The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has launched a new Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) in 2026, called EIT Water, that will focus on the water, marine, maritime sectors and ecosystems. It will deliver entrepreneurial education, create and accelerate startups, and support innovation-driven research. 

The first year of existence (2026) will be used to build its governance, operations, and the first business plan. Full operations will launch in 2027, with up to 100% of eligible costs of project proposals covered by EIT funding. As with other KICs, funding will gradually decrease over time as EIT Water should benefits from its investments and gradually become financially viable.

EIT Water will establish eight local offices, known as Co-Location Centres (CLCs) providing access to its services and the EIT’s Europe-wide network for innovators, students, and entrepreneurs. These are the CLC's:

Headquarter - CLC North: Aarhus
CLC United Kingdom and Ireland: Leeds
CLC Central and Baltic: Berlin
CLC West: Antwerp
CLC Central and Danube: Vienna
CLC South: Sibenik
CLC Iberian Peninsula: Malaga
CLC Black Sea: Varna

The EIT Water consists of about 50 partners of which 4 are based in Flanders: Aquafin, Jan De Nil NV, De Blauwe Cluster and North Sea Port Flanders. 

If you want to know more about the latest addition to the KIC family, you can consult the factsheet. In the near future, a website will be developped with an overview of the planned calls and events.