Revitalise the European Institute of Innovation & Technology

The leading universities of science & technology united within CESAER acknowledge the efforts of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), established in 2008, to foster innovation ecosystems across Europe, particularly in integrating education and entrepreneurship. As we look to the future for the second half of Horizon Europe and with the start of the design of its successor FP10, we offer our insights and recommendations on how to revitalise the EIT and ensure it stays fit for purpose to meet the stated objective while clarifying and reinforcing a complementary role in an increasingly complex and changing landscape.

This position paper builds on our previous positions to (i) fully acknowledge the central role of universities of science & technology in developing deep tech entrepreneurship, (ii) boost disruptive innovation by fostering new mindsets and co-creating innovation and (iii) recognise the crucial role of universities of science & technology acting as the ”glue” of innovation ecosystems playing an open and collaborative leadership role that goes beyond the more passive “third mission”.

The EIT's mission to strengthen innovation ecosystems and foster entrepreneurial skills is commendable. However, in recent years the administrative burden and overregulation have grown, along with increased co-funding and backflow requirements, which detract from the EIT’s primary focus. To revitalise the EIT and ensure its relevance, we propose to (i) return to the primary mission of EIT, (ii) reassess financing of EIT and (iii) enhance synergies.