Events

Southern Regional Assembly Meeting

Event Start: 14 July 2023
Event End: 14 July 2023

The next Annual General & Ordinary meetings of the Southern Regional Assembly will take place on Friday 12th July 2023 at 12pm at Assembly House, O’Connell Street, Waterford.

Launch Event: Exploring a Just Transition in Agriculture and Land Use

Event Start: 30 June 2023
Event End: 30 June 2023

Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD will address the conference in the Convention Centre Dublin on Friday, 30th June 2023 and formally launch NESC Report No.162

Just Transition in Agriculture and Land Use.

The agriculture and land use sector can increasingly be a part of the solution to addressing the climate change and biodiversity crises. This requires that the environmental challenge is addressed together with the intersecting economic and social challenges facing the sector.

Bringing together a wide range of stakeholders across the agriculture, land use, climate and environmental sectors, the event will explore the key themes and recommendations of the report. The central question the event will address is how to achieve a just transition in the agriculture and land use sector.

Based upon the analysis and recommendations in the NESC report No.162, the event will explore how the transition in agriculture and land use can be opportunities led, including diversifying incomes, supporting rural regeneration and leveraging innovative sources of finance. It will also explore how effort and costs can be equitably shared and inclusive processes for governing transition. It will draw on stakeholders' perspectives on the key next steps for ensuring a transition that supports social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Register to attend the event here

2023 Irish LIFE Information Day

Event Start: 31 May 2023
Event End: 31 May 2023

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications invites you to register your interest in attending the LIFE National Information Day on Wednesday 31 May 2023 from 9.00 to 13.30. The Information Day will be held as a virtual event.

The event will feature presentations from the National Contact Point and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), as well as successful LIFE projects and associations. There will also be Q&A sessions, and attendees will be able to raise questions on Slido before and during the event.

The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for Environment and Climate Action, and is structured into four sub-programmes:

Nature and Biodiversity
Circular Economy and Quality of Life
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Clean Energy Transition

Any legal persons/entities registered in the EU are eligible to apply, and applications are encouraged from public and private organisations seeking co-funding for projects. Large and small companies, Local Authorities, Public Bodies, Higher Education Institutions, NGOs and Community Groups can participate.

You can register here.

If you would like to receive further updates directly, please email LIFE@decc.gov.ie

For more information and to Register click here

DRAFT AGENDA

Cities Forum 2023

Event Start: 16 March 2023
Event End: 17 March 2023

Join the official launch at the 5th edition of Cities Forum 2023 in Torino, Italy from 16-17 March 2023!

The event brings together key urban stakeholders at European, national, regional and local levels who are committed to a green and just future of cities. Registration is now open.

This year’s edition will focus on the role of cities in implementing the European Green Deal and the importance of strategic approaches to address the needs for climate adaptation and environmental protection.

The Cities Forum is the place for exchange on the urban dimension of Cohesion Policy for 2021-27, key policies and initiatives such as the Urban Agenda for the EU, the EU Mission for 100 Climate Neutral and Smart Cities, and explore how the New European Bauhaus can be used to make a difference in local development.

The event will highlight the green transition in cities, while re-affirming the core EU objective of social inclusion. Interested in learning more about green transition and social inclusion? Check out our work on Just Transitions focusing on skills for a green future, making the transition affordable and democratic for all in aims of achieving climate neutrality, leaving no place or person behind.

Check out the official website for full event information.

INTERREG Europe Blue GReen City Final Event

INTERREG EUROPE Blue Green City Final Event 11th & 12th October

The Blue Green City final event is a hybrid event and will be held in Ingolstadt, Germany on the 11th & 12th October 2022.

Blue Green City is a network of municipalities and regions co-funded by Interreg Europe (2019-2023) seeking to improve policies that promote Blue and Green Infrastructure (BGI) as an integral part of a local or regional natural heritage preservation strategy. The final conference will bring together the partners and their stakeholders to share their experiences of the interregional learning process and to discuss best practice recommendations for improving policy instruments that promote blue and green infrastructure.

Click the link below to view the Agenda for the event and where you can also register your interest in attending.

Blue Green City Final Event Agenda and Registration

Get ready for the new URBACT call for Action Planning networks! ONLINE

Event Start: 11 October 2022
Event End: 11 October 2022

New open call for networks ahead!

The next edition of the URBACT programme (URBACT IV) is on the way. Find out all about it at the European Week of Regions and Cities.

Date: Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM · 1 hr. (Europe/Brussels)
Online

Want to get all the information about the next URBACT call for Action Planning Networks? Register now for the URBACT session at theEuropean Week of Regions and Cities:

Get ready for the new URBACT call for Action Planning networks!

Invitation: State of the European Union Debate 2022: What will it mean for Ireland?

Event Start: 8 September 2022 10:00
Event End: 8 September 2022 11:15

State of the European Union Debate 2022: What will it mean for Ireland? Roundtable Discussion

European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland together with the European Commission Representation in Ireland and European Movement Ireland, are delighted to invite you to a webinar with stakeholders and MEPs on the upcoming State of the Union debate in the European Parliament, opened by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

This event will provide the opportunity for key Irish stakeholders to have their say on what they want to hear in this year’s State of the Union address and debate.

Date: Thursday, 8 September

Time: 10.00 – 11.15am (Irish Time)

Online

Speakers:

Patricia King, General Secretary of ICTU
Danny McCoy, CEO, IBEC
Adam Lambe, NYCI
Neil McDonnell, CEO, ISME
Dominic MacSorley, CEO, Concern Worldwide
Frances Fitzgerald MEP, EPP, Dublin
Billy Kelleher MEP, RENEW Europe, Ireland South

Moderator:

Emmet Ryan, Connected Editor, Business Post

Format: The panel of stakeholders will speak for five minutes each, highlighting three issues they want to hear about in the State of the Union debate, which will take place on 14 September in the European Parliament. This will be followed by the MEPs responses to the points raised by the panel and will conclude with closing statements from each speaker.

Please register here

‘SAVE THE DATE’ - LIFE Bid-Writing Workshop

Event Start: 30 August 2022
Event End: 30 August 2022

The LIFE National Contact Point in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) will be hosting the LIFE Bid Writing Workshop which will take place on Tuesday 30 August 2022 with consultants Deloitte.

Deloitte consultants will provide expert guidance to attendees on the bid writing process for LIFE applications, including using the EU Funding and Tenders portal.

For those of you in the process of making LIFE applications in 2022, there will also be an opportunity to discuss your proposals in one-to-one sessions with Deloitte.

If you would like to attend the Workshop, please register your interest at the link below which will remain open until 1pm Monday 29 August 2022:

LIFE Bid Writing Workshop 2021 (dccae.gov.ie)

https://secure.dccae.gov.ie/forms/LIFEBidWritingWorkshop2022.aspx

PLEASE NOTE – When inputting your details on the registration page, please complete all the required fields and click the “Finish” button at the end of the process.

The Irish contact point for the LIFE programme is LIFE@decc.gov.ie

Irish INTERREG NWE call launch

If you missed the Irish Interreg NWE call launch on 7^th April, you can watch the Webinar below.

Click Image for full Webinar

Full Presentation can be found here:https://www.southernassembly.ie/uploads/general-files/INTERREG_NWE_Full.pdf

NWE Contact Points network

Continuous assistance will be provided by the Interreg NWE network of Contact Points during the phase of project development. They are available to respond to any queries including tailored advice on your project idea.

All contact details can be found here.

EMPOWER Energy Poverty Technical Workshop

The Southern Regional Assembly in conjunction with 3 Counties Energy Agency would like to invite you to join us for the EMPOWER Energy Poverty Technical Workshop on the 23^rd and 24^th of March 2022. On 23^rd March we will have the opportunity to hear from the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub in Brussels on energy poverty in Europe and then from Dr Niall Dunphy from UCC on energy poverty in Ireland. This will be followed by Irish and European initiatives to identify, reduce and undertake behaviour change programmes to address the issue of energy poverty. Please see the agenda below for details. There is a separate link each day to join the event as follows:

Link for 9.00 to 16.00 - 23^rd March 2022 -

https://zoom.us/j/91237962707?pwd=ajlVTVRUZmtCblozSE5xRjFSNXR2Zz09

Link for 09.30 to 12.30 – 24^th March 2022 -

https://zoom.us/j/98096300946?pwd=RmhtRWdVWVIzd056MWZWS3Nkay96QT09

We hope you will be able to join us for this very important event at a time when more and more people are in danger of suffering from energy poverty following the significant increases in energy prices. You might also share this invite with any of your colleagues who may be interested in subject of energy poverty. Please see agenda below for further details.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

23^rd March 2022 Further Meeting Connection Details

Meeting ID: 912 3796 2707
Passcode: 035951
One tap mobile
+35315369320,,91237962707#,,,,*035951# Ireland
+35316533895,,91237962707#,,,,*035951# Ireland

Dial by your location
        +353 1 536 9320 Ireland
        +353 1 653 3895 Ireland
        +353 1 653 3897 Ireland
        +353 1 653 3898 Ireland
        +353 6 163 9031 Ireland
        +353 1 240 8941 Ireland
Meeting ID: 912 3796 2707
Passcode: 035951
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aekef8mJHz

Join by Skype for Business
https://zoom.us/skype/91237962707

24^th March Further Meeting Connection Details

Meeting ID: 980 9630 0946
Passcode: 192196
One tap mobile
+35312408941,,98096300946#,,,,*192196# Ireland
+35315369320,,98096300946#,,,,*192196# Ireland

Dial by your location
        +353 1 240 8941 Ireland
        +353 1 536 9320 Ireland
        +353 1 653 3895 Ireland
        +353 1 653 3897 Ireland
        +353 1 653 3898 Ireland
        +353 6 163 9031 Ireland
Meeting ID: 980 9630 0946
Passcode: 192196
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abMOujxC3K

Join by Skype for Business
https://zoom.us/skype/98096300946

Final Conference for the FIRESPOL Project

It has been universally acknowledged that climate action remains the greatest challenge we face. The Irish Government has identified ‘Climate Change as the most important long-term challenge facing Ireland’. Doing nothing is not an option, we all have a have a critical role to play in achieving the ambitious climate action targets and the SRA through their work hope to inspire action across the region.

To address this challenge at a regional level the Southern Regional Assembly are partners on the Interreg Europe funded FIRESPOL project to gain insight from other European Regions on innovative financial solutions for renewable energy investment. Through our involvement on the project, we are exploring the opportunity of establishing a ‘Renewable Energy Investment Forum’ for the Southern Region. This forum would provide an ongoing mechanism to discuss, explore and make recommendations on the use of innovative financial instruments supporting renewable energy investment in the region.

To hear more about this work and other inspiring actions from the project partners please join us on the morning of the 15^th March for the final project conference.

You can find the agenda here. Book your place here

INTERREG North West Europe Call 1 Event

7^th April; 9am-11am; Irish Interreg NWE call launch; organised by Irish National Contact Point.

This will be complimentary to the 31^st March event, we will give you more details relevant to Irish potential applicants including “lessons learned” from previous Irish projects, and there will be time for you to ask questions of the speakers.

Click here to register

7^th April; all afternoon; one to one “clinic sessions”;

Perhaps you can find some answers to your project Application questions in a one-to-one “clinic session” with Alexandre Colombani, from Interreg NWE Joint Secretariat and Sarah Davoren Irish National Contact point. We will offer 6 slots (20 mins each) all afternoon on the 7^th April – just drop an email to Sarah to request sdavoren@southernassembly.ie.

If you are unfamiliar with GoToMeeting, please click here for instructions.

In the meantime, we invite you to:

Read the Call 1 support documents to better understand the Programme’s expectations.
Register and start using our online community. You can network, find partners, share your project ideas, and browse those in the pipeline.

New Massive Open Online Course on Interreg from 7 March to 24 April!

Interested in discovering the history of European territorial cooperation (Interreg)? Would you like to learn more about the key considerations which led to the creation of Interreg while keeping abreast of the very latest developments in this key European initiative?

The European Commission, in conjunction with a consortium led by the University of Strasbourg is delighted to announce the launch of a new Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg). This cooperation tool represents a key European framework for mutual cooperation both between Member States of the European Union and between the European Union and third countries.

The MOOC will take place during a 6-week-period from 7^th March to 24^th April with an average learning investment of approximately 3 hours per week.

The course aims to present a general overview of territorial cooperation in Europe. It is divided into four sections:

The first section deals with the foundations and the general framework of Interreg by questioning the origins, the evolution and the theoretical framework of territorial cooperation as it has developed in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Participants will apprehend the historical context of the origins of territorial cooperation in Europe.
A second section presents the existing European policies in the field of territorial cooperation: Interreg, Neighborhood Policy, Macro-regional Policy, etc., with a view to analysing decision-making procedures, implementation, spaces and impacts.
In the third section, a thematic approach is proposed. For each of 5 identified policy areas (health, special planning, environment, culture, mobility), the aim is to assess how Interreg has helped to shape the implementation of these policies. The issue of multi-level-governance is also explored as MOOC participants learn from first-hand real life experience how the different stakeholders intervene and interact.
Finally, a fourth section will evaluate how territorial cooperation is concretely practised by actors on the ground, the difficulties they encounter and the methods deployed to resolve these difficulties and challenges. The aim of this section is to introduce the basics of project management and provide participants with a series of tools, which will enable them to develop and implement cross-border projects more efficiently. This final section also examines whether Interreg provides real added value in the European cross-border territories where it takes place.

This MOOC is targeted at:

The academic community (e.g. students and teachers);
Practitioners of territorial cooperation (e.g. interreg programmes; projects);
Individuals and organisations located in border regions who wish to promote the development of cross-border cooperation;
Any member of the public who is interested in European integration and who wishes to acquire knowledge about Interreg.

Registrations are now open.

Ports, Past & Present Online Coffee Morning – ‘Sea of Stories’

Event Start: 3 March 2022 11:00
Event End: 3 March 2022 12:00

Join the Ports, Past and Present Project online at 11am on Thursday 3^rd March 2022 and take part in a conversation with artist Robert Jakes, a member of the Ports, Past & Present creative group. Robert will talk about his inspiration for the 'Sea of Stories' ceramic wall mural he has created at Pembroke Dock ferry terminal, Wales, the stories it draws on and the process that led to its creation.

See more details here and email aoife.dowling@ucc.ie for a Zoom link to the meeting.

There will also be a chance to find out more about Ports, Past and Present, the work they are doing with the Port communities on both sides of the Irish Sea in promoting tourism to these often underappreciated places, you can also go to their website for the latest news: https://portspastpresent.eu/

Ports, Past and Present seeks to investigate the heritage of Rosslare, Dublin, Pembroke, Fishguard and Holyhead Ports and the Irish Sea crossings, and create common understanding between these communities by examining the cultural heritage of the ports in the Irish sea basin. The project is led by University College Cork in partnership with Aberystwyth University, the University of Wales, Trinity St David and Wexford County Council and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Cooperation programme 2014-2020.

The Ireland Wales Programme 2014-2020 is part of the European Territorial Co-operation (ETC) group of funds, which provides opportunities for regions in the EU to work together, to address common economic, environmental and social challenges. The programme focuses on seeking solutions to shared challenges on both sides of the Irish sea, to improve the economic and sustainable development priorities of Ireland and Wales, in the areas of innovation, climate change and cultural & natural resources and heritage.

The Welsh Government manages the programme with partners, the Southern Regional Assembly (SRA) and the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). The overall value of the programme is €100m, utilising €79m from the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). To find out more about the Ireland Wales programme and the list of projects click this link.

ETC Network Meeting

We are delighted to confirm the next meeting of the ETC Network will take place on the morning of Tuesday 1^st March 2022 from 9am to 1pm. In the interest of the continued safety of our members the meeting will take place on-line.

In response to feedback from members we will be hearing from National Contact/Information Points from the various ETC programmes. If you are currently working in EU Projects or interested in hearing more about the various funding opportunities, we would advise you to register for this event.

The ETC Network is open to all those currently working in EU Projects or those interested in getting involved providing an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning and discussion. It is a member driven network and all members have the opportunity guide and shape the future direction and agenda of the ETC Network. In response to your needs, The Southern Regional Assembly can identify and facilitate speakers under particular topics of interest.

If you would like to register your interest for this event or join the ETC Network, please email cconnaughton@southernassembly.ie

Building Climate Action Locally: Tools from the CCAT Project

Event Start: 2 February 2022 09:30
Event End: 2 February 2022 12:30

The Ireland Wales funded Coastal Communities Adapting Together (CCAT) project are holding their closure event, Building climate action locally: tools from the CCAT project which will be online on Wednesday 2^nd February 9.30am -12.30pm.

The project partners (UCD, Fingal Co Council, UCC/MaREI, the Port of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and Cardiff University) will present a range of tools developed for engaging with local authorities, educators, young people, community groups, policymakers and academics. The tools showcased will include geo-design workshops, participatory mapping projects, educational resources, academic research and online engagement.

To register for the event, click here

The programme and details of guest speakers will be available shortly on the CCAT website here.

The CCAT project is part funded by the Irish Wales Co-operation Programme and aims to assist coastal communities on the Irish sea who are directly impacted by climate change. The CCAT operation will help communities to build resilience (adaptive capacity to change), facilitate marine and climate citizenship, and realise the potential of the Irish Sea region by (re)connecting coastal communities with their place, their dynamic coastal systems and our changing climate.

The Ireland Wales 2014-2020 European Territorial Co-operation (ETC) programme is a maritime programme connecting organisations, businesses and communities on the West coast of Wales with the South-East coast of Ireland.

The Welsh Government manages the programme with partners, the Southern Regional Assembly (SRA) and the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).

The programme is one of a family of ETC programmes which provide opportunities for regions in the EU to work together to address common economic, environmental and social challenges.

The Ireland Wales programme focuses on seeking solutions to shared challenges on both sides of the Irish sea, to improve the economic and sustainable development priorities of Wales and Ireland.

The programme focuses on:

Cross border innovation
Adaptation of the Irish Sea and Coastal Communities to Climate Change
Cultural and Natural Resources and Heritage

Celtic Routes series of online events 24th & 26th January 2022

The Celtic Routes Project is pleased to announce a series of online events for tourism businesses based in Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow and South West Wales.

Three events, each based around the unique tourism offering, providing tourism businesses with the opportunity to co-design and develop new products and experiences aligned to the themes integral to the Celtic Routes brand offering visitors an authentic insight into the landscape, heritage and special qualities of West Wales and Ireland’s Ancient East. Celtic Routes wants to enhance the bookability of experiences and bring to life the stories in each county through a curated collection of activities. The key thing is that the experiences help visitors to better understand the county and that the provenance of place (landscape, nature, heritage and culture) is a key part of the experience.

Examples of potential experiences include:

Nature and heritage walking tours
Foraging trips
Cycling tours
Dark sky trails
Activity packages such as coasteering, team building and water sports
Wildlife watching trips
Pilgrimage trips
Arts and Crafts experiences
Cultural tours

Theme: Celtic Adventure overarching theme of Achievement, Walking / Cycling and Golfing

When: 10am, Monday 24th January 2022

Eventbrite Link here

Theme: Celtic Land & Sea overarching theme of Blueway and Nature

When: 2pm, Monday 24th January 2022

Eventbrite Link here

Theme: People & Places and Cultural & Heritage overarching themes, including Arts & Craft, Festivals, Language & Lore and Pilgrimage

When: 10am, Wednesday 26th January 2022

Eventbrite Link here

Potential benefits of participating for your business include:

A dedicated marketing programme to promote the experiences
A dedicated section of the Celtic Routes website
Media and blogger coverage of participating experiences.
Improving the ‘bookability’ of the Celtic Routes
Photographs of experiences made available to participants (as well as access to existing range of high-quality imagery)
Development of networks of similar experiences in other counties.
Learning trips to find out more about similar products in Wales and Ireland
Support to extend your programme to other counties

The Celtic Routes project aims to encourage visitors to explore new areas of Wales and Ireland en route to their final tourist destination. The Project aims to highlight hidden gems, and transform less well known areas from transit zones to new touring sites. This will increase the time visitors spend in these regions and capitalise on the opportunities to boost local economies and add value to the combined tourism offerings within the regions. Led by Carmarthenshire County Council, the project will focus on the areas

The project will be developed through customer research, trade events and workshops as well as cross border visits by businesses in Ireland and Wales to bring together expertise and ideas. The aim is to increase the visitor appeal of the targeted areas of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion in Wales and Waterford, Wicklow and Wexford in Ireland, including through the development of new trails linking local culture, heritage and the natural environment.

The project is led by Carmarthenshire County Council in Wales in partnership with Waterford, Wicklow and Wexford County Councils, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Ceredigion County Council in Wales and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Cooperation programme 2014-2020.

EMPOWER Final Conference

Event Start: 10 November 2021
Event End: 10 November 2021

EMPOWER FINAL CONFERENCE

The INTERREG EUROPE EMPOWER project will hold their Final Conference online scheduled for 10^th November @14.00-18.00 CET (13.00-17.00 IST).

The EMPOWER project over the last 5 years has worked on the exchange of good practices on dynamically monitoring energy efficiency in buildings, with special focus on the use of innovative financial instruments, in order to achieve more carbon reduction and to improve low-carbon economy policies.

The Lead Partner Energap along with the 8 project partners from all around Europe including the Southern Regional Assembly have successfully implemented good practices in their region through the project’s objectives.

The Final Conference will present insights on the activities and achievements of the project on its journey towards reducing carbon emissions through dynamically monitoring energy efficiency from buildings. It will share the results from the good practices which will hopefully be adopted in more EU countries.

The invite is extended to all stakeholders, policy makers, SME’s project teams or anyone that has an interest in the reduction of carbon emissions from buildings, while also finding out how it supports jobs and growth in the local economy.

To Register for this conference, Click the link below before 8^th November 2021

You can view the Agenda for the conference through this link

Coastal Communities Adapting Together (CCAT): Exchanging Knowledge and Best Practice Across Borders 2021

Event Start: 19 October 2021
Event End: 21 October 2021

Following the success of the first CCAT cross border event in 2020, the CCAT team are delighted to announce our second virtual networking and knowledge exchange event, Coastal Communities Adapting Together (CCAT): Exchanging Knowledge and Best Practice Across Borders 2021, planned for October 19^th, 20^th and 21^st 2021. As explored in CCAT's event last year, coastal communities are forefront of the impacts of climate change, adaptation, resilience and associated coastal management decisions and planning.

Drawing on feedback from our first event, we recognise that there are more conversations to be had – opportunities remain to learn from what others are doing, and to build on existing best practice in policy and management, for both coastal management and climate change. Through this second virtual event, co-organised by Cardiff University and the wider CCAT team, we will bring together a diverse range of practitioners and academics, with expertise in policy making, coastal management, climate change adaptation, community engagement and more. Over the course of the event, we will welcome speakers presenting on a wide range of topics including examples from case studies; reflections from communities currently experiencing the impacts of climate change; community scale initiatives, and community engagement in coastal management and climate adaptation; nature-based solutions; the role of technology within climate change adaptation and resilience; and finally, we will showcase some of the work coming from through the CCAT project. Confirmed speakers include:

Climate Ireland
Pembroke Dock Marine
Wales Coastal Monitoring Centre
Dr Verity Jones (University of West England)
Dr Cormac Walsh (Independent Consultant)
Caroline Hickman (University of Bath)
Professor Robin McInnes

We will be updating the programme on our website over the coming weeks - for more details visit the CCAT website. Registration information can be found here.

The CCAT project is part funded by the Irish Wales Co-operation Programme and aims to assist coastal communities on the Irish sea who are directly impacted by climate change. The CCAT operation will help communities to build resilience (adaptive capacity to change), facilitate marine and climate citizenship, and realise the potential of the Irish Sea region by (re)connecting coastal communities with their place, their dynamic coastal systems and our changing climate.

The Welsh Government manages the programme with partners, the Southern Regional Assembly (SRA) and the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).

The programme is one of a family of ETC programmes which provide opportunities for regions in the EU to work together to address common economic, environmental and social challenges.

The Ireland Wales programme focuses on seeking solutions to shared challenges on both sides of the Irish sea, to improve the economic and sustainable development priorities of Wales and Ireland.

The programme focuses on:

Cross border innovation
Adaptation of the Irish Sea and Coastal Communities to Climate Change
Cultural and Natural Resources and Heritage

Online info day: “Interregional Innovation Investment – I3” grants

Event Start: 19 October 2021 09:30
Event End: 19 October 2021 11:20

Learn more about the calls and how to apply! On 19th October, a team of experts will share insights about the work programme & application process. Online info day for potential applicants for the Interregional Innovation Investment Work Programme (I3) 2021-2022

The I3 WP aims at promoting innovation through Smart Specialisation and interregional collaboration. The I3 supports stronger interregional cooperation in investments and makes sustainable connections by linking regional ecosystems in shared smart specialisation areas vital to accelerate market uptake of research results and stimulate innovation.

Practical information

When: Tuesday 19 October 2021, 09:30 to Tuesday 19 October 2021, 11:20

Languages: English

Organiser: European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency

To register click here

Online Coffee Morning with the Ports, Past Present Project: ‘The Sound of Hurry’

Event Start: 7 October 2021 11:00
Event End: 7 October 2021 11:45

Join the October coffee morning 'The Sound of Hurry' for an informal conversation about heritage and tourism across the port towns.

Holyhead-based cyclist and heritage enthusiast Joe Patton will share a 30-minute slide presentation entitled ‘The Sound of Hurry’. This will tell the story of mail crossing the Menai Bridge to Holyhead to meet the packet boat bound for Howth and its final destination, Dublin Castle.

Date: 7^th October

Time: 11:00 am - 11:45 am via Zoom.

To attend, please email aoife.dowling@ucc.ie for a Zoom link.

The Ports, Past & Present project seeks to investigate the heritage of Rosslare, Dublin, Pembroke, Fishguard and Holyhead Ports and the Irish Sea crossings, and create common understanding between these communities by examining the cultural heritage of the ports in the Irish sea basin. Ireland and Wales and its busy Ports have shared histories and profound differences. The project aims to bring life and colour to the ports, enhancing the experience of modern travellers of all ages and interests and encouraging people to spend more time and enjoy the diverse heritage of these towns.

The project is led by University College Cork in partnership with Aberystwyth University, the University of Wales, Trinity St David and Wexford County Council and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Cooperation programme.

LIFE Information Day 22 September 2021 - Registration Portal Is Now Open!

Event Start: 22 September 2021 09:00
Event End: 22 September 2021 12:30

The LIFE National Contact Point in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) is hosting Ireland’s LIFE Information Day 2021, on Wednesday 22 September 2021 from 09.00 until 12.30.

Find out about EU funding opportunities for Nature & Biodiversity, Circular Economy, Climate Mitigation & Adaptation and Clean Energy Transition, with presentations on the day from DECC, the Commission and successful applicants, followed by a Questions and Answers Session. The Agenda is attached for your information.

The event will take place as a live Webinar via Zoom, and you can now register at this link

The deadline for registration is 12 noon on Monday 20 September 2021. There is a limited capacity for those who wish to attend the event so we recommend that you register at your earliest convenience.

PLEASE NOTE – The Department will also be holding a LIFE Bid Writing Workshop on Wednesday 6 October 2021, details of which will be available on the LIFE Information Day.

Agenda

CCAT 2021: Exchanging Knowledge and Best Practice Across Borders 2021 – 19th to 21st Oct. 2021

Event Start: 19 October 2021
Event End: 21 October 2021

Following the success of our first CCAT cross border event in 2020, the CCAT team are delighted to announce our second virtual networking and knowledge exchange event, Coastal Communities Adapting Together (CCAT): Exchanging Knowledge and Best Practice across borders 2021, planned for October 19^th, 20^th and 21^st 2021 in the mornings. As we explored in our event last year, coastal communities are forefront of the impacts of climate change, adaptation, resilience and associated coastal management decisions and planning.

Through the Coastal Communities Adapting Together (CCAT) project, we have been working to support coastal communities in Pembrokeshire (Wales) and Fingal (Dublin) to understand the impact of climate change, and how it might impact their local communities.

Examples from case studies,
Reflections from communities currently experiencing the impacts of climate change,
Community-scale initiatives, and community engagement in coastal management and climate adaptation
Examples of nature-based solutions in practice,
Case studies from across the UK, Ireland, as well as other international examples.
The role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) within climate change adaptation and resilience,
And finally, showcasing the work done through the CCAT project.

To book click here

CCAT is part funded by the Irish Wales Co-operation Programme and aims to assist coastal communities on the Irish sea who are directly impacted by climate change. The CCAT operation will help communities to build resilience (adaptive capacity to change), facilitate marine and climate citizenship, and realise the potential of the Irish Sea region by (re)connecting coastal communities with their place, their dynamic coastal systems and our changing climate.

The Welsh Government manages the programme with partners, the Southern Regional Assembly (SRA) and the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).

The programme is one of a family of ETC programmes which provide opportunities for regions in the EU to work together to address common economic, environmental and social challenges.

The Ireland Wales programme focuses on seeking solutions to shared challenges on both sides of the Irish sea, to improve the economic and sustainable development priorities of Wales and Ireland.

The programme focuses on:

Cross border innovation

Adaptation of the Irish Sea and Coastal Communities to Climate Change

Cultural and Natural Resources and Heritage

Selkie – ‘Meet the Expert’ event series

The Selkie Project is organising a series of events focused on providing business support for companies looking to diversify in to the marine energy sector. These events will give your company the opportunity to learn more about key themes from experts in the sector to help in your endeavours to enter and work in this innovative and growing industry. It will also give you the opportunity to network and meet with other companies.

Manufacturing for the Marine Environment - 2 September 2021, 10am.

Experts: Safinah Group

Safinah Group are experts in optimising coatings to protect marine assets. They offer independent consulting and technical services to the whole spectrum of coating activities covering the entire lifetime of an asset from product specification, selection and application to maintenance, repair and failure investigation. In this session Safinah will talk about their experience in creating functional specifications to optimise performance, reduce maintenance, reduce costs and prolong the lifetime of assets in harsh environments.

Register here

Raising Investment - 16 September 2021, 10am.

Experts: GS Verde

The GS Verde Group are a corporate finance-led group, specialising in investment raising, acquisitions and business sales. Our expert, Louise Santaana is a Director of Verde, the Corporate Finance arm of the GS Verde group. In this session, Louise will explore ways businesses can acquire various types of funding, covering the various stages in an organisations lifecycle where capital may be need to be raised to support growth or exit. She will talk about some real life examples and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions.

Register here

Testing & Validation (Ireland) - 30 September 2021, 10am.

Experts: SmartBay Test Site - BlueWise Marine

SmartBay is Ireland’s national marine and renewable energy test and demonstration facility which supports the testing and validation of new marine energy technologies through deployments and monitoring in a real marine-world environment. The site is an ideal opportunity for device developers looking to bridge the gap between test tanks and the open-sea for their technology validation. SmartBay is supported by BlueWise Marine who will be leading this session on testing and validation, detailing the opportunities and challenges presented in preparing for open-sea testing and the support and facilities available at SmartBay test site.

Register here

To register for these events please follow the link, https://www.selkie-project.eu/events/selkie-meet-the-expert-event-series/

The Selkie project is part funded by the Irish Wales Co-operation Programme and aims to develop shared multi-use engineering tools, templates, standards and models, which can be used across the Marine Renewal Energy sector in both Wales and Ireland.

The Welsh Government manages the programme with partners, the Southern Regional Assembly (SRA) and the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).

The programme is one of a family of ETC programmes which provide opportunities for regions in the EU to work together to address common economic, environmental and social challenges.

The Ireland Wales programme focuses on seeking solutions to shared challenges on both sides of the Irish sea, to improve the economic and sustainable development priorities of Wales and Ireland.

The programme focuses on:

Cross border innovation

Adaptation of the Irish Sea and Coastal Communities to Climate Change

Cultural and Natural Resources and Heritage

Register for the URBACT workshops during the #EURegionsWeek!

Event Start: 11 October 2021
Event End: 14 October 2021

This year the 19th European Week for Regions and Cities goes online from 11 to 14 October 2021.

During this week, URBACT speakers will present their practices and knowledge on how cities can stand up to different urban challenges. In addition, a representative from the URBACT Secretariat will present the new features and opportunities for cities under URBACT IV for the period 2021-2027.

Book your seat for the following sessions now.

Digital for the People - it's more than just tech

13 October, 11:30 à 13:00 (code: 13WS21581) Workshop led by the URBACT Secretariat with the City of Valencia

Curious about what digital transition means for cities and their citizens? Then join this interactive session to explore how cities can enable it for their development and COVID-19 recovery. Hear from cities what digital transition is all about and what it looks like in practice. Whether you are a cutting-edge smart city or just starting your digital journey, you can still learn what's needed to enhance or start digital transition at city level, and how this works in different contexts and policy areas.

Cooperation and research opportunities with ESPON, Interact, Interreg Europe and URBACT in 2021-2027

14 October, 9.30-11.00 (code: 14WS21380) Workshop co-organised by URBACT, Interact, Interreg Europe and ESPON

As the new ESPON, Interact, Interreg Europe and URBACT programmes get ready to launch, this workshop will update you on how these programmes will get underway in the 2021-2027 period. The speakers will highlight their timeline to launch, their first priorities and actions – as well as where they want to be 2027, and how they will have helped the European recovery. Through your contributions and two Q&A sessions, participants will help shape the discussion.

Innovation for Just Urban Transitions

14 October 2021, 11:30 - 13:00 (code: 14WS21406) Workshop organised by Urban Innovative Actions

In light of the pandemic recovery plan, the EU has emphasised both the need for a sustainable, green recovery and the importance of supporting the most vulnerable people, who will be most badly affected by the effects of climate change and transition policies. This commitment is captured in the slogan, "No-one left behind."

Taking account of climate risks, together with their social consequences, UIA projects demonstrate the importance of testing new solutions for a new socio-ecological pact. In this context, it is crucial to bring forward practical interventions and results that could inspire and foster locally-based transitions in EU cities. The session will therefore focus on practical experiences and will use online tools to gather participants' inputs and address the following question: how can the new EU budget help pave the way to a just and green recovery at city level?

Stay connected for updates on social media @URBACT @Euinmyregion @EU_CoR and #EURegionsWeek

ENCORE 2021 CONFERENCE!

Event Start: 23 September 2021
Event End: 24 September 2021

We cordially invite you to attend ENCORE 2021, the Environmental Conference of the Regions of Europe which is being hosted ‘virtually’ by the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly on 23 and 24 September 2021.

ENCORE 2021 will focus on the core themes of Climate Action, Ecosystem Services and Circular Economy for a Green and Sustainable Transition.

Registration is free. Registration link: https://www.encore2021.com/registration

The ENCORE network provides a platform for regional politicians, youth representatives and other stakeholders to discuss environmental issues of regional significance and facilitate cooperation and exchange of experience. At ENCORE 2021, Member Regions will sign the ‘Tullamore Declaration’, a common position which will allow them to effectively exert their collective influence on the formulation of environmental policy within the European Union, as well as their national and regional contexts.

ENCORE 2021 is free to attend and will be moderated by Dr Tara Shine who is a world renowned environmental scientist, policy advisor and science communicator. In addition to networking sessions (23^rd and 24^th September) and the main political event (24^th September), delegates will receive an address from Ms. Mairead McGuinness, Ireland's European Commissioner who has responsibility for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union, and a presentation from our YouthCORE delegates.

Follow ENCORE 2021 on Twitter for the latest news: @NetworkEncore

As part of ENCORE 2021, we are building a Virtual Exhibition Space which will showcase inspiring projects and initiatives which respond to the conference themes of Climate Action, Ecosystem Services and Circular Economy for a Green and Sustainable Transition. If you are involved in or are aware of any projects or initiatives in your Region which could contribute to the Virtual Exhibition Space, we would be delighted to feature short videos, posters or infographics.

Videos can be submitted in MP4 format or as public links to YouTube or Vimeo.
Infographics and posters can be submitted in PDF format.

Please send any such materials to encore2021@abbey.ie by 31 August with the subject line: ENCORE Virtual Gallery. Please also provide the name of the project/initiative and a short description.

Follow ENCORE 2021 on Twitter for the latest news: @NetworkEncore

MARIE - Mainstreaming Responsible Innovation In European S3

Event Start: 7 September 2021
Event End: 9 September 2021

The Interreg Europe MARIE project partners invite you to their webinar week. A series of short events and video drops on responsibility and sustainability in public policy.

Join us on-line between 7-9 September 2021, for a series of sessions on responsibility, sustainability and interregional cooperation for recovery and growth.

On Day 1: we'll look at Responsible and Sustainable Strategies.

On Day 2: Responsibility in practice: Funding.

On Day 3: Responsible future: together for recovery and responsible growth.

The Southern Regional Assembly is the Irish partner on MARIE, an interregional project which aims to improve regional public policy that supports delivery of Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI) in design, production & distribution of innovation in Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) sectors and models in ways that prevent negative social & environmental impact and contribute to better quality of life.

For further information please see MARIE project website

Project Contact: Karen Coughlan, EU Projects Officer, kcoughlan@southernassembly.ie

ADAPT Citizens’ Think In: 21st Century Health Information – what is important to us?

Event Start: 7 July 2021 16:00
Event End: 7 July 2021 17:45

What does Health Information look like in the 21^st Century and why is it important to us as citizens?

Wednesday 7th July 4-5.45 ADAPT Smart D8 invites you to an online public conversation, a Citizens’ Think-In to discuss “What is My Health Information?” with guest speaker, Orla Gogarty Director of Digital Health Transformation and Partnerships at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services.

Orla will address questions to kick off the conversation using St Patricks Mental Health Services digital transformation as an exemplar:

How can digital technologies empower us to manage our health and reorient our health services to be more inclusive, people-centred, and efficient?

How do we trust digital health technologies to manage our health information securely, transparently, and by consent?

Visit the ADAPT SFI Research Centre website for more information on their work.

Atlantic Action Plan Pillar 1 Workshop: Using Ports to Catalyse a Green Recovery

Event Start: 8 July 2021 09:45
Event End: 8 July 2021 12:00

The EU Atlantic Action Plan, through its Assistance Mechanism, is currently organising its second workshop for the Atlantic Action Plan Pillar I on 8th July 2021 from 9:45 – 13:00 GMT.

The workshop, titled 'Using Ports to Catalyse a Green Recovery' is the second workshop on ports as hubs for business in the Atlantic sea basin and it will focus on topics dealing with marine renewable energy and alternative fuels and further discuss the future of businesses in ports.

REGISTER HERE please complete the registration form by July 6th, 2021.

Find out more about the workshop see agenda below.

Agenda

Pembroke Dock - Doc Penfro Port Fest 2021

Event Start: 18 June 2021
Event End: 19 June 2021

Ports, Past and Present are proud to present PEMBROKE DOCK PORT FEST 2021. Join the Ports, Past and Present project online Friday 18^th and Saturday 19^th June, exploring Pembroke Dock's outstanding history and heritage with local people, groups and artists.

Friday 18^th June, 9.50am to 1pm, Exploring Pembroke Dock's outstanding history and heritage with local people, groups and artists.

Join online and take part in a morning of lively talks and discussions as we explore Pembroke Dock's remarkable history with the help of people who live and work there. There will also be a chance to find out more about Ports, Past and Present and the work they and partner organisations are doing with port communities on both sides of the Irish Sea in promoting tourism to these often underappreciated places. And you can find out what the specially commissioned artists and writers are doing in their creative explorations of Pembroke Dock’s rich history and heritage over the coming months.

See more details and sign up for free here.

Saturday 19^th June, 3pm to 4pm, Mobile Phone Photo and Video Workshop on Coastal Life and History, with Zillah Bowes

Join artist and filmmaker Zillah Bowes to learn how to take great photos and videos on your phone of your local area in Fishguard, Holyhead, Pembroke Dock, Dublin, Rosslare and surroundings. A fun and practical workshop for all adults and children aged 12+. During the workshop, you will do short photo and video exercises close to your home. You do not need anything apart from a smartphone and good internet connection to take part. No previous experience is required, but you should understand how to take photographs and video on your phone.

See more details and sign up for free here.

Saturday 19^th June, 7pm to 8pm, Port Fest Creative Writing & Storytelling Workshop for adults with storyteller/ writer Deb Winter

A workshop drawing on the story heritage of the port of Fishguard and our wild West Wales coast. Friendly, relaxed small group Zoom: all welcome, both new and experienced scribblers. Deb will provide the inspiration to trigger your writing. Ferries, flights, flights of fancy, strange sea-dwellers, liminal worlds, lighthouses, wrecks and rocks. If these kinds of themes float your boat come sail with us, with Deb at the helm! If you prefer oral storytelling to Creative Writing you can also use this workshop for inspiration to make up your own oral story too, or it could also be used to stimulate drawing. All you need is your imagination and something to write/draw with.

See more details and sign up for free here.

ERNACT Workshop: Women in European Cooperation Projects

Event Start: 29 June 2021 12:00
Event End: 29 June 2021 13:30

Inspired by International Women's Day, the ERNACT network developed a short survey to find out more about women working in the EU projects environment.

After launching the 'Women in European cooperation projects' survey in April 2021 and getting very positive feedback, with responses from almost 600 women across Europe, the ERNACT staff, with the input of International Management Committee female members, is organising a follow-up online workshop to share the findings and interesting issues that came up in the survey and to discuss potential recommendations to address shared concerns.

This workshop will take place on Tuesday, 29th June 2021 at 12:00 - 13:30 CEST

To register for this event, click here

Webinar: A Keynote Address By Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner For Cohesion And Reforms.

Event Start: 8 June 2021 14:00
Event End: 8 June 2021 15:00

The Institute of European & International Affairs (IIEA) invite you to join a webinar address by Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms. This event will take place on Tuesday, 8 June at 2.00p.m.

In her address to the IIEA, Commissioner Ferreira will outline three main priorities of the EU’s cohesion policy with respect to Ireland. Firstly, she will assess the measures that the EU can take to support Ireland as it transitions to net-zero emissions and seeks to incorporate a greater share of onshore and offshore wind in its renewable energy mix. Secondly, the Commissioner will address the social consequences of Brexit for Ireland and will consider the role of the future ‘Brexit Adjustment Reserve’. Finally, she will emphasise the European Commission’s determination to facilitate the early start of the PEACE Plus Programme between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

To register for this event, click here.

NWE networking event – Register now

Event Start: 22 June 2021
Event End: 22 June 2021

An innovative and inclusive North-West Europe on 22 June

The second Interreg North-West Europe online networking event will be organised on 22 June at 09:00-11:30 Irish time. In an innovative and interactive format, the event will be an unique opportunity to:

• Learn more about the impact of NWE projects

• Network with other stakeholders working in your field

• Know more about the future NWE programme

Don't miss this unique opportunity to explore new potential collaborations!

If you wish to host a virtual round table, please briefly describe the topic of your presentation in the registration form. Organisers will contact you after 14 June to let you know if your proposal was selected or not.

Registration

Registration is free of charge, but it is compulsory to register ahead of the event via the registration form.

The deadline for registration for the “Innovative and inclusive NWE” networking event is 14 June at 11am Irish time.

Agenda

International Transport Forum Summit 2021

Event Start: 17 May 2021
Event End: 28 May 2021

The Southern Regional Assembly are happy to announce that we will be hosting a virtual room at the International Transport Forum Summit 2021 – between 17^th & 28^th May 2021.

JOIN US!!! to learn more about the Southern Regional Assembly, the work we do and coalitions we form across sectors to advance delivery of a Regional Transport Strategy and lower carbon mobility through implementation of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. A positive example of our work is the preparation and roll out of the 10 Minute Town & City Concept developed as part of the Interreg Europe MATCH-UP Project with the assistance of ARUP Transport Consultants.

We will also be showcasing a number of example initiatives across the Region by the EU, SRA and our stakeholders which align with the ITF Summit 2021 theme of Transport Innovation for Sustainable Development including:

INTERREG Europe project MATCH-UP (Modal Interchange to Foster Low-Carbon Urban Mobility)
Cork Transport Mobility Forum – Improving Quality of Life through Sustainable Mobility with Community Led Initiatives
Waterford Institute of Technology – Cycling in Irish Towns – Can Schools Lead the Way?
Future Mobility Campus Ireland – (Pioneering Future Mobility Ecosystems)
Land Development Agency Ireland – (Transformational Land Use and Transport Planning Urban Regeneration- Case Study Colbert Station in Limerick)
Interreg Europe COHES3ION Project – Developing a Smart Region and Smart Mobility
University of Strathclyde – 20 Minute Neighbourhoods
Interreg Europe BLUE GREEN CITIES – Nature Based Solutions & Sustainable Mobility
An Taisce – The Green Schools Travel Programme
Waterford Institute of Technology – System Maps as a Means to Manage Complex Transport Landscapes
Cork Transport Mobility Forum – Transport Mobility Forum as a Means to Manage Complex Transport Landscapes

We look forward to welcoming you to our virtual room at the summit. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE ITF SUMMIT 2021.

Efficient Buildings Digital Days June 2021

The Efficient Buildings Community is proud to present its Digital Days. The online event aims at moving forward the discussion on the post-Covid-19 recovery, on sustainable transition and on the role of public buildings refurbishment.

Dates: 7-9 & 15-17 June 2021

In the last weeks, many Mediterranean Member States proposed their Recovery Plans to the European Commission and it is now crucial to understand how can the building sector contribute to this sustainable recovery, what are the instruments available to the public authorities and what resources and solutions can be provided by the financial institutions. Mediterranean public authorities have also a role to play in the transferring of these sustainable practices to the South shore of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Efficient Buildings Digital Days aims at debating these issues and, at the same time, at showcasing a set of tools for an effective planning of energy refurbishment in public buildings.

The Digital Days are organized in a series of:

3 sessions focusing on policies
6 workshops on specific digital tools to build the capacity of local authorities across the whole Mediterranean basin

The whole event will be held in English, but French translation will be provided for the three policy sessions.

To register click here

Agenda

EU Green Week 2021 – Zero Pollution

Event Start: 1 June 2021 00:00
Event End: 4 June 2021 01:00

The EU Green Week 2021 will be held exclusively online from 1 to 4 June 2021 with Partner Events taking place between 3 May to 13 June 2021.

This year’s edition will be dedicated to the ‘zero pollution ambition’. EU Green Week 2021 will be an opportunity to engage with all stakeholders and interested citizens on how we can work together to make the ambition for a zero pollution and toxic-free environment a reality. It will also look at other relevant European Green Deal initiatives, such the climate initiatives, the upcoming Chemicals Strategy, as well as initiatives in the field of energy, industry, mobility, agriculture, fisheries, health and biodiversity.

Please complete the registration form in order to attend the virtual conference and experience an almost life-like event.

Agenda

Evaluation of RTD Infrastructures

Event Start: 7 May 2021 10:30
Event End: 7 May 2021 13:30

Registrations for the “Evaluation of investments in RTD infrastructures and activities supported by the ERDF in the period 2007-2013” seminar is now open. The validation webinar is taking place on behalf of DG Regional and Urban Policy of the EU Commission.

Date & Time: 07 May 2021, 10:30am-1:30 pm Irish time

READ Agenda

First Ever Online Port Fest for Rosslare this April

The Ports, Past & Present project is proud to present the first ever Rosslare Port Fest starting Wednesday 22 April. Rosslare Port Fest is series of online discussions about the creative exploration of Rosslare’s heritage. Join in to find out about the project’s work in mapping and representing County Wexford’s coastal past, present and future, its connection with Rosslare and the Europort and its links with port communities on the other side of the Irish Sea. Throw yourself into one of the online talks and workshops, where you will have the chance to explore this rich and dynamic heritage through stories, presentations and creative activities.

Ports Past and Present seeks to investigate the heritage of Rosslare, Dublin, Pembroke, Fishguard and Holyhead Ports and the Irish Sea crossings, and create common understanding between these communities by examining the cultural heritage of the ports in the Irish sea basin. The project is led by University College Cork in partnership with Aberystwyth University, the University of Wales, Trinity St David and Wexford County Council and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Cooperation programme.

Rosslare Port Fest Events

4pm Wednesday 22nd April – Marine Dimensions – Eco Workshop – Family Friendly event for all ages of nature lover.

7pm Tuesday 20th April – Story Sharing with Ports Past and Present – Three of the project creative practitioners share their stories and project work so far, and we hope the audience will share their stories of Rosslare with us.

7pm Wednesday 21st April – The Future of Rosslare – An interesting and exciting sharing of plans, hope and ideas for the future of Rosslare Village and the Port. With contributions from the port representatives and the village improvement group.

4pm Thursday 24th April – Heritage and Nature Zines – An online how to in making zines, the theme of this one will be the Ecology and Heritage of Rosslare, but you’ll be able to make a zine on any subject you want after this workshop for older teenagers and adults.

7pm Thursday 24th April – Heritage Across the Irish Sea – Roundtable, with representatives from all five ports, discussing their work in preserving port heritage, challenges the face, and history we share across the Irish Sea

Booking is available for these events at www.portspastpresent.eu/blog

A Greener North-West Europe on 20 May

Event Start: 20 May 2021
Event End: 20 May 2021

Join Interreg North-West Europe online to network & learn about their projects' impact, and the future Interreg NWE programme. In an innovative and interactive format, this event will be a unique opportunity to:

• Learn more about the impact of NWE projects

• Network with other stakeholders working in your field

• Know more about the future NWE programme

Project partners in NWE but also from other Interreg programmes, as well as decision-makers at EU, national, regional and local level are invited to register. All potential applicants in the future programme are also welcomed to participate.

Registration

Registration is free of charge, but it is compulsory to register ahead of the event via the registration form.

The deadline for registration for the “Greener NWE” networking event is 10 May 2021 at noon CET.

Agenda

Interreg Europe Webinar: Jobs and skills for the energy transition

Event Start: 29 April 2021
Event End: 29 April 2021

On Thursday 29 April (14:00-15:30 CET), the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform will hold a webinar on jobs and skills for the energy transition.

Renewable energy and energy efficiency in sectors such as building renovations and electricity production have been identified by the EU as flagship areas where the most jobs can be created for the recovery of the European economy.

Directing investments and reforms toward these flagship areas will be crucial for meeting the enhanced EU climate targets while improving the employment performance of regions thanks to the provision of reskilling schemes and the emergence of new sustainable professions. Regional policymakers have a clear role to play on this by supporting training programmes teaching skills for the energy transition at all levels, setting-up dedicated structures for skill development and designing measures to stimulate demand for the newly acquired skills.

This webinar will present the Interreg Europe policy recommendations on jobs and skills for the energy transition and will focus on particularly successful good practices to strengthen energy efficiency and renewable energy competences among different categories of workers.

The agenda and registration form can be accessed at the event webpage.

ETC Network Workshop Series

The Southern Regional Assembly invites you to the ETC Network Online Discussion Series

Please find below an invitation to the series of ETC Network Online Discussions scheduled for April 2021 in response to feedback from you as members on topics suggested for discussion. The format of these online discussions will include a host familiar with the topic who will introduce our keynote speaker after which all participants will be encouraged to turn on their cameras/microphones and join the conversation and put questions to our keynote speakers.

The events will be moderated allowing everyone the opportunity to interact with other members of the network. Save the dates in your diaries and join the meeting through the individual links provided.

To help us get the most out of the events we ask that you confirm your attendance to these online discussions by emailing cconnaughton@southernassembly.ie.

We hope you enjoy our online discussion series and it assists you in managing your existing EU projects and future applications for European Funding. We look forward to hearing from you at the events.

ETC NETWORK WORKSHOP SERIES INVITE

A Virtual Visit to the European Commission, Brussels (The New European Bauhaus and Social Enterprise)

INVITATION to a Virtual Visit to the European Commission, Brussels (The New European Bauhaus and Social Enterprise)

Tuesday 23 March 12:15pm - 2:30pm

The theme of the visit is The New European Bauhaus and Social Enterprise.

This event is part of Waterford’s European Social Economy Regions (ESER) initiative which aims to raise awareness on the social economy at regional and local level and help build regional networks of social economy stakeholders. The New European Bauhaus is an environmental, economic and cultural project, aiming to combine design, sustainability, accessibility, affordability and investment in order to help deliver the European Green Deal. The core values of the New European Bauhaus are sustainability, aesthetics and inclusiveness.

This visit is the result of a partnership between Europe Direct Waterford, Waterford Social Enterprise Network, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford Cultural Quarter, Waterford Libraries and Waterford City & County Council.

See attached programme for more details.

Read

Join the conversation on the 25th March 2021 - Making multi-level governance work in S3

Join leading experts from across Europe at the COHES3ION virtual dissemination event to hear how to make Multi-Level Governance (MLG) work in Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3).

Register here to join our panel of leading experts discussing how to:

Increase the overall impact of S3
Improve the links between operational programmes in the RD&I environment and public and private sectors
Promote a policy and multi-level governance model

The SRA are partners on the Interreg Europe COHES3ION project, looking at the integration of the regional dimension into Smart Specialisation Strategies, which will assist in identifying regional Smart Priorities and strengthening the regional coordination of innovation delivery and support players. The project is helping partners from across Europe integrate local and regional priorities into their innovation policies and SMART Specialisation Strategies (S3), to increase their impact and performance.

COHES3ION is part-funded by the Interreg Europe Programme, through the European Regional Development Fund and is led by BEAZ S.A.U., Spain.

The project will run until 2022, find out more about COHES3ION here.

For further information please contact the Southern Regional Assembly:

Project Contact: Karen Coughlan, EU Projects Officer

Phone: +353 (0) 87 738 5478 Email: kcoughlan@southernassembly.ie

Dŵr Uisce Webinars 2021

The Dŵr Uisce project is part funded by the Ireland Wales Programme 2014-20 which aims to improve the efficiency of the water distribution network, is hosting a series of free webinars from February to April 2021.

The series includes the following themes:

Exploring Micro-Hydropower

Date: Wednesday 24 Feb 2021 Time: 11am- 12noon

Recovering Heat From Drain Water- The Opportunity

Date: Wednesday 10 March 2021 Time: 11am- 12noon

Recovering Heat From Drain Water- Making It Happen

Date: Wednesday 24 March 2021 Time: 1pm -3pm

Benchmarking Water And Energy Efficiency

Date: Wednesday 14 April 2021 Time: 11 am- 1pm

For the detailed programme and information on each series click here. Registration is free of charge but mandatory. Click here to register.

Dwr Uisce Sustainability Webinar Information

LIFE Call for Proposals from NGOs Info Session

Event Start: 12 January 2021
Event End: 12 January 2021

To facilitate the launch of the Call for Proposals from NGOs on the European Green Deal (NGO4GD) the Commission will host a virtual information session on 12 January 2021 at 9am Irish time to introduce the core aspects of this call.

Register for the information session here:
You can find more information about the event here
Participants will be able to use sli.do and the hashtag #NGO4GD to ask questions.

COHES3ION virtual journey ending

Event Start: 9 December 2020
Event End: 9 December 2020

The partners of the COHES3ION project are coming together for their final study visit on the 09^th December 2020. Wales is our final destination and marks the end of a fascinating virtual learning journey across Europe to discuss some of the innovative work practices taking place to assist us in our objective of boosting the impact of Smart Specialisation Strategies at the regional level.

The SRA are partners on the Interreg Europe COHES3ION project, which is looking at the integration of the regional dimension into Smart Specialisation Strategies, which will assist in identifying regional Smart Priorities and strengthening the regional coordination of innovation delivery and support players.

COHES3ION is part-funded by the Interreg Europe Programme, through the European Regional Development Fund and is led by BEAZ S.A.U., Spain.

The project will run until 2022, find out more about COHES3ION here.

For further information please contact the Southern Regional Assembly:

Project Contact: Karen Coughlan, EU Projects Officer

Phone: +353 (0) 87 738 5478 Email: kcoughlan@southernassembly.ie

TSSG Webinar: The synergy between AIML, Beyond5G networks & Cybersecurity

Event Start: 4 December 2020
Event End: 4 December 2020

TSSG are hosting a webinar highlighting the synergy between AIML, Beyond5G networks and Cybersecurity on Friday 4^th December at 11am.

These three disciplines are more effective in developing next generation technologies for industries such as healthcare, agri, energy and transport when they are applied simultaneously.

Speakers from the

SFI Centres CONNECT in Trinity College Dublin
INSIGHT in UCD

They will discuss the gaps in the technologies and in the market, highlight where the opportunities lie, what industries will benefit and what the future holds.

To register and for a full list of speakers visit https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KY732p4UQ6u9byCgmQMJjQ

Free Webinar on Waterford Walls Murals Project

Event Start: 22 October 2020
Event End: 22 October 2020

The Murals for Community project is one of the few Irish-led projects in the current Creative Europe Programme. While the project was artistically conceived by Edel Tobin of Waterford Walls, Waterford County Council took on the significant administrative and operational challenge of leading this EU project.

Murals for Communities explores the potential of mural arts as a tool for community engagement by creating mural art works with community involvement. The project seeks to expand the careers of mural artists within the European cultural scene.

This webinar is a unique opportunity to look at two Irish perspectives on the same project – how Murals for Community demonstrates the high level of artistic and creative excellence here to succeed at EU level; and how a local council took on the considerable challenge of managing the project through some very challenging times.

Book your place for the free webinar here.

Webinar on Being Young in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Event Start: 23 October 2020
Event End: 23 October 2020

European Parliament, Liaison Office in Ireland together with Eurofound and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Sweden, are pleased to invite you to their next upcoming online event that will look at the challenges young people in particular face during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event Being Young in the COVID-19 Pandemic takes place on Friday 23 October at 11am.

Against the background of Eurofound’s new report Living, working and COVID-19, speakers including Maria Walsh, MEP, Evin Incir, MEP, Massimiliano Mascherini, Head of Social Policies at Eurofound and Ian Power, CEO of SpunOut.ie, Ireland’s youth information website, will be exploring what policy makers can do in Ireland and across Europe to address the challenges of young people in the wake of the pandemic.

The webinar will be an opportunity to examine the responses of different Member States to the pandemic and to hear how Ireland compares to other EU Member States, such as Sweden, who adopted a different approach. There will also be a Q&A and LIVE chat available for participants to address the panellists.

Please confirm your participation by registering for this webinar via this link.

Innovation Fund - Information Seminar 2020

Event Start: 7 October 2020
Event End: 7 October 2020

Innovation Fund Info Seminar on First Call

The Innovation Fund’s National Contact Point in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is hosting an information seminar on Wednesday 7 October from 09.30-11.00am.

The Innovation Fund is one of the world’s largest funding programmes for demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. It is expected that €10 billion will be available to be invested up to 2030 to fund new and innovative technology that in the first instance delivers on the avoidance of Green House Gas Emissions.

The seminar will provide you with an opportunity to engage with the Department and DG Clima to inform your application to the Fund’s first call which closes on 29 October and to hear more information on the call for small scale projects which is now planned for December.

The event will take place as a live Webinar via Zoom and you can register here: https://secure.dccae.gov.ie/forms/InnovationFund.aspx

PLEASE NOTE the deadline for registration: 5.00 pm Monday 5 October 2020.

Following on from a brief overview by the Department and DG Climate Action, there will be a focussed Q&A session, and you will be able to raise your questions on Slido.

Detailed documentation about the Fund and the current call for large scale projects is available on the Commission’s website and we would ask you to review this information in advance to inform discussion on the day and to ensure the opportunity to ask questions from the Commission is maximised.

Webinars on the Innovation Fund

Event Start: 15 September 2020
Event End: 15 September 2020

GHG Emissions Avoidance - Tuesday 15 September 2020

Further to our 'Save-the-Date' email of Tuesday 08 September 2020 in which we mentioned we would revert with details of how to attend the webinar which begins at 10.00 CET. Please note there is no requirement to register for the conference as it will be web streamed, if you wish to send any questions please do through Slido please use the code #IF1C.

Financing Innovative Clean Tech - Friday 25 September 2020

This conference will bring together representatives from the Industrial and Financial sectors to discuss how both private and public sectors can come together to progress and develop the European Green Deal and discuss how best to undo the economic damage brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. If you wish to register for this event click here.

The conference will provide insight into how a project can reach financial close. Speakers and participants will share their views on the following.

What makes an innovative clean tech project attractive for financiers?
How to balance profitability and innovativeness?
How to structure the financing of innovative clean tech projects?
What added value can the Innovation Fund bring to investors and project promoter

The 1st session of the event will commence 9.30 (CET) until 10.45 covering the topic How to Attract Finance to Clean Tech?. The 2nd session which will run from 11.00 am until 12.15 will focus on How Can the Innovation Fund Help?.

Agenda - Innovation Fund Webinar

Agenda - 1st Financing Innovative Clean Tech Conference

Join the MATCH-UP session during EU Regions Week

Event Start: 14 October 2020
Event End: 14 October 2020

Join Us! for the Participatory Lab “Mobilizing people for active inclusive low carbon mobility” on 14^th October 14.30 – 16.00 as part of European Week of Regions and Cities.

The lab will share experiences from 4 different Interreg Europe projects - MATCH-UP, OptiTrans, REFORM and e-smartec - involving participants in a dynamic and interactive workshop to share good practices and policies regarding behavioral changes and other initiatives towards accessible, inclusive and low-carbon mobility. Particular attention will be dedicated to the impact of COVID-19 on public and intermodal transport.

The lab will be of interest to anyone with an interest in raising awareness and creating behaviour change for low carbon transport, behaviour change for active mobility and increasing more accessible and inclusive sustainable transport. Participants will have the opportunity to join group discussions to share their experiences on these topics.

Registration is open until 27^th September and is free but you need to register in advance. Click here to Register. (You will need an EU Login to register for this event, if you do not already have an EU Login then click on register and follow the instructions to create an EU Login Account)

Interreg NWE projects - save the date! Webinar on the 2nd call for capitalisation

Event Start: 5 November 2020
Event End: 5 November 2020

With the aim to present all detailed aspects of the 2^nd call for capitalisation, the NWE Programme will host a webinar on 5^th November 2020.

The event is addressed to all NWE approved projects eligible for this call. External organisations interested in joining an existing project for a capitalisation initiative may also participate.

The agenda will cover the terms of reference, including how to apply, assessment criteria and examples of successful initiatives from the first capitalisation call.

Registration will be free of charge, but mandatory.

The detailed programme and information on how to join will be available after summer on the Interreg NWE website.

09 Jun

Southern Regional Assembly Meeting

Launch Event: Exploring a Just Transition in Agriculture and Land Use

2023 Irish LIFE Information Day

Cities Forum 2023

INTERREG Europe Blue GReen City Final Event

Get ready for the new URBACT call for Action Planning networks! ONLINE

Invitation: State of the European Union Debate 2022: What will it mean for Ireland?

‘SAVE THE DATE’ - LIFE Bid-Writing Workshop

Irish INTERREG NWE call launch

EMPOWER Energy Poverty Technical Workshop

Final Conference for the FIRESPOL Project

INTERREG North West Europe Call 1 Event

New Massive Open Online Course on Interreg from 7 March to 24 April!

Ports, Past & Present Online Coffee Morning – ‘Sea of Stories’

ETC Network Meeting

Building Climate Action Locally: Tools from the CCAT Project

Celtic Routes series of online events 24th & 26th January 2022

EMPOWER Final Conference

EMPOWER FINAL CONFERENCE

Coastal Communities Adapting Together (CCAT): Exchanging Knowledge and Best Practice Across Borders 2021

Online info day: “Interregional Innovation Investment – I3” grants

Online Coffee Morning with the Ports, Past Present Project: ‘The Sound of Hurry’

LIFE Information Day 22 September 2021 - Registration Portal Is Now Open!

CCAT 2021: Exchanging Knowledge and Best Practice Across Borders 2021 – 19th to 21st Oct. 2021

Selkie – ‘Meet the Expert’ event series

Register for the URBACT workshops during the #EURegionsWeek!

ENCORE 2021 CONFERENCE!

MARIE - Mainstreaming Responsible Innovation In European S3

ADAPT Citizens’ Think In: 21st Century Health Information – what is important to us?

What does Health Information look like in the 21st Century and why is it important to us as citizens?

Atlantic Action Plan Pillar 1 Workshop: Using Ports to Catalyse a Green Recovery

Pembroke Dock - Doc Penfro Port Fest 2021

ERNACT Workshop: Women in European Cooperation Projects

Webinar: A Keynote Address By Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner For Cohesion And Reforms.

NWE networking event – Register now

International Transport Forum Summit 2021

Efficient Buildings Digital Days June 2021

EU Green Week 2021 – Zero Pollution

Evaluation of RTD Infrastructures

First Ever Online Port Fest for Rosslare this April

A Greener North-West Europe on 20 May

Registration

Interreg Europe Webinar: Jobs and skills for the energy transition

ETC Network Workshop Series

A Virtual Visit to the European Commission, Brussels (The New European Bauhaus and Social Enterprise)

Join the conversation on the 25th March 2021 - Making multi-level governance work in S3

Dŵr Uisce Webinars 2021

LIFE Call for Proposals from NGOs Info Session

COHES3ION virtual journey ending

TSSG Webinar: The synergy between AIML, Beyond5G networks & Cybersecurity

Free Webinar on Waterford Walls Murals Project

Webinar on Being Young in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Innovation Fund - Information Seminar 2020

Webinars on the Innovation Fund

Join the MATCH-UP session during EU Regions Week

Interreg NWE projects - save the date! Webinar on the 2nd call for capitalisation

Southern Regional Assembly Meeting

Launch Event: Exploring a Just Transition in Agriculture and Land Use

What does Health Information look like in the 21^st Century and why is it important to us as citizens?