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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
The Region of Murcia (Spain) is coordinating a proposal towards the call: HORIZON-EIE-2023-CONNECT-01-02: Preparatory action for setting up joint programmes among innovation ecosystems actors
The region of Murcia (Spain) is coordinating a proposal towards the call : HORIZON-EIE-2023-CONNECT-01-02: Preparatory action for setting up joint programmes among innovation ecosystems actors.
I3 Instrument “Capacity Building - Strand 2b” call now open
In the framework of the I3 Instrument, a new “Capacity Building in Less Developed Regions - Strand 2b” call was published in December 2022 with a deadline of 16 March 2023, 17:00 (CET). The objective of the call is to test new approaches in order to increase the capacity of regional innovation ecosystems in less developed regions participating in EU value chains.
Management Board elections 2022 – results
Between 3 and 17 October, ERRIN members could put forward their candidatures for this year’s ERRIN Management Board elections. Five new Management Board members were selected and approved at the Autumn Annual General Meeting on 8 December.
Horizon Europe work programme 2023-24 adopted
The Horizon Europe work programme 2023-24 has been adopted by the European Commission.
European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) Award call for applications
The 2024 edition of the European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) Award, promoted by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), was launched during the European Commission's SME Assembly. Regions and cities that are ready to implement a future-oriented entrepreneurial strategy are invited to apply until 29 March 2023.
New European Innovation Agenda: Council conclusions adopted
On 2 December, the Council adopted the conclusions on the New European Innovation Agenda. We have collected some key points highlighted by the Council and ERRIN remarks on the document. The CoR opinion on the same topic, to which ERRIN provided comments, was also adopted on 1 December.
Latest Updates
- By Ewa Chomicz
Management Board elections 2021 – results
Between 4 and 18 October, ERRIN members could put forward their candidatures for this year’s ERRIN Management Board elections. Three new Management Board members were selected.
- By Ewa Chomicz
ERRIN Autumn AGM 2021 – taking stock & looking forward after 20 years
Save the date for ERRIN’s 2021 Autumn Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will take place on 9 December at 14:30-17:00 CET. In addition to offering highlights from 2021 and outlook for 2022, the Autumn AGM will be an opportunity to continue ERRIN’s 20th anniversary celebrations.
- By Ewa Chomicz
ERRIN annual survey: Provide input on ERRIN’s 2022 priorities and share feedback on activities!
To start planning Working Group activities for 2022, the Working Group leaders will take part in the annual strategy workshops at the end of November. To inform these workshops, ERRIN members are invited to take part in an annual survey – an opportunity to provide input on the network’s future priorities and reflect on past activities.
- By Ewa Chomicz
Management Board elections 2021 – call for nominations launched!
Every year ERRIN holds elections for the Management Board. You can put forward your candidature for this year’s elections until 18 October.
- By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha
Join the S3 WG as a co-leader
Due to changes in the leadership, the Smart Specialisation (S3) Working Group is looking for a new WG leader to co-lead the group together with the current leaders from Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, North-East Romania, and Wielkopolska.
- By Hilary Webb
Stakeholder survey on Europe's innovation ecosystem
The European Commission is running a survey to gather views on challenges faced by European innovation ecosystem actors, their future opportunities and expectations.