On 11th July, the European Commission has proposed an update of the legal base of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) as well as its new Strategic Innovation Agenda for 2021-2027.

The EIT is an independent EU body aiming at strengthening Europe’s ability to innovate. The proposals adopted will align the EIT with the EU’s next research and innovation programme Horizon Europe (2021-2027). With a proposed budget of €3 billion, which represents an increase of 25% – i.e. 600 million euro – compared to the current Strategic Innovation Agenda (2014-2020), the EIT will fund activities of existing and new Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) and support the innovation capacity of 750 higher education institutions.

The EIT currently supports eight KICs which bring together companies, universities and research centers to form cross-border partnerships. The Strategic Innovation Agenda proposed for 2021-2027 is designed to achieve the following goals:

• Increasing the regional impact of Knowledge and Innovation Communities;
• Boosting the innovation capacity of higher education;
• Launch of new KICs