Frequently Asked Questions

It is primarily for Higher Education Institutions that want to transform themselves toward greater innovation, entrepreneurship, and ecosystem actors. However, the initiative is built on consortia, so it is also for research centres, intermediaries, public authorities, SMEs, and business actors who partner with HEIs in the Knowledge Triangle (education–research–industry) to deliver impact.

Projects funded under the EIT Higher Education Initiative are institutional capacity-building projects aimed at systemic change. Typical project activities include:

• Institutional diagnostics and strategic planning (e.g. via HEInnovate self-assessments)
• Development or upgrade of structures (e.g. innovation offices, technology transfer offices, entrepreneurship hubs)
• Training and capacity building for academic, administrative, and support staff
• New or improved curriculum/modules in entrepreneurship and innovation
• Support to student start-ups, spin-outs, incubators, acceleration
• Connecting HEIs more closely with industry, regional innovation ecosystems, and public actors
• Deep tech specialization (in selected strands)
• Dissemination, transfers, and scaling of good practices beyond the participating institutions

The projects are not straightforward R&D or pure technology innovation projects; they are designed to transform the HEI’s innovation ecosystem, culture, and structures, increasing the capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship.

The coordinator must be a Higher Education Institution (HEI).

Full partners may include HEIs, research institutes, SMEs, public bodies, intermediaries, or associations representing HEIs.

Organisations from non-Horizon-Europe–eligible countries may participate only as associated partners (i.e. not eligible for funding).

An organization may be a full partner in only one application per call.

Full partners must be legally established in Horizon Europe–eligible countries to receive funding.

Organizations from non-eligible countries can participate only as associated partners (i.e. without funding) as long as their involvement is clearly defined.

Projects are funded in two phases (Phase 1 and Phase 2). At the end of Phase 1 there is a stop-go decision: if key performance indicators (KPIs), milestones and deliverables are met, the project may proceed to Phase 2.
In the 2024 Call (Call 4) for example:

• Duration: 25 months in total
• Phase 1: from 1 April to 31 December 2025, with funding up to €540,000
• Phase 2: from 1 January 2026 to 30 April 2027, with funding up to €800,000, subject to successful completion of Phase 1

Thus the maximum total per project is about €1.34 million in the 2024 call.
In earlier calls, budgets and durations were lower: e.g. in Call 3, the maximum was €750,000 total (Phase 1 up to €350,000).

Yes. All consortia are required to include at least one partner outside the core HEI sphere—a partner from the business/industry side (SME, start-up, intermediary, or other stakeholder) contributing to the Knowledge Triangle collaboration.

1. Read the Call documentation (full call, FAQs, guidance) published on the website.
2. Prepare your consortium (coordinate among HEIs, industry, research, etc.).
3. Complete the HEInnovate self-assessment to guide your Institutional Vision & Action Plan (IVAP).
4. Draft your IVAP and proposal narrative (objectives, work packages, deliverables, KPIs).
5. Submit via the official application portal by the deadline.
6. Attend info sessions / use matchmaking tools to refine your proposal and find partners.

The HEInnovate self-assessment must be completed during the submission window (i.e. within the time the call is open) and be referenced in your proposal.

IVAP stands for Innovation Vision & Action Plan. It is the core strategic document of an HEI project proposal, describing how the consortium plans to change institutional practices, processes and capacity over time, aligned with the findings from the HEInnovate self-assessment.

The IVAP must include:

• Clear strategic vision and alignment with institutional leadership
• Work packages, tasks, milestones, deliverables
• Timeline across Phase 1 / Phase 2
• KPI targets (EIT KPIs and other metrics)
• Transferability and sustainability plan (how change continues beyond the project)
• Risk management, governance, intellectual property, dissemination
• A description of how consortium activities connect to the regional innovation ecosystem

The quality of the IVAP is a critical evaluation criterion.

HEInnovate is an online tool for self-assessment of a Higher Education Institution’s innovation & entrepreneurial capacity. Each participating HEI in the consortium must complete it during the call window to identify strengths, gaps, and priority areas.

The results are used to shape the IVAP: the proposed actions should respond to the areas for improvement highlighted by HEInnovate.

Statistically, the HEInnovate report strengthens the proposal narrative and helps evaluators see alignment between diagnosis and interventions.

While requirements can vary by call, generally the following must be included:

• The IVAP
• Completed HEInnovate self-assessment
• Budget tables and financial justification
• Logical framework and alignment to KPIs
• Letters of support / commitment from top leadership (e.g. Rector)
• Description of consortium roles, management, risks
• Legal entity declarations, financial capacity statements
• Evidence of accreditation/status of HEIs
• Evidence or declaration of commitment to sustain impact beyond project
• Any required annexes or templates as specified in the call text

Always check the “Call for Proposals” and “Annexes” for the exact list of required forms.

Projects must submit periodic (phase-specific) reports including:

• Progress reports, deliverables, milestones achieved
• KPI reports with supporting evidence
• Updates to the IVAP, if applicable
• Monitoring and evaluation inputs
• Interim reviews (especially at the end of Phase 1 to trigger the stop-go decision)
• Final report at project end

KPI data must be supported by structured evidence; lack of verifiable support may lead to disallowance.

Projects must commit to a set of KPIs
Some example KPIs (from the KPI expectations document) include:

• Number of start-ups / scale-ups established as result of project support (with financial criteria)
• Number of innovations introduced to market
• Amount of private and public capital attracted by supported start-ups/scale-ups
• Number of students, academic staff, non-academic staff trained / mentored in innovation/entrepreneurial activities
• Number of new partnerships established
• Number of improved support structures established within HEIs

Minimum KPI targets differ by phase and by call. Please consult the concrete call text for detailed KPI requirements.

Minor changes and replacements are sometimes allowed but are subject to approval by the granting body (EIT / KIC). Such changes must maintain the consortium’s eligibility and be justified.

However, major alterations (e.g. removing a core HEI or removing a required business partner) are highly discouraged and may jeopardize the project. Always refer to the grant agreement’s consortium change rules.