PNO provides you with an in-depth analysis of the new Horizon Europe programme. In focus today: the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). In this article we give you insights about the EIT funding model, the lessons learned from Horizon 2020, and the key developments and improvements under Horizon Europe.
In the end of January 2021, the EU co-legislators succeeded to reach a political agreement on the new EIT legislative package, consisting of the EIT Regulation and the EIT Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA) 2021-2027. The new EIT strategic framework has been designed to create more synergies and help deliver solutions to the most pressing challenges facing society. With lessons learned from Horizon 2020, the new EIT’s legislative package has improved with several important changes:
With a budget of approximately EUR 3 billion earmarked for 2021-2027, the EIT is receiving a budget increase of almost 25% compared to the previous programme period under Horizon 2020.
Over the course of Horizon Europe, the EIT aims to leverage this budget to:
In addition to its 8 existing KICs, EIT will launch 2 new KICs:
Simultaneously, the EIT will explore new ways to cooperate with its first wave of KICs (InnoEnergy, Climate and Digital), as their 15-year Framework Partnership Agreement funding cycles will come to an end in 2024.
As one of the core components of Pillar III ‘Innovative Europe’, the EIT is expected to generate strong synergies with the whole Horizon Europe programme. First and foremost, it will actively work together with the European Innovation Council (EIC), with which it shares the common objective to support innovative start-ups and SMEs. This enhanced cooperation was recently formalised in an EIT-EIC Memorandum of Understanding, which includes the mention of a joint working group, ‘FastTrack’ access to the EIC Accelerator (for EIT-backed start-ups/SMEs), and the possibility of EIT-EIC co-investments. In addition, the EIT will seek to create complementarities with other parts of Horizon Europe (e.g. Missions linked to KIC domains), as well as with other EU funding instruments, such as the Cohesion Policy Funds, InvestEU and the new Digital Europe Programme (DEP).
In alignment with the new European Partnerships approach introduced under Horizon Europe, the KICs will be reinforcing their openness, transparency and inclusiveness. This will, for instance, be achieved by guaranteeing transparent membership conditions, by publishing calls on the Funding & Tenders Portal, and by ensuring the public availability of project statistics. Furthermore, KICs will have to strengthen their existing Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) strategy, which provides targeted support to countries with lower innovation capacity. These measures will be accompanied by an enhanced monitoring and evaluation system, closely assessing each KIC’s performance, financial sustainability, and openness to new members.
A simplified performance-based KIC funding model will be introduced. This will comprise of, among others, the introduction of multi-annual grants, the removal of the KIC Complementary Activities (KCA) concept, and the implementation of cross-KIC standardisation and synergies, where possible (e.g. IT tools, templates, cross-KIC calls).
The EIT will introduce a new support action to increase the innovation capacities and capabilities of European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The novel HEI Capacity Building Initiative is initially being introduced as a pilot in the form of a cross-KIC action. With the overall goal of supporting HEIs towards stronger integration into innovation ecosystems, the EIT will build on successful policy initiatives such as HEInnovate, an innovation self-assessment tool, and the Regional Innovation Impact Assessment Framework.
The EIT, located in Budapest, was created in 2008 as an independent EU body. Its overall mission is to boost economic growth and job creation by improving the EU’s innovation capacity and fostering cooperation. While origi
nally set up outside the scope of the 7th Framework Programme (FP7), the EIT later became an integral part of Horizon 2020.
The EIT primarily operates through so-called Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). These are large-scale partnerships uniting key stakeholders of the Knowledge Triangle (business, education and research). Each KIC is selected by EIT through an open call and operates through a network of Co-Location Centres (CLCs) across Europe. Since 2010, the EIT has launched eight of such KICs, each of them focusing on a different societal challenge.
PNO is a market leader in Europe in grants and innovation advice. We have more than 40 years of experience in helping business like yours to secure national and European funding and investments, with more than 2000+ supported organisations in innovation projects and 4000 research clients and partners. We help you to:
We closely follow the developments within Horizon Europe and inform you as soon as new developments occur. With almost 1000 projects submitted and a success rate of more than twice the market average in Horizon 2020, we are glad to be of service again in the Horizon Europe programme.
Are you looking for support to identify the right EIT funding opportunity or develop an EIT application? Our specialists would be pleased to advise you on the possibilities for your organisation and support you in writing a successful proposal!
10/06/2025
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