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

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

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

Follow up on Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP 2.0) workshop

The European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission DG RTD held on 22 June in Brussels the first Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP) event of the year, focusing on the way ahead for building synergies for successful green and digital transitions. ERRIN Director Pirita Lindholm moderated the panel discussion on ‘ongoing and future strategies and initiatives’.

ERRIN messages for Horizon Europe WIDERA Work Programme 2023-2024

As the Horizon Europe Work Programming for 2023-2024 is currently underway, ERRIN is pleased to share its messages and recommendations on the Horizon Europe WIDERA Work Programme for the coming period.

Over 45 ERRIN member regions and cities selected for PRI Pilot Action

The European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions launched today the Pilot Action on Partnerships for Regional Innovation, announcing 74 selected territories and publication of the PRI Playbook. Over 45 ERRIN member regions and cities will take part in the Pilot, feeding into the upcoming new European Innovation Agenda.

Join the RIPEET Community and foster the energy transition in your region

As part of the Horizon 2020 RIPEET project, ERRIN is building a community of passionate regional representatives committed to shaping the regional energy vision of the future. Selected applicants will have the opportunity to benefit from a peer-learning scheme to replicate the RIPEET methodology and foster the energy transition in their region.

ERRIN is looking for a Policy and Communications Officer (deadline: 27 May)

ERRIN is looking for a Policy and Communications Officer to join its Secretariat! The successful candidate will work to support ERRIN in delivering high-quality services to members, raising the profile of ERRIN within the EU research and innovation field in Brussels, and contributing to the network's overall communication strategy. The deadline to apply is 27 May.

ERRIN contribution to call for evidence for the new European Innovation Agenda

ERRIN has submitted its messages in response to the European Commission's call for evidence for the development of the new European Innovation Agenda.

Latest Updates

  • By Astrid Hannes

Strengthening skills governance in regional innovation ecosystems: lessons learnt and remaining challenges

The forthcoming SEFS Working Group meeting will be dedicated to strengthening skills governance in regional innovation ecosystems. The members will learn about CHARTER's results, the first Erasmus+ funded sectoral blueprint that involved six regions to explore the place-based perspective on skills governance from a regional innovation ecosystem’s perspective. The event will take place online on 14 June at 10:00.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

I3 Instrument - Online Info Session

On 13 June 2024 from 9:30-12:00, EISMEA and DG REGIO are organising an informative webinar to learn more about the following calls under I3 Instrument (ERDF): Strand 1 - Financial and advisory support for investments in interregional innovation projects, and Strand 2a - Financial and advisory support to the development of value chains in less developed regions. Both calls opened on 6 June and will close on 5 December 2024.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

2nd C4T Conference: Sustainability Transitions in Cohesion Policy: From Policy to Practice

The C4T Community of Practice is a community-based platform that aims to support EU Member States and regions to make a better use of EU funds for sustainability transitions. With this in mind, DG REGIO and the C4T Secretariat will be hosting the second edition of the C4T Conference "Sustainability Transitions in Cohesion Policy: From Policy to Practice" on 4 June 2024, in Brussels and online.

  • By Daniele Ruggiano

UnILiON Brokerage Event under the Civil Security for Society Calls on Cluster 3 Calls

UnILiON invites you to its Brokerage Event under the Civil Security for Society Calls on Cluster 3 Calls, which will take place online on Monday, 03 June, 14:30 to 17:30 CET.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

S3 Webinar: Understanding the bottlenecks to innovation diffusion: insights from EU regions

The S3 Community of Practice and DG REGIO are organising a series of webinars directed to all S3 practitioners and stakeholders from regions across the EU. The third webinar in the series will focus on "Understanding the bottlenecks to innovation diffusion: insights from EU regions" and will be held by the S3 CoP Working Group on Innovation Diffusion on 23 May 2024 from 10:00-12:00 CEST.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

S3 Webinar: Paving the way for industrial transition through systemic change and inclusive strategies

The S3 Community of Practice and DG REGIO are organising a series of webinars directed to all S3 practitioners and stakeholders from regions across the EU. The second webinar in the series will focus on "Paving the way for industrial transition through systemic change and inclusive strategies" and will be held by the S3 CoP Working Group on Industrial Transition on 22 May 2024 from 14:30-16:30 CEST.