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.
EARTO and the Vanguard Initiative publish a common statement “ Supporting Key EC Proposals for New Instruments Offering Real
On 29 May 2018, the European Commission has published draft regulations for the 2021-2027 Cohesion Policy programming period.
Vanguard Initiative Regions show strong support for ETC Component 5
On 21st November, political representatives of Vanguard Initiative member regions gathered in Brussels for the Vanguard Annual Political Meeting.
Supporting interregional S3 cooperation along industrial value chains
On the 6th of November, the Vanguard Initiative organised, jointly with the European Parliament SME Intergroup a breakfast session dedicated to the new Interreg Component 5 ‘Interregional Innovatio
Position statement: The Vanguard Initiative welcomes the ambitious renewed agenda for EU industrial and innovation policies in
The Vanguard Initiative welcomes the proposals in the European Commission’s Multiannual Financial Framework package, which represent an ambitious renewed agenda for EU industrial and innovation
The Vanguard Initiative welcomes European Commission’s commitment to Smart Specialisation in the EU Multiannual Financial
Directors from the 32 Vanguard Initiative regions today joined in welcoming the European Commission’s continued advancement of Smart Specialisation approaches in its future budget.
Wallonia participated at the first European Cluster Policy Forum
On 22 February 2018, national representatives from 25 EU member states, Commission officials and cluster policy experts met in Brussels during EU Industry day to share experiences and discu