European Institute of Innovation and Technology
EU body creating innovation ecosystems through Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) in climate, digital, food, health, manufacturing, mobility, raw materials, and urban sectors.
Overview
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is a body of the European Union established in 2008 to strengthen Europe's innovation capacity. It operates through Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) - highly integrated partnerships of leading businesses, research centres, and higher education institutions in strategic areas. EIT currently operates eight KICs covering climate (EIT Climate-KIC), digital (EIT Digital), food (EIT Food), health (EIT Health), energy (EIT InnoEnergy), raw materials (EIT RawMaterials), manufacturing (EIT Manufacturing), and urban mobility (EIT Urban Mobility). Each KIC runs its own grant and support programs for startups, students, and researchers.
What You Can Find Here
- EIT Climate-KIC accelerator and grants for climate startups and cleantech innovation
- EIT Digital accelerator for deep tech startups combining tech excellence and business impact
- EIT Food accelerator, grants, and innovation challenges for food tech and agri-food startups
- EIT Health accelerator and Co-Location Centre programs for health and medtech innovations
- EIT InnoEnergy business creation and investment programs for clean energy companies
- EIT RawMaterials Booster and upscaling support for companies in sustainable materials
- EIT Labelled Master and PhD programs - postgraduate degrees integrating innovation and entrepreneurship
- EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) - activities for regions with lower innovation performance
Who Should Use This
- Startups and scale-ups in climate, digital, food, health, energy, or materials sectors seeking accelerator support and grant funding
- Researchers and innovators looking for commercialisation support for their technology
- Master's and PhD students interested in innovation-focused educational programs with EIT Label
- Established companies seeking open innovation collaboration with EIT KIC ecosystems
- Universities and research institutes wanting to join KIC partnerships or host EIT Labelled programs
- Entrepreneurs in less advanced innovation regions seeking support through the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme
How to Get Started
- Step 1: Identify which KIC is most relevant for your sector (climate, digital, food, health, energy, materials, manufacturing, or mobility)
- Step 2: Visit the specific KIC website (e.g., climate-kic.org, eitdigital.eu, eitfood.eu) to find current open calls and programs
- Step 3: Check the EIT main site at eit.europa.eu for cross-KIC programs and Regional Innovation Scheme activities
- Step 4: Apply directly through the KIC's own portal for accelerator, grant, or educational program calls
- Step 5: Contact the KIC's co-location centre or hub nearest your country for local advice and support
Things to Check Before Applying
- EIT funding and programs are delivered through individual KICs, each with their own application processes and timelines
- Many EIT programs are not traditional grants - they are accelerator programs, business creation support, or matched investment
- EIT Labelled education programs charge tuition and require full application through the university consortium
- The EIT Regional Innovation Scheme specifically targets regions with lower innovation capacity - check if your region qualifies
- KIC activities primarily focus on Europe - international participation depends on the specific KIC and program
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC)?
A KIC is a highly integrated partnership of leading businesses, universities, and research institutes in a specific sector, created by EIT to drive innovation and entrepreneurship. Each KIC runs its own programs funded partly by EIT and partly by KIC partners.
How do I access EIT funding?
Apply directly through the relevant KIC's website. EIT does not have a single central application portal - each KIC manages its own calls for startups, innovators, and education programs.
What is the EIT Label for education?
The EIT Label is a quality mark for Master's and PhD programs that integrate innovation and entrepreneurship with deep technical education. EIT-Labelled programs are offered at KIC partner universities across Europe.
Can startups outside Europe participate in EIT programs?
Most EIT programs target European companies and innovators. Some KICs have international activities, but the primary focus is on building European innovation capacity.
How large are EIT grants to startups?
Grant amounts vary by KIC and program stage. Early-stage support may be 10,000-50,000 euros. Accelerator programs may offer 50,000-200,000 euros plus in-kind support. Some KICs co-invest equity in startups.
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