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
European Research and Innovation Days 2022
The European Research and Innovation Days (RiDaysEU) is the European Commission’s annual flagship Research and Innovation event. This year’s edition will take place online on 28 – 29 September.
SEFS & S3 WGs: Why are S3 strategies relevant for the European Universities initiative?
This joint Science and Education for Society and S3 Working Groups meeting will ask why S3 is relevant for European Universities, and vice versa, and how European universities alliances can create a leverage effect beyond the university boundaries and the bilateral cooperation already in place - based on the S3 - in the region?
Czech Presidency Conference on Synergies in the Research and Innovation Funding in Europe
As one of the first events in its programme, the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU will organise a flagship conference "Synergies in the Research and Innovation Funding in Europe" on 7-8 July 2022 in Prague. The conference shall be held as a physical event, but following web streaming will be available. Pre-registration is obligatory.
ERRIN Spring Annual General Meeting 2022
ERRIN's Spring Annual General Meeting will be held this year on 23 June at 15:00-17:30 CEST followed by a networking cocktail from 18:00 CEST. In addition to discussing formal issues and offering an opportunity to network, the event will feature debates around the new European Innovation Agenda.
I3 Instrument online infoday
The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) organises an online information day on 23 June about the new Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) Instrument calls.
KEP 2.0 workshop - Building Synergies for Successful Green and Digital Transitions – The Way Ahead
The European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission are organising the first Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP) event of the year. The workshop will take place on 22 June 2022, in person in Brussels. ERRIN Director Pirita Lindholm will moderate one of the two discussion sessions on "Ongoing or future strategies and initiatives".
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
Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027 is out
On 20 March, the Commission adopted the second Horizon Europe strategic plan. The plan sets out three key strategic orientations for the EU's research and innovation funding for the last three years of the programme (2025-2027). Find out what novelties the new strategic plan brings.
Express your interest in the 3rd Interreg Europe call via the ERRIN Project Development Tool
Interreg Europe's 3rd call for proposals, launched on 20 March, supports interregional cooperation projects addressing common regional development challenges. Organisations can use the ERRIN Project Development tool to express interest and find partners. The call is open until 7 June 2024.
ERRIN at the 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities & 30th anniversary of CoR
On 18-19 March, the 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities took place in Mons, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). ERRIN joined the summit for debates on the future of cohesion policy and promotion of the Living-in.EU movement, all while recognising the long-standing dialogue with CoR.
Systems to quantify nitrogen fluxes and uncertainties in European landscapes
Call for Partner interest under the Mission Soil calls, focusing on Systems to quantify nitrogen fluxes and uncertainties in European landscapes.
Marching towards FP10 – ERRIN activity update
As we enter March and approach the European R&I Days, several ERRIN activities planned for 2024 with a link to FP10 have already taken place, and more are on their way. Have a look at an update with the outcomes of our recent work on the next European Framework Programme for R&I, next steps and opportunities to get involved.
Open call for regions to host S3 Conference 2024
The S3 Community of Practice (S3 CoP) Secretariat, where ERRIN is a partner, opened a call to all EU regions and member states to express their interest in hosting the Smart Specialisation (S3) Conference 2024 this autumn. The event will be at the forefront of discussions on Smart Specialisation and its key role in fostering local economic development. Deadline for applications is 15 March.
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.