The European Commission has launched a public call for evidence to support its planned revision of the Regulation establishing the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), as well as its Strategic Innovation Agenda.
The aim of this consultation is to gather more information about the current challenges faced by the EIT and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). This includes the issues and challenges involved in strengthening the KICs’ innovation ecosystems, as well as possible solutions.
The consultation will complement the extensive information and evidence already collected in the context of:
- the open public consultation on EU funding for competitiveness (which informed the impact assessment of the European Competitiveness Fund)
- the report entitled ‘Align Act Accelerate. Research, Technology and Innovation to boost European Competitiveness’ (lead author Manuel Heitor, September 2024)
- the findings of the interim evaluation of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme
- other reports drawn up by the Commission’s Joint Research Centre.
More specifically, stakeholders are invited to address the following questions:
- Do you agree with the main problems and challenges identified, including the need to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness through more effective innovation ecosystems, stronger knowledge-triangle integration and better translation of knowledge into market impact? What are the main features of the EIT, common to all or most of its KICs, that have contributed most (and can further contribute) to strengthening Europe’s competitiveness?
- How could the EIT and its KICs better support Europe’s attractiveness for talent, innovators and entrepreneurs across education, research and business, while reinforcing Europe’s long-term innovation capacity?
- How could the EIT and its KICs better collaborate with other EU innovation instruments and EU financial programmes in the next MFF, both within Horizon Europe and the European Competitiveness Fund, in order to ensure complementarity, clarity and coherent support while avoiding overlap and duplication across the investment journey?
- What changes to the funding and implementation model would best improve flexibility and governance, reduce complexity, and strengthen support for ecosystem-building, entrepreneurial skills and early-stage innovation while preserving incentives for impact and private investment? How could the KICs ensure closer alignment with the protection of the EU’s financial interests and ethical rules?
Individuals, universities, companies, charities, national/regional governments, local authorities and other stakeholders can submit responses to the consultation until 23 September 2026 (midnight Brussels time).
What is the EIT?
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology is an independent body of the European Union established in 2008, with headquarters in Budapest, Hungary. It is an integral part of Horizon Europe and receives funding directly from the ‘Innovative Europe’ pillar to fund its activities.
The Institute strengthens Europe’s ability to innovate by powering solutions to pressing global challenges and by nurturing entrepreneurial talent to create sustainable growth and skilled jobs in Europe. It does so by supporting dynamic pan-European partnerships, known as EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), which include leading companies, research labs, and universities. Together with their leading partners, the KICs offer a wide range of innovation and entrepreneurship activities across Europe: entrepreneurial education courses, business creation and acceleration services, and innovation-driven research projects.
For more information about the EIT and its funding opportunities contact Mr Błażej Thomas, UK National Contact Point for the EIT at ncp-eit@iuk.ukri.org.