EIT Higher Education Initiative Call for Proposals

EIT Higher Education Initiative Call for Proposals is sponsored by European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). This initiative provides funding to higher education institutions across Europe to help them turn research into real-world innovation, strengthen entrepreneurship education, and deepen collaboration with businesses.

Call for Proposals 2025 - EIT Higher Education Initiative Inspired to build your own project? The EIT Higher Education Initiative’s Call for Proposals 2025 opened earlier in the year and has now closed. The call offered up to €2 million per project to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship capacity in higher education across Europe.

The call supported projects that enabled universities and their partners to develop critical entrepreneurial skills and mindsets, launch new innovation structures and programmes, and strengthen strategic collaboration with industry and society.

Projects were able to apply under the following topics: Topic 1: Boosting the innovation and entrepreneurship capacity of Europe’s STEM talent pipeline Topic 2: Strengthening synergies across the European higher education and innovation area, specifically between the EIT ecosystem and the European Universities alliances. This funding opportunity is no longer accepting applications.

What Funding for projects to build innovation & entrepreneurship capacity in HEIs Who Consortia led by HEIs with business, research, and public sector partners Funding Up to €2 million per project Project duration 24 months Call launch 3 December 2025 Submission deadline 4 March 2026 – 17:00 CET Key documents Call text, Part B templates (one per Topic), Budget template, KIC overviews (one per KIC), FAQs Download the full call text Projects can receive up to €2 million, delivered across a 2-year period Developing and implementing innovation action plans Designing and delivering entrepreneurship programs Establishing new innovation structures Building partnerships and ecosystems Supporting technology transfer and startups Funding is available to partnerships (consortia) led by higher education institutions, working together with other organisations to build innovation capacity.

To apply for funding, you need to form a partnership, or ‘consortium’. We fund projects led by higher education institutions, working together with businesses and other organisations to build innovation capacity in higher education.

Eligible partners may include: Businesses (SMEs, corporates, investors) Public bodies and networks Intermediary organisations Social enterprises and NGOs Have at least 5 partner organisations, all based in Horizon Europe-eligible countries Include at least 3 HEIs from 3 different Horizon Europe eligible countries For Topic 2, all 3 HEIs must be either members of the same European Universities alliance established under the European Universities Initiative, or were members of the same European Universities alliance after 1 January 2019 Include at least 1 business partner Include at least 1 other non-HEI partner (business or other) What does “partners” mean?

“Partners” are separate organisations, not individuals, officially joining your project consortium to plan and deliver activities. Partners can include universities, businesses, research institutes, public bodies and more – please see the Call text for participation requirements.

If you are an HEI ready to build your innovation and entrepreneurship capacity, and you have business or research partners ready to work with you, you’re likely eligible to apply. Check our FAQs for full details on eligibility or try our interactive guide Follow these clear, step-by-step actions to submit a strong application: 1.

Read the call documentation Download and review the Call Text in detail – applications must comply with everything in this legal document. It includes full details on eligibility, requirements, and evaluation criteria. Keep it to hand as you prepare your proposal.

Use the matchmaking platform to find your consortium partners. Confirm your partners meet the eligibility requirements (see consortium composition criteria – Section 6. 1 of the Call text).

Involve your institutional leadership early in the process, importantly in the next stage of self-assessment. 3. Complete the HEInnovate self-assessment Each HEI in your consortium should complete the HEInnovate self-assessment during the submission window (December 2025 – March 2026) to inform your Innovation Vision Action Plan (IVAP).

This can be done individually or as a group of HEIs. Join the HEInnovate info session on 18 December to find our how this works. 4.

Draft your IVAP (Innovation Vision Action Plan) Your IVAP is your proposal. Use the Part B template linked on this Call page and in the application portal to shape it, using HEInnovate insights to inform your project’s direction. 5.

Register in the EU Participant Portal Ensure each partner is registered and has an active PIC code, which you will need to enter in your application. [ Link ] 6. Access the Application Portal 7.

Complete Part A in the Portal (online forms, organised by tabs) Fill in key application content, including partner details, upload key supporting application documents, complete KPI tables, and insert your project budget. Follow all prompts and ensure no field is left blank. 8.

Upload Part B and required documents in the Application Portal Upload your completed Part B template (the IVAP) in the designated tab, upload the budget excel (using the provided template), and for each HEI, upload the signed top management commitment letter, accreditation proof, HEInnovate results, associated partner commitment letters (if you associated partners), and any other required annexes in the correct formats (PDF, Word, Excel).

Review all sections, confirm consistency between Part A and Part B, and check that your selected Topic (1 or 2) is correct. Note that the KPI tab changes in accordance with the Topic selected, so ensure your KPIs reflect those stated in the Call text for your chosen Topic. Consider having a colleague review before submission.

10. Submit your application Submit your completed application well before the deadline (4 March 2026, 17:00 CET) to avoid last-minute issues. You will receive a confirmation email upon submission.

Join our community of innovators and change-makers working together to advance higher education innovation across Europe. Connect with peers, share and access practical knowledge, and become part of a trusted network that supports collaboration long after individual projects end. Your proposal will undergo an admissibility check, then an eligibility check, then if both are validated, an external evaluation.

Results will be announced in July 2026. If selected, you will receive an evaluation report, written by the external evaluators of your proposal, as well as instructions to prepare for project launch. If not selected, you will also receive the evaluation report as feedback.

Resources to guide your application Access essential resources to help you prepare a strong, complete application: Full Call Text – Call for Propsals 2025 (PDF) Download the complete text for the EIT Higher Education Initiative Call for Proposals 2025. Please be informed that the latest version of the Call Text was updated on 10 December 2025.

Part B Template – Topic 1: STEM capacity building (DOCX) TOPIC 1: This is the template of Part B of your application that you will need to use to write your Innovation Vision Action Plan (IVAP) Part B Template – Topic 2: Building synergies (DOCX) TOPIC 2: This is the template of Part B of your application that you will need to use to write your Innovation Vision Action Plan (IVAP) KIC Synergies – 28DIGITAL (PDF) Overview document for 28DIGITAL on how prospective EIT Higher Education Initiative applicants can collaborate with and leverage the KIC’s programmes, expertise, and synergies to strengthen their project proposal.

KIC Synergies – Climate-KIC (PDF) Overview document for Climate-KIC on how prospective EIT Higher Education Initiative applicants can collaborate with and leverage the KIC’s programmes, expertise, and synergies to strengthen their project proposal.

KIC Synergies – EIT Culture & Creativity (PDF) Overview document for EIT Culture & Creativity on how prospective EIT Higher Education Initiative applicants can collaborate with and leverage the KIC’s programmes, expertise, and synergies to strengthen their project… KIC Synergies – EIT Food (PDF) Overview document for EIT Food on how prospective EIT Higher Education Initiative applicants can collaborate with and leverage the KIC’s programmes, expertise, and synergies to strengthen their project proposal.

KIC Synergies – EIT Health (PDF) Overview document for EIT Health on how prospective EIT Higher Education Initiative applicants can collaborate with and leverage the KIC’s programmes, expertise, and synergies to strengthen their project proposal.

KIC Synergies – EIT Manufacturing (PDF) Overview document for EIT Manufacturing on how prospective EIT Higher Education Initiative applicants can collaborate with and leverage the KIC’s programmes, expertise, and synergies to strengthen their project proposal.

KIC Synergies – EIT RawMaterials (PDF) Overview document for EIT RawMaterials on how prospective EIT Higher Education Initiative applicants can collaborate with and leverage the KIC’s programmes, expertise, and synergies to strengthen their project proposal.

KIC Synergies – EIT Urban Mobility (PDF) Overview document for EIT Urban Mobility on how prospective EIT Higher Education Initiative applicants can collaborate with and leverage the KIC’s programmes, expertise, and synergies to strengthen their project proposal…. Access the Application Portal Submit your application directly through the official EIT HEI submission platform.

Find clear answers to common questions about eligibility, deadlines, and application steps. Info session recordings and slides You missed one of the sessions? No problem!

Watch the recordings of our info sessions and catch up on what has been discussed. Download the slide deck and go through it in your own time. You can find all recordings of our past Info Sessions as a playlist here or click the individual session entries below to watch a specific recording.

Info session recordings and slides Info Session Recording #1: Overview of EIT HEI Call for Proposals 2025 This 90-minute session provides interested institutions and partners with a clear overview of the call’s objectives, requirements, structure, timeline, and opportunities, helping both newcomers and experienced participants understand how to prepare and position their institutions for successful, collaborative impact in higher education innovation across Europe.

Info Session Recording #2: Introduction to HEInnovate Join us for “Introduction to HEInnovate”, an info session designed to help higher education institutions understand the purpose and use of the HEInnovate self-assessment tool. HEInnovate is a free online resource developed by the European Commission and the OECD to help institutions reflect on their innovation and entrepreneurship capacity across several key dimensions.

Info Session Recording #3: European Universities alliances Participation Join us for “European Universities alliances Participation”, an information session dedicated to the second topic of the EIT Higher Education Initiative Call for Proposals 2025. This topic focuses on collaboration between European Universities alliances (EUAs) and the EIT’s Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).

Info Session #4: MEL Framework and the Impact Domains and Actions Join us for “MEL Framework and the Impact Domains and Actions”, an info session focused on the Measurement, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) approach used within the EIT Higher Education Initiative. This session is designed to help prospective applicants understand how the MEL framework works and how it supports meaningful, measurable impact across funded projects.

Info Session #5: KPI Expectations Join us for “KPI Expectations”, an info session designed to help applicants navigate the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) required under the EIT Higher Education Initiative Call for Proposals 2025.

This session will provide a structured overview of both mandatory and optional KPIs, offering participants a clear understanding of what each KPI measures and how they relate to the overall project lifecycle.

Info Session #6: Application and Budget Planning Info Session #7: Open Q&A Join us for our final session, “Open Q&A”, an opportunity for applicants to ask any remaining questions related to the EIT Higher Education Initiative Call for Proposals 2025. This session is designed as an open space where participants can seek clarification on any aspect of the call, including topics covered in the previous info sessions.

Frequently asked questions What are the main objectives of the 2025 Call? The 2025 Call has two core objectives: (1) strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurship capacity of Europe’s STEM talent pipeline; and (2) build long-term synergies between European University alliances and the EIT KICs to boost competitiveness, resilience, and strategic autonomy.

The call is structured in two Topics: Topic 1 – STEM capacity building; Topic 2 – Building synergies. For more details, see section 2 of the Call text. How does this Call link to EU policy priorities?

For more details, see section 2. 1 of the Call text. What is the high‑level scope for all projects?

Projects are expected to fully integrate the three dimensions of the EIT Knowledge Triangle – education, innovation, and business – to strengthen cooperation between higher education institutions, industry, and other innovation actors.

This integration should accelerate the translation of knowledge and research into tangible societal and economic impact and reinforce entrepreneurial mindsets and skills across the participating institutions and their ecosystems at regional and European level while showing a measurable commitment to diversity and inclusion. For more details, see section 2. 2 of the Call text.

What is expected of HEI leadership and institutional engagement? Top management must be actively engaged from proposal stage through implementation, embedding innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) in institutional strategies and governance. A signed top‑management commitment letter (template in the Application Portal) is required, listing the participating faculties/departments.

For more details, see section 3. 6 of the Call text. How should we avoid double funding with other EU calls?

Applications must explain complementarity and avoid duplication with other EU funding (e.g., HORIZON‑WIDERA and Erasmus+ for European Universities). Any duplication which presents a risk against double funding will automatically exclude the proposal from the selection process. Who can apply?

Do we need non‑HEI partners? Consortia must follow the Knowledge Triangle model and must be comprised of a minimum of three higher education institutions (HEIs), based in three different Horizon Europe eligible countries, at least one business partner (any size private‑sector enterprise) and at least one other non‑HEI organisation (this can be a second business partner) as full consortium members.

For more details, see section 6 of the Call text. Do KICs participate as partners in proposals? No. EIT KICs do not participate as partners in proposals.

Selected projects are allocated to a participating KIC for project management purposes (contracting, monitoring, support) and will act as intermediary grant authorities during the full life cycle of the funded projects. For more details, see section 3. 3 of the Call text.

Are European University Alliances (EUAs) eligible? Yes. EUAs are encouraged—especially under Topic 2—to establish long‑term strategic cooperation with 2–3 KICs, aligning with KIC priorities where relevant.

What documentation do HEIs need regarding accreditation and leadership commitment? Each HEI must provide proof of accreditation by national authorities and a top‑management Commitment Letter listing the engaged faculties/departments (official template available in the portal). For more details, see section 3.

6 of the Call text. Can previous partners, including those who have already acted as coordinators, apply to Call 5 either as partners or as coordinators? Organisations that have previously participated as full partners in selected EIT HEI projects from Cohorts 1, 2, 3 and 4 are permitted to apply again either as full partners or coordinators.

Furthermore, Cohort 1 – 4 EIT HEI partners should assume the role of “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Pioneer” within their consortium and the wider EIT HEI Community. This pioneer role, and the associated activities, must be clearly described and justified throughout the project’s IVAP. For more details, see section 3.

7 of the Call text Do previous EIT HEI partners (Cohorts 1–4) have a special role? Yes. They are encouraged to apply and should act as Innovation & Entrepreneurship Pioneers—mentoring novice partners, transferring proven approaches (especially to STEM under Topic 1) and sharing good practices.

For Topic 2 applicants, European University alliance-member organisations with previous experience of the EIT ecosystem are expected to further embed their previous innovation capacity building activities into the wider alliance strategy and portfolio, with particular emphasis on cooperation with the EIT KICs. For both topic 1 and topic 2, proposals must clearly describe and justify this pioneer role throughout the project´s IVAP.

For more details, see section 3. 7 of the Call text. For further information to help please see: Download Call 2025 FAQ Guide Join the Community (Opens in a new tab)