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

Masterclass on Smart Specialisation

The EIT Climate-KIC is pleased to invite you to the Masterclass on Smart Specialisation with prof. Dr.

Multi-partner cooperation formulas and their impact on territorial development

The event will be an open discussion and a participatory session based on the RIS3, focusing mostly but not exclusively on the role of authorities and multi-level governance issues; on implementation tools; on continuous EDP and involvement of users; on open dimension and strategic use of Interreg;

2018 SMARTER Conference on Smart Specialisation and Territorial Development: Implementation across global networks of regions, cities and firms

This conference offers a comprehensive picture of the smart specialisation policy experience, including an evaluation of its early results, and highlights recent developments both conceptually and empirically.

Smart Specialisation WG Meeting: Dialogue with the European Institutions

In the next Smart Specialisation Working Group meeting, Alexander Ferstl from the Austrian Presidency will present the state of play of the discussions on the post-2020 Cohesion policy proposal in the Council, with a focus on innovation and S3 related issues.

Smart Specialisation WG Meeting

We are happy to invite you to the last Smart Specialisation Working Group meeting for this year!

New Industrial Value Chains For Growth – S34Growth

The Vanguard Initiative originated Interreg Europe project “Enhancing policies through interregional cooperation: New industrial value chains for growth (S34GROWTH)” , involving 10 VI regions, was launched in 2016 with a bold ambition to explore and define how industry-led, inter-regional collaborat

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

S3 Partnership publishes position paper for a dedicated roadmap for Hydrogen Valleys

The European Hydrogen Valleys S3 Partnership has published a position paper "Through the Valley to the top: Why the EU needs a dedicated roadmap for Hydrogen Valleys".

ERRIN's EU Missions project mapping: express your interest

ERRIN aims to provide support to its members in developing successful proposals under the EU Missions of the Horizon Europe 2023-2024 work programme. ERRIN designed a brief survey with the upcoming EU Missions calls that may be of interest to regional and local stakeholders. Express your interest by 22 March.

ERRIN input to Horizon 2014-2027 consultation

ERRIN is pleased to share its input to the largest public consultation on the past, present and future of the Horizon programmes 2014-2027. The document is structured around four main areas based on the network’s priorities: EU Missions, European Partnerships, widening, and ecosystem approach.

Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument Work Programme 2023-2024 published

The Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument Work Programme 2023-2024 is out now. New calls will be launched in the second quarter of 2023 to address digital, green transition and smart manufacturing challenges linked to issues identified in the New European Innovation Agenda.

Usti region's proposal under i3 I3-2022-CAP2b — Capacity Building Strand 2b. 

Usti region is a heavily industrialised region in the northwest part of the Czech Republic. It is facing challenges of decarbonisation, coalmines and brown coal power stations phase-out. The region could use an EC Just Transitions Mechanism for supporting new specialisation domains like hydrogen or geothermal energy as well as green chemistry (nanotechnologies). The region will be submitting a proposal under i3 I3-2022-CAP2b — Capacity Building Strand 2b. 

Harnessing Talent in Europe: a new boost for EU Regions

Ensuring that regions facing a talent development trap become more resilient and attractive is crucial in the EU's commitment to leaving nobody and no place behind. For that reason, the Commission launched a new ‘Talent Booster Mechanism', supporting EU regions affected by the accelerated decline of their working age population to train, retain and attract the people, the skills and the competences needed to address the impact of the demographic transition.

Latest Updates

  • By Anna Solvang

Upscaling and Upskilling! Breaking down the barriers for a green transition

The County Mayor of Vestland and Governing Mayor of Bergen City Council extend their invitation to the event “Upscaling and Upskilling! Breaking Down the Barriers to a Green Transition”, followed by a networking reception on 20 March at Norway House in Brussels.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

ERRIN Intro Coffee

The ERRIN Secretariat is pleased to invite you to the upcoming ERRIN Intro Coffee, aiming to offer a concise introduction to ERRIN and its services, as well as encourage networking between members. The meeting is directed mainly towards new network members and colleagues, but all interested members are welcome to participate. Join us in person at ERRIN on 15 March!

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Smart Specialisation WG meeting: Steering PRI – expectations and future directions

The Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI) Pilot Action was launched by the JRC and CoR in May 2022 as an initiative building on the smart specialisation strategies. As we approach a key moment for defining PRI's future, this S3 WG meeting will allow all ERRIN members who are involved in or interested in the Pilot to hear from and engage in discussion on the future of the initiative with European institutions, as well as involved ERRIN regions.

  • By Francesca Pozzebon

Register to Be.CULTOUR 1st Webinar on Circular cultural tourism: the role of Heritage Innovation Networks for co-creation and communities’ empowerment

This Be.Cultour webinar will address methodologies and tools for stakeholders’ engagement, serious gaming and co-creation, explaining how to bring together expert and local knowledge to let “hidden” cultural resources emerge and be recognised and fully exploited as a driver of local development, communities’ empowerment and innovative entrepreneurship through circular cultural tourism.

  • By Astrid Hannes

SEFS WG Meeting: Kicking off the European Year of Skills in the ERRIN Network: State of play of the Pact for Skills and its regional dimension

This first SEFS WG meeting will kick off the European Year of Skills in the ERRIN network and is open to members of all Working Groups. ERRIN members will have an in-depth look at the Pact for Skills and we will learn about the state of play of this first flagship of the new European Skills Agenda. We will also discuss with the European Commission the regional dimension of the Pact for Skills, the Regional Skills Partnerships and showcase examples from the Lombardy Region and the European Chemical Regions Network.

  • By Rodolphe Doité

Energy and Climate Working Group meeting - Hydrogen: what is the role for regions in the new EU policy developments & Clean Hydrogen Partnership 2023 calls?

On Thursday 16 February from 13:30 to 16:00, the Energy and Climate Change Working Group organised an on-site and online event on the topic of Hydrogen, focusing on the role of regions in the new EU policy developments & Clean Hydrogen Partnership 2023 calls.