The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) is an independent body of the European Union set up in 2008 to deliver innovation across Europe. The EIT brings together leading business, education and research organisations to form dynamic cross-border partnerships. These are called Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) and each is dedicated to finding solutions to a specific global challenge. Through their business plan, KICs develop innovative products and services, start new companies, and train a new generation of entrepreneurs. To summarise, the EIT powers innovators and entrepreneurs across Europe to turn their best ideas into products, services, jobs and growth.

There are currently nine KICs and each focuses on a different societal challenge:

• 1st wave setup in 2010:
  • EIT Climate-KIC: Innovation for climate action
  • EIT Digital: For a strong, digital Europe
  • EIT InnoEnergy: Accelerating sustainable energy innovation
• 2nd wave setup in 2014:
  • EIT Health: Promoting innovation in Health
  • EIT RawMaterials: Developing raw materials into a major strength for Europe
• 3rd wave setup in 2016:
  • EIT Food: Addressing sustainable supply chains from resources to consumers
• 4th wave setup in 2019:
  • EIT Manufacturing: European manufacturers together
  • EIT Urban Mobility: Mobility for more liveable urban space
• 5th wave setup in 2022:
  • EIT Cultural & Creativity: Transforming Europe’s Cultural & Creative Sectors and Industries

We support the development of dynamic, long-term European partnerships among leading companies, research labs and higher education. These partnerships are called Knowledge and Innovation Communities and each is dedicated to finding solutions to a specific global challenge, from climate change and sustainable energy to healthy living and food.

Bringing together more than 2900 partners, the EIT is Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem and connects innovators and organisations. We power innovators and entrepreneurs across the EU and beyond to turn their best ideas into cutting-edge products and services. This is crucial to fulfilling the mission to create jobs and deliver sustainable and smart growth for Europe. 

Together with leading partners, the KICs offers a wide range of innovation and entrepreneurship activities: education courses that combine technical and entrepreneurial skills, tailored business creation and acceleration services and innovation driven research projects. This brings new ideas and solutions to the market, turns students into entrepreneurs and, most importantly, delivers innovation.

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of EUR 95.5 billion. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

As part of Pillar 3 ‘Innovative Europe’, the EIT contributes to achieving the four key strategic orientations of the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan:

• strengthening sustainable innovation ecosystems across Europe
• fostering the development of entrepreneurial and innovation skills in a lifelong learning perspective and support the entrepreneurial transformation of EU universities
• bringing new solutions to global societal challenges to the market
• creating synergies and added value within Horizon Europe

Its legal basis is the Regulation that sets out its mission, its key tasks and the framework for its functioning. Its strategy, priorities, objectives, key actions, activities, mode of operation, and expected impacts are presented in the Strategic Innovation Agenda 2021-2027.

Source and more information on the official website.