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

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

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

ERRIN selected to join the European Commission's I3 Expert Group

ERRIN has been selected to join the European Commission's expert group on Interregional Innovation Investment - the I3 Expert Group.

Call for applications for the membership of the Commission Expert Group on Interregional Innovation Investments (I3)

The Commission has published a call for applications for the membership of the Commission Expert Group on Interregional Innovation Investments (I3).

Now available: ERRIN priorities 2021 and Working Groups annual plans

Every year ERRIN defines workstreams to guide its work throughout the coming 12 months, closely linking to its core missions and indicating the crucial interests towards the EU R&I agenda. 

European Parliament approves €672.5 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility

The European Parliament has approved the Recovery and Resiliency Facility, which aims to ensure that European economies recover from the pandemic while preparing for a sustainable and digital future.

2021 kicks off with new R&I opportunities and the 20th anniversary of ERRIN

2021 marks a start of the new EU financial period that comes with new programmes, instruments and actions. Taking full advantage of those new opportunities for regions and regional innovation ecosystems is one of our key priorities this year.

Share a message to celebrate 20 years of ERRIN

The year 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of ERRIN! As we prepare to celebrate this milestone moment for the network we invite members, partners and friends of ERRIN to share a celebration message about the occasion. 

Latest Updates

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Policy & Smart Specialisation WGs meeting: Widening in FP10 and impact on cohesion policy post-2027

Widening and deepening engagement in R&I has been one of ERRIN's priorities. This joint Policy and Smart Specialisation Working Groups meeting will concentrate on widening as one of the key issues to address in the FP10 debate, considering also its impact on cohesion policy post-2027. The event will be held in person at the ERRIN premises on 22 May from 10:00-12:00.

  • By Daniele Ruggiano

Horizon Europe Summit 2024

Impuls Consulting Group and STEMwise would like to invite you to their Horizon Europe Summit 2024, which will take place at the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel on 22-23 May. This event marks the first Horizon Europe conference in South East Europe.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

S3 Webinar: Empowering interregional collaboration – from capacity to funding

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 first webinar in the series will focus on "Empowering interregional collaboration – from capacity to funding" and will be held by the S3 CoP Working Group on Interregional Collaboration on 16 May 2024 from 10:00-12:00 CEST.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

FoSS fifth-anniversary workshop: Smart specialisation – where from, where now, and where to... and why?

The Friends of Smart Specialisation (FoSS) are organising their fifth-anniversary workshop to discuss the current practice and future of S3 as the cohesion policy debate goes into full swing. The event will take place in person in Brussels on 15 May from 16:00-18:00, hosted by the Greater Birmingham West Midlands Brussels Office and Oslo Region European Office. The event will be followed by a networking cocktail.

  • By Gianpiero Petruzziello

Navigating ERRIN’s Project Development Tool – Training session

With the recent launch of its Project Development Tool (PDT), ERRIN is organising a training session for its members and stakeholders based in the regions to leverage its full potential. The session will take place online on Tuesday 7 May 2024 from 14:00 to 15:00. 

  • By Ylva Reisnert

Informal networking event with Mobile Heights

Mobile Heights is a non-profit ICT cluster organisation and networking community promoting innovation and growth in the digital world by connecting business, academia and society. The event will take place on 6 May 17:30-19:30.