tools on the regional level and to foster the discussion on challenges and opportunities with its implementation.
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
The Region of Murcia (Spain) is coordinating a proposal towards the call: HORIZON-EIE-2023-CONNECT-01-02: Preparatory action for setting up joint programmes among innovation ecosystems actors
The region of Murcia (Spain) is coordinating a proposal towards the call : HORIZON-EIE-2023-CONNECT-01-02: Preparatory action for setting up joint programmes among innovation ecosystems actors.
I3 Instrument “Capacity Building - Strand 2b” call now open
In the framework of the I3 Instrument, a new “Capacity Building in Less Developed Regions - Strand 2b” call was published in December 2022 with a deadline of 16 March 2023, 17:00 (CET). The objective of the call is to test new approaches in order to increase the capacity of regional innovation ecosystems in less developed regions participating in EU value chains.
Management Board elections 2022 – results
Between 3 and 17 October, ERRIN members could put forward their candidatures for this year’s ERRIN Management Board elections. Five new Management Board members were selected and approved at the Autumn Annual General Meeting on 8 December.
Horizon Europe work programme 2023-24 adopted
The Horizon Europe work programme 2023-24 has been adopted by the European Commission.
European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) Award call for applications
The 2024 edition of the European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) Award, promoted by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), was launched during the European Commission's SME Assembly. Regions and cities that are ready to implement a future-oriented entrepreneurial strategy are invited to apply until 29 March 2023.
New European Innovation Agenda: Council conclusions adopted
On 2 December, the Council adopted the conclusions on the New European Innovation Agenda. We have collected some key points highlighted by the Council and ERRIN remarks on the document. The CoR opinion on the same topic, to which ERRIN provided comments, was also adopted on 1 December.
Latest Updates
- 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
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
The Guild publishes position paper and proposals for R&I missions for FP9
The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities is now sharing its position paper on the mission-driven approach for the EU’s next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP9).
- By Ewa Chomicz
S3 Conference 2024 - save the date!
Save the date for the Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) Conference 2024, which will take place this year on 11-12 December in Rimini, Italy. The flagship event for S3 stakeholders from across regions in EU Member States is organised by DG REGIO and S3 CoP Secretariat, in partnership with Emilia-Romagna Region and with the support of the Municipality of Rimini and Palacongressi di Rimini.
- By Astrid Hannes
UAS4EUROPE and ERRIN Horizon Europe Proposal Workshop
ERRIN and UAS4EUROPE are co-organising a Horizon Europe Proposal Workshop on 6-7 November 2024 in Brussels. This capacity building workshop will be a great opportunity for participants to unlock the potential of Horizon Europe’s Pillar 2.