The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is an independent body of the European Union tasked with strengthening Europe’s capacity for innovation by developing entrepreneurial talent and supporting new ideas. EIT operates within the Horizon Europe programme and funds projects that integrate education, research, and business (the “knowledge triangle”). EIT has announced the “EIT HEI Initiative Call for Proposals 2025”, which aims to enhance the innovation and entrepreneurial capacity of higher education institutions (especially in STEM fields) and to build long-term links between university alliances and EU innovation ecosystems. Detailed conditions of the call are available on the official EIT HEI Initiative website.
Thematic areas of the call
The call includes two thematic topics:
Topic 1: developing innovation and entrepreneurial capacity in STEM education. This focuses on integrating entrepreneurship, intellectual property management, and research commercialisation into curricula. Projects under this topic should help cultivate entrepreneurial mindset and skills among students and academic staff.
Topic 2: building strategic synergies between European university alliances and EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). This involves projects that unite several university alliances with the active involvement of the research and business communities to mutually strengthen innovation ecosystems.
Projects are expected to combine education, research, and business in line with EIT’s “knowledge triangle” approach, support startup development, train professionals with entrepreneurial competencies, and transform universities into centres of regional innovation.
Participation conditions and consortium composition
Consortia led by higher education institutions (universities) may participate in the call. Such consortia must include:
at least three universities from three different countries that participate in Horizon Europe. (For Topic 2, all three universities must belong to the same European university alliance established under an EU programme after 2019.)
at least five organisations in total, including the universities, and at least one business partner (company, startup) and one additional non-academic partner (research institute, civil society organisation, or public body).
In other words, your consortium should include a diverse set of partners: universities, business, and, where possible, research or public-sector institutions. All partners must be legally registered in countries eligible to participate in EU programmes. This structure helps ensure that the project brings together research, education, and commercial potential within a single “knowledge triangle”.
Budget and deadline of EIT HEI Initiative
The total call budget is approximately €70 million, which will allow funding for 35–40 projects. The maximum funding per project is up to €2 million. Projects are expected to run for 24 months (approximately from September 2026 until the end of 2028).
The application deadline is 4 March 2026 (17:00 CET). It is important to submit the full application package by this date.
Tips for applicants
– Study the call conditions. Download the call text and carefully review all requirements: topic focus, timelines, and selection criteria. All details are set out in EIT’s official documents, so follow the instructions and do not leave any application fields blank.
– Organise your consortium early. Search for partners (universities, companies, research institutes) using EIT’s dedicated partner-search platform. Make sure all partners meet the criteria: three universities from different countries, a business partner, and at least one additional non-academic participant. Start building the consortium in advance so each partner can obtain the necessary Participant Identification Codes (PIC) and register in EU systems.
– Complete the HEInnovate self-assessment. Each university in the consortium must complete the online HEInnovate questionnaires during the application period (December 2025 to March 2026). This EIT tool helps assess how ready your organisation is for innovation and entrepreneurship. The results will support the development of an Innovation Vision Action Plan (IVAP), the strategic plan for your project.
– Develop a strong IVAP (project plan). Use the provided “Part B” template to describe your project, drawing on HEInnovate findings. Clearly outline activities, objectives, partner roles, and expected results. Explain how your project will build entrepreneurship skills among students and staff, support startup creation, and contribute to transforming the university.
– Prepare all required documents. In addition to the project plan (IVAP) and budget, prepare confirmation letters from university leadership and business partners, as well as documents confirming institutional accreditation. Pay attention to accurate completion of the financial plan and KPIs (key performance indicators).
– Register partners on time. Each organisation must have a valid PIC in the EU Participant Portal and a profile in the EIT HEI Call 2025 application system. Ensure that all partners enter their data into the electronic form (Part A) before the deadline.
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