European Institute of Innovation and Technology
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) boosts Europe’s ability to innovate by supporting solutions to global challenges, nurturing entrepreneurial talent, and connecting knowledge across borders. All to support a strong, inclusive, and sustainable economy.
Through partnership and programmes like the EIT Higher Education Initiative, the EIT empowers universities, businesses, and policymakers to turn ideas into impact.
“The agile EIT Higher Education Initiative team and RiEcoLab allow us to implement institutional change and build innovation capacity, while positioning our HEIs as ecosystem integration labs for spin-offs, start-ups and scale-ups.”
Coordinators, RiEcoLab project
Driving innovation across Europe
EIT is Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem, bringing together over 2,000 partners across business, education, and research.
More than 3,100 start-ups and scale-ups have launched through the EIT community, raising over €3 billion in external capital.
The EIT’s mission is to boost Europe’s ability to innovate by supporting solutions to global challenges, nurturing entrepreneurial talent, and connecting knowledge across borders.
How the EIT HEI Initiative contributes
The EIT Higher Education Initiative strengthens innovation in higher education. It helps universities to build entrepreneurial cultures, launch new ventures, and connect with industry and policymakers. And all their work helps to support Europe’s green and digital transitions.
- Strengthen innovation capacity in universities
- Foster entrepreneurial cultures
- Launch and scale new ventures
- Connect universities, industry, and policymakers
Europe’s boldest startups and breakthroughs aren’t accidents
They’re built on the ‘Quadruple Helix’: universities, industry, government and civil society working as one. At the EIT Higher Education Initiative, we equip HEIs to act as the engine of this model–turning research into ventures, scaling climate solutions, and anchoring innovation in real societal needs.
Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs)
Our KICs are thematic innovation communities that bring together leading partners across industry, research, and education. They deliver practical solutions to Europe’s most pressing challenges.
EIT RawMaterials
Developing raw materials into a major strength for Europe by driving innovation across the raw materials value chain.
Ferdinand Bulmer
Climate-KIC
Accelerating the transition to a zero-carbon economy through systems innovation across Europe.
Catherine Laurent-Polz
EIT Culture & Creativity
Nurturing talent and capacity to accelerate ideas-to-market, business creation and scale-up, and global competitiveness.
28DIGITAL
Mobilising a pan-European ecosystem to drive digital transformation, supporting ventures, products, and digital skills.
Mattia Bellotti
EIT Food
Building an inclusive and innovative food sector across Europe to improve food systems through entrepreneurship and collaboration.
Cara Maeztu Redín
EIT Health
Transforming healthcare by bringing innovative, real-world health solutions to market across Europe.
Ferdinand Bulmer
EIT InnoEnergy
Catalysing and accelerating Europe’s energy transition by bringing people and resources together to deliver new solutions to market.
Ferdinand Bulmer
EIT Manufacturing
Connecting Europe’s leading manufacturing actors to enhance competitiveness and drive sustainable manufacturing.
Taylor Hall
EIT Urban Mobility
Encouraging positive changes in urban mobility to make cities more liveable.
Antoine Berwart