We clear the way for innovation.
We’re here to make sure innovation can thrive in higher education. With funding, training, and access to our growing innovation community across Europe, we clear the path so that pioneers can succeed. And by nurturing fragile ideas into real-world impact, we make Europe ever more competitive on the global stage.
We back bold ideas with real results.
As a flagship programme of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, we offer funding, coaching, and access to a thriving innovation ecosystem.
As the only funding programme targeting innovation in higher education, we are already delivering measurable change across Europe.
700+ institutions
involved
We’re empowering institutions to innovate, collaborate, and strengthen Europe’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
1,000+
partnerships enabled
We’re bringing together partners across sectors to spark collaboration, drive innovation, and deliver real-world impact.
2,000+ start-ups and
scale-ups supported
We are supporting organisations to launch, scale, and sustain.
118,000+
students and staff trained
We’re equipping students, researchers, and staff with the skills they need to spearhead real change and entrepreneurial growth.
How can we help?
We enable Europe’s innovators to turn ideas into real-world impact. Explore how we can help you achieve your goals.
Rocket fuel for innovation
We help universities and researchers to strengthen their innovation capability, launch ventures, and build entrepreneurial skills within their institutions.
Whether accessing funding or forming impactful collaborations, we’re here to help you innovate, scale up and grow.
We’re ready when you are
Find out how you can access expert support and tailored funding.
It’s all about who you work with
We help start-ups, scale-ups, and established businesses partner with Europe’s top universities to bring innovations to market.
Whether you need funding or collaboration opportunities, we can help you accelerate your projects.
Get a little help to build your next big thing
Connect with Europe’s top universities, access talent, and find the right support.
We help Europe to meet their innovation goals
We help policymakers and governments align local and national priorities with EU goals, while supporting universities to drive regional innovation.
Explore how we can help you translate policy into real-world impact.
Experience the power of collaboration
Access insights, events, and peer support across Europe’s innovation ecosystem.
The 2025 Call for proposals is now open
Next gen AI? Sustainability breakthrough?
Apply by 04 March 2026 for funding to make your vision the world’s reality.
Success stories from across Europe
See how teams are creating deep tech breakthroughs, building cross-border partnerships, and driving institutional change.
SMART4FUTURE: bridging academia and entrepreneurship
Explore the project activities spearheaded by Maja Brkljačić, Head of the research institute Algebra LAB at Algebra University in Zagreb, within the SMART4FUTURE project.
DISCO: Uniting universities and enterprises for sustainable innovation
In this interview, Monitoring and Evaluation Expert Dr Marek Oramus highlights the impact of DISCO, an innovative project fostering collaboration between education, businesses and civil society.
OASIS and PROMETHEUS: empowering student innovation through joint technology transfer initiatives
Discover how the OASIS and PROMETHEUS projects led to the creation of a joint technology transfer office, the outcomes of their collaboration, and the challenges they successfully navigated
SMILE: Supporting start-ups and scale-ups in smart manufacturing
Learn more about how the SMILE project fosters innovation in smart manufacturing through international collaboration
DETECT! project: connecting deep technologies and entrepreneurship as a driver of institutional change
Learn about the DETECT! project’s transformative goals and the challenges of bringing creative learning to highly technical fields.
EIT Higher Education Initiative’s successful Pilot Phase conclusion event fosters innovation and entrepreneurship in European higher education, emphasising collaboration and deep tech
The event celebrated the initiative’s journey, showcasing the transformative impact of innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education.
ILCA: driving innovation and climate action in Ukraine
Anton Tkachenko discusses the development of the Ukrainian Innovation Laboratory for Climate Actions (ILCA), a project aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable practices.
Network IQ Alliance: developing networking competencies for innovation and entrepreneurship
From forging global partnerships to fostering entrepreneurial skills, discover how the Network IQ Alliance is shaping the future of innovation and entrepreneurship across borders.
VIADUCT: fostering spin-offs through inter-regional collaboration and innovation
Read an inspiring interview with Cristina Ruiz García on VIADUCT, a project helping drive technology transfer and commercialisation by valorising public research and helping universities collaborate.
What’s new in our network
Discover the latest insights, programme updates, and upcoming events across the community.
Join our growing innovation community
Multiply your impact by working with expert partners.
Access insights, events, and peer support across Europe’s innovation ecosystem.
Join the community (Opens in a new tab)Connect with institutions and start-ups working on innovations that align with your goals.
Partner with a projectGet the funding and support you need to grow your idea.
Apply for funding
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