EIT HEI Initiative

What is the EIT's HEI Initiative?

The Initiative helps higher education institutions build the capacity to teach innovation and entrepreneurship.

EIT HEI Initiative link

The EIT’s HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education is a joint EIT Community activity coordinated by EIT RawMaterials. The initiative is a key objective for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) as part of its new strategy, the EIT Strategic Innovation Agenda 2021−2027. The initiative aims to support higher education institutions with expertise and coaching, access to the EIT innovation ecosystem, and funding, enabling them to develop innovation action plans complementing the needs of individual higher education institutions.

EIT HEI Initiative annual calls for proposals

The EIT’s HEI Initiative organises annual calls for proposals, inviting European higher education institutions to design institution-wide action plans that will improve their entrepreneurial and innovation capacity across all institutional levels. By supporting such activities, this new EIT initiative will create systemic impact, empowering HEIs to become regional engines of innovation and foster sustainable growth and jobs across Europe.

Third Call

The Third Call for Proposals will be focused on deep tech talent-fostering activities. The call will select up to 16 projects, who will receive a maximum of EUR 750 000 with up to EUR 350 000 for Phase 1 (May−December 2023) and up to EUR 400 000 for Phase 2 (January−July 2024).

Consortia have until 28 February 2023, 17:00 CET, to submit their applications. The selected projects will be announced in May 2023.