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 Forum

The second edition of the European Mission Forum, taking place on 7 March in Brussels and co-organised by the TRAMI project under the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, will showcase EU Mission-related achievements and present outcomes of nearly 2 years of TRAMI project activities. ERRIN's director, Pirita Lindholm, will speak at the session on national, regional and European Mission Governance.

Book launch and policy debate on EU Cohesion Policy

Regional Studies Association Research Network on Cohesion Policy #CPnet and the Wielkopolska Region Office in Brussels are pleased to invite you for a public event aimed at promoting recently published volume by Edward Elgar Publishing entitled “EU Cohesion Policy: A Multidisciplinary Approach” discussing the state-of-the-art of Cohesion Policy and its future. The event will be held on 22 February 2024.

Policy WG: Towards FP10 – internal member exchange

The Policy Working Group is organising an internal member exchange to discuss the regional activities planned around the next European Framework Programme for R&I, as well as the structuring and focus of ERRIN’s input to FP10. The event will take place in person at the ERRIN premises on 22 February from 14:30-16:00, with welcome coffee from 14:00.

#EURegionsWeek 2024 kick off meeting

The 22nd edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities will take place on 7-10 October 2024. The kick-off meeting for potential partners will take place on Thursday, 22 February, from 10:00 - 11:30 at the European Committee of the Regions. It is also possible to follow this meeting online.

The EU strategy to support the Regional Innovation Valleys

On 7 February from 16.30-18:00 CET, Mind the Bridge is organising a webinar with Q&A on the EU strategy to support the Regional Innovation Valleys. András G. Inotai from DG RTD, European Commission, will provide details regarding the criteria, the matchmaking tool, and the funding. Previous registration is limited and obligatory.

Exploring Synergies between European Partnerships and EU Missions – Mutual Learning Event

ERRIN and the TRAMI project are organising a Mutual Learning Event (MLE) aiming to explore synergies between European Partnerships and EU Missions. The event will take place on Wednesday 7 February from 9:00 to 12:00 (CET) at the NCBR Brussels Office, Rue Belliard 40, Brussels.

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

Governance structures to implement the EU Missions: check the new Mission Data Platform

A new Mission Data Platform has recently been launched by TRAMI, the EU-funded project focusing on transnational cooperation on the Mission-approach and effective implementation of the EU Missions. This tool supports and links with ERRIN's work on multi-level governance in the Cities Mission within the NetZeroCities project.

The JRC publishes "Innovation for place-based transformations. ACTIONbook, practices and tools"

The Joint Research Centre, in collaboration with the European Committee of the Regions, has published the "Innovation for place-based transformations. ACTIONbook, practices and tools". The ACTIONbook builds upon the PRI Playbook and PRI Pilot experience to help address complex challenges.

ERRIN welcomes new network Chairs

The ERRIN Management Board has appointed three co-chairs to the network. The three postholders will work together as a troika to guide the network in a collaborative manner in the period of 2024-2025.

Exploring Synergies between European Partnerships and EU Missions – Mutual Learning Event

ERRIN and the TRAMI project are organising a Mutual Learning Event aiming to explore synergies between European Partnerships and EU Missions. The event will take place on Wednesday 7 February from 9:00 to 12:00 (CET) at the NCBR Brussels Office, Rue Belliard 40, Brussels.

Regional innovation highlighted in Council conclusions on R&I

On 8 December, the Council of the EU approved conclusions on strengthening the role and impact of research and innovation in policymaking – a priority file for the Spanish Presidency of the Council. A stronger role for local and regional innovation to strengthen competitive R&I is featured in the conclusions as one of the three mutually complementary dimensions.

ERRIN end of year reception - 2023 Highlights

On 7 December, ERRIN celebrated the network’s achievements in 2023. Following an engaging meeting with leaders of our 15 Working Groups, all ERRIN members were invited to a cocktail reception featuring a keynote from Markus Schulte, Head of Cabinet of Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. Check out ERRIN 2023 highlights in a 3-minute video.

Latest Updates

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Call for ERRIN representative in Expert Group “Technology Infrastructures” – deadline 18/12

A call is currently open for applications for the selection of members of the Commission Expert Group “Technology Infrastructures" until 20 December 2023. ERRIN is looking for a representative from among the network membership to participate in the group - members are invited to express their interest by 18 December.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Regional innovation highlighted in Council conclusions on R&I

On 8 December, the Council of the EU approved conclusions on strengthening the role and impact of research and innovation in policymaking – a priority file for the Spanish Presidency of the Council. A stronger role for local and regional innovation to strengthen competitive R&I is featured in the conclusions as one of the three mutually complementary dimensions.

  • By Gianpiero Petruzziello

ERRIN end of year reception - 2023 Highlights

On 7 December, ERRIN celebrated the network’s achievements in 2023. Following an engaging meeting with leaders of our 15 Working Groups, all ERRIN members were invited to a cocktail reception featuring a keynote from Markus Schulte, Head of Cabinet of Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. Check out ERRIN 2023 highlights in a 3-minute video.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

S3 Forum completed!

The S3 Forum – the first EU-level, in-person gathering on S3 since 2020 – took place on 28-29 November in Barcelona. ERRIN Secretariat joined the event alongside many network members and hundreds of S3 practitioners and experts from across Europe. The days were packed with discussions around perspectives for smart specialisation and interregional collaboration on innovation.

  • By Sandra Jansson

Jönköping Region wants to cooperate on Smart Specialisation

Region Jönköping County is interested in cooperating with actors in other regions within smart specialisation (in general and in their focus areas: Smart industry, manufacturing, Forestry and Wood Industry, Foodstuffs, Tourism, E-commerce and logistics in order to create a network to exchange ideas.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

A look forward: Launching ERRIN reflections on regional dimension in R&I post-2027

Autumn 2023 marked the start of ERRIN’s targeted reflections on regional dimension in research and innovation in the new EU Multiannual Financial Framework post-2027, relating to the next EU Framework Programme for R&I (FP10) and future cohesion policy. We are offering a recap of our activities so far, first messages and planned next steps.