{"id":27788,"date":"2021-03-29T11:26:14","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T11:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spain.climate-kic.org\/?post_type=news&p=27788"},"modified":"2021-03-29T11:26:14","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T11:26:14","slug":"new-eit-initiative-to-boost-innovation-in-higher-education","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/spain.climate-kic.org\/en\/news\/new-eit-initiative-to-boost-innovation-in-higher-education\/","title":{"rendered":"New EIT initiative to boost innovation in higher education"},"content":{"rendered":"

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is launching\u00a0the\u00a0HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education<\/a><\/em>\u00a0\u2212 a new initiative to unlock the full\u00a0innovation potential of higher education institutions (HEIs) by increasing their entrepreneurial and innovation\u00a0capacity while integrating them into Europe\u2019s largest innovation ecosystem.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: \u201cHigher Education\u00a0Institutions play a key role in our society to nurture the talents of the future. Therefore, the new EIT Regulation\u00a0contains a new pilot initiative focusing on the innovation and entrepreneurial potential of European HEIs. I am proud\u00a0that today this new pilot initiative will kick off with the publication of a first call. The EIT will work with HEIs and their\u00a0leadership to equip them with the right tools to support innovation across their campuses and beyond. I am looking\u00a0forward to the results of this initiative that will give our universities an even larger role in Europe\u2019s innovation\u00a0landscape.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Gioia\u00a0Ghezzi, Chair of the EIT Governing Board, added: \u201cEmbedding higher education into the innovation ecosystem\u00a0is a distinct EIT feature and I welcome the launch of this new initiative to strengthen our collaboration with HEIs. The\u00a0EIT Community will now\u00a0have the opportunity to\u00a0engage with higher education at all levels to help boost their\u00a0innovation capacity. I am confident that we will see the emergence of even stronger and more entrepreneurially\u00a0equipped universities whose guidance and expertise will support Europe\u2019s ability to innovate.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The initiative is a joint EIT Community activity coordinated by EIT Raw Materials. The pilot call for proposals invites\u00a0European higher education institutions to design institution-wide action plans that will improve their\u00a0entrepreneurial and innovation capacity across all institutional levels. By supporting such activities, this new EIT\u00a0initiative will create systemic impact, empowering HEIs to become regional engines of innovation and foster\u00a0sustainable growth and jobs across Europe.\u00a0<\/p>\n

23 pilot projects will be selected and implemented over 24 months from July 2021. Each pilot project could be\u00a0awarded a maximum of \u20ac1.2 million, with up to \u20ac400,000 for Phase 1 (July\u2212December 2021) and up to \u20ac800,000 for Phase 2 (January 2022 \u2013 July 2023). Activities can focus on several themes, including:\u00a0<\/p>\n