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

Policy WG meeting: Regional Innovation Valleys call under Horizon Europe – dealing with co-funding

In the frame of ERRIN’s focus on the Regional Innovation Valleys call under Horizon Europe (EIE RIV call), the requirement of 50% co-funding emerges as one of the most challenging aspects of the call for prospective applicant regions. The online Policy WG meeting on 29 June aims to discuss this urgent issue to further support network members in applying to the EIE RIV call by 17 October.

Industrialisation for a Green Transition in the European Arctic

Umeå University has the pleasure to invite you to this unofficial event of the Swedish presidency of the Council of the EU focused on the rapid green transition and the re-industrialisation in European regions.The event will take place on 29 June from 11:30-13:00 at the North Sweden European Office in Brussels.

Stakeholder workshop on the progress of Horizon Europe

The European Commission is organising a stakeholder workshop on the progress of Horizon Europe in the context of the mid-term review. The event will take place online on 29 June from 10:00-13:00 CEST. Participants will be invited to take the floor and share their individual experiences with Horizon Europe up until now. Widening countries are particularly encouraged to take part.

All Hands On Deck: Mobilising the EU's Cohesion Policy to unlock Europe's Cities & Regions' potential to save energy

The Regione Lombardia and the European Alliance to Save Energy are organising an event on 29 June aiming to build forward-looking partnerships between regions & businesses on energy efficiency.

International Conference on Cultural Tourism Advances

The H2020 project Be.CULTOUR is co-organising, together with other 5 EU-funded research and innovation projects, an International Conference on "Cultural Tourism Advances", which will take place in Brussels on the 27-28 June 2023.

Vision 2030: Strategic orientation towards AI, Data, Robotics 2025-2027

The AI, Data, and Robotics (ADR) partnership is organising an event on 26 June 2023 (11:00 to 12:00 CEST) to discuss the strategic orientations of the AI, Data, Robotics roadmap for the 25-27 work programme.

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

Largest public consultation on Horizon programmes 2014-2027 now open

The Commission has launched the largest public consultation ever held on the past, present and future of the European Research & Innovation Framework Programmes 2014-2027. Stakeholders are invited to share their views on the performance of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, as well as shaping the strategic orientations for the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027. The consultation will stay open for 12 weeks, closing in February 2023.

Draft Horizon Europe 2023-24 work programmes published

The European Commission has published the draft 2023-2024 Horizon Europe work programmes. The drafts have not yet been adopted or endorsed by the European Commission, but have been made available to provide potential participants with the currently expected overview of this work programme. 

ERRIN Autumn AGM 2022 – Towards the Year of Skills

ERRIN’s 2022 Autumn Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on 8 December 14:30-18:15 CET, followed by networking drinks from 18:15 CET. We cordially invite all the network members to join us – registration is now open!

ERRIN annual member survey: Shape ERRIN's agenda for 2023!

All members are invited to provide input on our priorities, topics, and activities that should be addressed in 2023. Your inputs are essential as they will provide a basis for the discussions during the workshops, and for the overall planning process for 2023, which will define ERRIN’s work next year.

Call for Expression of Interest - 'Clusters meet Regions' workshops

The European Cluster Collaboration Platform launched a Call of Expression of Interest to select the national/regional authorities and clusters organisations to run 13 European ‘Clusters meet Regions’ workshops in the second half of 2022 and throughout 2023. The new deadline for making an application is 2 December 2022, at 18:00 CEST. 

Second set of calls for proposals under CEF Digital programme launched

The European Commission has launched the second set of calls for proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility Digital programme, with a budget of €277 million. The deadline to apply is 23 February 2023. One of the calls that could be of particular interest to ERRIN members is the '5G for Smart Communities'.

Latest Updates

  • By Annamaria Cosattini

EUREKA 2024: Fair of culture and creativity - Friuli Venezia Giulia

Eureka 2024 is designed for the enterprises that want to boost their competitiveness and for all the culture and innovation enthusiasts. Take your unique opportunity to meet the cultural and creative industry leaders and engage in two days of exposition, B2B meetings, workshops and conferences. The event will take place in Pordenone, on 29-30 October.

  • By Rebecca Timm

EURegionsWeek political workshop: Navigating smart and sustainable growth in cities and regions

Are you interested in learning more about how cities and regions navigate smart and sustainable growth? Join the Capital Cities and Regions Network (CCRN) during the European Week of Regions and Cities 2024. The event will take place in Brussels on 10 October, 09:30 - 11:00.

  • By Rodolphe Doité

Living-in.EU Digital Assembly 2024 at the European Week of Regions and Cities

During the European Week of Regions and Cities 2024, the Living-in.EU movement will organise its second EU Digital Assembly in Brussels. This event will take place on Wednesday 9 October 2024, from 14:30 to 16:00, in the Committee of the Regions (Jacques Delors building).

  • By Ewa Chomicz

How knowledge ecosystems can enhance a sustainable and eco-friendly development of European regions

This session held on 9 October 2024 from 11:30-12:30 in person in Brussels in the frame of the European Week of Regions and Cities 2024 will explore how place-based innovation and knowledge ecosystems can give a specific priority and effectively contribute to the goal of environmental sustainability and the green transition in European regions. ERRIN's Director Pirita Lindholm will join the event as speaker.

  • By Valentina Srbuljevic

European Week of Regions and Cities 2024 Workshop "Boosting the Digital Transformation: Empowering European regions"

During the workshop on: "Boosting the Digital Transformation: Empowering European regions", speakers will delve into Europe's digital transition under the regional perspective. Exploring strategies, challenges and success stories, the aim is to equip participants with the insights and tools necessary to steer their transformative journeys. From fostering digital skills to leveraging emerging technologies, the discussion will revolve around how regions can capitalise on digital opportunities while addressing socio-economic disparities.

  • By Daniele Ruggiano

European Week of Regions and Cities

The 2024 edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities is taking place from 7-10 October in Brussels. Under the motto "Empowering Regions" - thousands of local and regional administrations and authorities, EU institutions, young politicians, academics, NGOs and private sector representatives will gather in Brussels to share knowledge, experiences and ideas on how to bring forward practical and territorial aspects linked to the Cohesion Policy.