The EIT helps the knowledge triangle (business, education, research) to connect and work together by forming innovation communities.
pascal.verheye@vlaio.be
+32 2 432 43 34
The general objective of the EIT is to increase Europe’s capacity to innovate, better compete with foreign peers and as a result contribute to the creation of jobs and wealth.
To this purpose the EIT has formed eight innovation communities (full name knowledge and innovation communities or KICs) and their role is threefold: develop innovative products & services, start new companies and train a new generation of entrepreneurs. They have a pan-European set-up though some innovation communities have regional innovation hubs to facilitate the collaboration between the partners. Each innovation community is fully independent and focuses on a specific sectoral challenge (e.g. urban mobility, active ageing, etc.).
The EIT funds Innovation Communities up to a maximum of 25 per cent. This funding is leveraged by the EIT by incentivizing Innovation Community partners to invest in innovation and provide the remaining 75 per cent funding needed for their activities. With the 25 per cent seed funding, the EIT enables them to attract capital from industrial partners and private investors. In the longer run these innovation communities need to become self-sustainable so funding by the EIT is limited in time.
If you would like to get involved you can get in touch with these communities. All details of their opportunities are found here
Partnerships unite the EC and private and/or public partners to work together in a specific domain. They offer often a good ecosystem to find collaborations.
Infosheets contain edited content on aspects related to this programme. They are reviewed at least yearly.
Related links are easy pointers towards external information. We curate the list, but are not liable for the destinations.
Documents contain additional information related to this programme, and are similar to related links.
Avia-GIS is a Belgian innovative SME established in 2001. They have built research and public authority trust over the past 19 years and developed a unique, disruptive software suite - VECMAP® - that supports society to overcome one of its important health threats, the spreading of Pests of Public Health importance.
With the help of a Horizon 2020 SME Instrument Phase 2 project, they will be able to add Integrated Pest Management functionalities and go to the market. With the grant, that was an essential component of their second investment round, Avia-GIS aims at raising its revenue from the current 2 M€ to 14.2 M€ in 2024, and increase the headcount from 15 to 58.