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.
VI is a member of the Industrial Forum
The Vanguard Initiative, represented by The Basque Country, has been selected by the European Commission as a member of the Industrial Forum Commission Expert Gro
Successful Annual Political Meeting organised online
On 19 November, the Vanguard Initiative organised the Annual Political Meeting 2020, and for the first time ever the meeting was held in digital format.
European networks come together for a new statement on the Interregional Innovation Investment initiative
In the context of the public consultation launched by the Commission about the new Interregional Innovation Investment initiative (I3) proposed under the ERDF regulation for the 20
Contribution to public consultation on targeted review of the GBER (state aid)
EARTO and the Vanguard Initiative have elaborated a joint contribution to the second public consultation on targeted review of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER).
New Vanguard position on the EU Industrial Strategy: Regional ecosystems and collaboration 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
The Vanguard Initiative calls for a strong regional dimension in the new EU industrial strategy
In a new non-paper, the Vanguard Initiative calls for the adoption of an ambitious EU industrial Strategy and expresses full support of the European Commission’s ambition to adopt a renewed
Joint VI/EARTO Contribution to the public consultation on targeted review of the GBER
Dowlonad the document to read the full contribution to the public consultation on the targeted review of the GBER.
Joint C5 statement - Interregional Innovation Investments for European value chains
European Regions, Interregional Smart Specialisation partnerships and other innovation stakeholders jointly call upon the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to preserve the proposed ‘Int
VI Working Document Interregional Innovation Investments European Territorial Cooperation – Component 5
Interregional Innovation Investments European Territorial Cooperation – Component 5
ETC C5 Vanguard Initiative Working Paper
Working Document Interregional Innovation Investments European Territorial Cooperation – Component 5
Position paper - The Vanguard Initiative welcomes the MFF package as an ambitious renewed agenda for EU industrial and innovation
The Vanguard Initiative welcomes the MFF package as an ambitious renewed agenda for EU industrial and innovation policies and commitment to smart specialisation principles.
VI/EARTO statement on synergies : Supporting Key EC Proposals for New Instruments Offering Real Possibilities of EU Funds
EARTO and the Vanguard Initiative very much welcome the new component 5 and the new possibility of transferring resources between EU programmes for the regions politically courageous enough to do s