The European Institute of Innovation and Technology seeks to strengthen the capacity of EU Member States for innovation, to foster sustainable economic growth and competitiveness, and to address major societal challenges faced by the Union. EIT mission is to:
Promote and integrate higher education, research and innovation of the highest standards;
Promote synergies and cooperation between higher education, research and innovation;
Contribute to sustainable economic growth, competitiveness and entrepreneurship by enhancing EU Member States’ capacity for innovation;
Address major societal challenges faced by the Union.
The EIT forms part of Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, which ensures that the EIT works in partnership with other EU initiatives and programmes.
The EIT established 8 Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) and two more will be created. These communities are supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as generating breakthroughs in the ways that higher education, research and business collaborate. The existing KICs are:
The EIT will also launch two new KICs in specific thematic areas in order to tackle future emerging global societal challenges and needs (calls foreseen in 2021 and 2024)
The EIT will implement activities aiming at:
(1) Strengthening sustainable innovation ecosystems across Europe;
(2) Fostering the development of entrepreneurial and innovation skills in a lifelong learning perspective and support the entrepreneurial transformation of EU HEIs – Higher Education Institutions;
(3) Bringing new solutions to global challenges to the market.