What We Do
Policy Influencing
Thanks to its place-based approach, the Vanguard Initiative has a wide national, EU, and international outreach. Through the activities of its pilots, the Vanguard Initiative has proven to be a successful network, leading by example in interregional collaboration based on smart specialisation. For almost 10 years, Vanguard regions have been committed to supporting innovation and technology uptake at the EU level, and they are constantly reflecting on how to fund such activities as well as how to join forces to support their roll-out. This is closely connected to the work of the European Commission’s Thematic Smart Specialisation Platforms (S3P). The Vanguard Initiative is, in this perspective, advocating for stronger commitment to enable effective synergies between EU funding tools and instruments, with regional and national funding.
For an integrated EU industrial & innovation policy based on interconnected regional ecosystems
In its recently published Policy Position Paper, the Vanguard Initiative (VI) calls for an integrated EU industrial & innovation policy based on interconnected regional ecosystems.
Annual Political Meeting 2022
On November 29, the Vanguard Initiative held its Annual Political Meeting.
Vanguard initiative selected to participate in the EU’s Partnerships for Regional Innovation
The Vanguard Initiative was selected along with 63 regions, seven cities, and four Member States to participate in the pilot project for
Vanguard Initiative participates in the third plenary session of the Industrial Forum of the European Commission
The Commissioner responsible for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, and his team from the Commission, together with the representatives of the 27 EU Member Stat
Vanguard Initiative Annual Political Meeting 2021
The Vanguard Initiative Annual Political Meeting 2021 – took place on November 25th.
Official Signature of the Cooperation Agreement between the Vanguard Initiative and EFFRA
On 25 November, Eddy Van Hijum, Chair of the Vanguard Initiative, and Željko Pazin, Executive Director of
VI paper on the upcoming Communication on Innovation policy
The VI Policy Influencing Task Group (PITG) has contributed to the
VI Annual Report 2021
This annual report provides an overview of all the results and activities of the network.
Position paper - Regional ecosystems and collaboration as drivers for the recovery
The Vanguard Initiative supports the EU Industrial Strategy, published in March, as a strong basis for future work and paving the way for recovery and resilience of the EU economy while embracing l
Short paper: Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) – Complementary insights VI-EARTO
The Vanguard Initiative highly values the efforts made by the European Commission to co-design the new I3 instrument and for this reason, continues to contribute to the creation of a tool suited to
The Vanguard Initiative annual plan 2021
This annual plan sets out the programme of work that Vanguard Initiative will seek to accomplish during 2021 and is informed by discussions in the Annual Politica
Non paper - Financing solutions for networks of Pilots and demonstrators
Vanguard Initiative Non paper Financing solutions for networks of Pilots and demonstrators
VI Innovation Policy Conference
Shaping an Ambitious EU Innovation Agenda to accelerate the twin green and digital Transitions
