Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS)

EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (EIT RIS) is main tool for reducing Europe’s regional innovation disparities. It helps innovators from eligible countries and territories gain place-based access to EIT activities, foster connections among regional innovation actors, and provides bespoke programmes to support moderate and emerging innovator countries, as well as the EU’s Outermost Regions, in building their innovation capacity.

EIT RIS activities are tailored to meet the diverse innovation needs of eligible countries based on their scores on the European Innovation Scoreboard. 

At EIT Food, EIT RIS is integrated across all thematic areas. In the 2026–2028 period, EIT Food RIS activities will focus on:

1. Establishing a network of on the ground EIT Food Country Representatives in targeted EIT RIS countries, the members of EIT Community Hubs;
2. Strengthening business creation outcomes by increasing the participation of startups from RIS countries in EIT Food entrepreneurship programmes such as the EIT Food Acceleration Network, Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA), Test Farms, as well as the integration of initiatives such as the EIT Jumpstarter and EIT Regional Innovation Booster;
3. Expanding RIS-oriented education activities by increasing the participation of learners from RIS countries in the Biotechnology and Resilient Agriculture Academies and related training opportunities that build skills in venture creation, startup development and sustainable farming. 

Countries eligible to take part in the EIT RIS (2026-2028): 

• EU Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia;
• Horizon Europe Associated Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine;
• Outermost Regions: Guadeloupe (France), French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain).

Since 2023, the EIT has been rolling out a new network of EIT Community Hubs. Led by an EIT Community Officer (ECO), the Hub brings together the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs, e.g. EIT Food) that have established a presence in the country, with an aim of implementing joint activities, engaging diverse stakeholder groups, and fostering synergies between the EIT KICs to maximise community outreach and innovation uptake, acting as the one-stop shop for EIT Community activities in the country. For more information about the EIT, EIT RIS and EIT Community Hubs, visit www.eit.europa.eu. 

EIT Food Country Representatives

The network of EIT Food Country Representatives builds on the previous network of EIT Food Hubs launched in 2018 and active in 15 countries in 2025. EIT Food Country Representatives, operating as part of the EIT Community Hubs, will strengthen EIT Food’s national presence by engaging new partners, mobilising actors across the knowledge triangle, and supporting participation in EIT Food programmes. They will help address local ecosystem needs, facilitate capacity building, support early-stage innovation, and foster the transfer and application of new technologies aligned with EIT Food’s missions.

Selected through an open call, EIT Food Country Representatives are our regional ‘contact points’ in EIT RIS countries. These organisations are key players in their national innovation eco-systems and gather strong regional outreach and experience in supporting entrepreneurs and organising local events.

There is currently a network of EIT Food Country Representatives located across 15 targeted EIT RIS countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Türkiye, and Ukraine."