Overview
The EIT Higher Education Initiative will launch a new Call for Proposals in late 2025
The call will have a two-topic approach. Topic A will contribute to the EU’s Union of Skills and STEM Education Strategic Plan, driving innovation and entrepreneurship capacity building in STEM fields, and topic B will invite the European Universities alliances (EUAs) to further develop their strategic cooperation with the EIT ecosystem.
Budget & Duration
- Total Call funding: 70 million EUR
- Per-project budget: 2 million EUR
- Project duration: 24 months
Topics
Topic A: STEM
Consortia are expected to:
- Embed innovation, entrepreneurship, and IP management training for students and staff in STEM education;
- Forge new university-industry partnerships that expand and scale cross-border STEM innovation activities;
- Establish structures supporting entrepreneurial STEM talent development;
- Enhance capacity of HEIs to bring STEM research to market (including strengthening KTOs/TTOs);
- Improve diversity and inclusion in the STEM innovation and entrepreneurship pipeline.
Topic B: European Universities Alliances (EUAs)
Consortia are expected to:
- Strengthen the institutional innovation capacity of the EUAs;
- Outline a long-term innovation vision action plan; also describing how the collaboration with the selected EIT KICs contributes to the achievement of both parties’ strategic objectives including how the alliance will pursue structured cooperation and collaboration with the EIT KIC;
- Embed innovation, entrepreneurship, and IP management training for students and staff across the alliance;
- Leverage the alliance’s and chosen EIT KIC’s network to expand and scale cross-border innovation activities;
- Strengthen alliances’ capacity (including KTOs/TTOs) to support entrepreneurial talent and bring research to market.
Participation
The following organisations may participate in the Call:
- Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
- Must offer recognised degrees or tertiary-level qualifications (or comparable institutions recognised by national authorities).
- Each HEI must submit proof of accreditation by national authorities to award recognised degrees.
- European University Alliances
- Businesses (private; small, medium, or large enterprises)
- Associations
- Research institutes
- Public bodies (local, regional, or national level)
- Intermediary organisations or associations representing HEIs
- Social enterprises and NGOs
Consortium composition:
Eligible consortia must include at least five full (funded) partners:
- Minimum three HEIs established in three different Horizon Europe eligible countries,
- One business partner (private; small, medium or large enterprises)
- One other non-HEI partner (private or public; e.g. research institute, NGO, public body, KTO/TTO, science park, VC/angel investor, legally established university alliance, or second business partner)
There is no maximum number of organisations within an EIT HEI project consortium.