The EIT Higher Education Initiative has attracted record interest in its 2025 call for proposals, with 138 applications submitted, marking the highest number to date.
The call, offering up to €2 million per project, supports universities and their partners in strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship capacity, with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent and closer collaboration between higher education, industry and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) ecosystem. A total of €70 million in EIT funding is available to support selected projects.
Strong Demand from Across Europe and Beyond
The call mobilised a broad and diverse innovation ecosystem, bringing together 1 865 organisations from across Europe and beyond. This includes 861 higher education institutions and 515 private companies, alongside other innovation actors, reflecting strong collaboration between academia, industry and the wider innovation landscape.
Participation spans 61 countries, with all EU Member States represented and strong engagement from countries in the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS). The call also demonstrates the initiative’s expanding reach, with 455 higher education institutions not previously funded participating, while returning partners continue to engage, confirming the programme’s growing impact.
Driving Collaboration and Innovation
In addition, 36 European Universities alliances (cross-border collaborations between higher education institutions) submitted proposals, highlighting the increasing role of cross-border cooperation in strengthening Europe’s higher education and innovation systems. The strong response also reflects a growing alignment with the EIT’s Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), particularly in areas such as digital technologies, manufacturing, climate and health, further reinforcing connections between higher education and Europe’s key innovation ecosystems.
Overall, the results underline the increasing ambition of Europe’s higher education institutions to play a central role in driving innovation, skills development, and competitiveness across the continent.
Evaluation of proposals is currently ongoing, with results expected in July 2026.
About the EIT Higher Education Initiative
Launched by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), the EIT Higher Education Initiative is the only European funding programme that is solely dedicated to strengthening innovation in higher education. The initiative helps higher education institutions and their partners with the funding and support they need to become success stories. By uniting higher education and industry, the initiative nurtures nascent ideas into market-ready solutions, making Europe ever more competitive on the global stage.