The European Institute of Innovation and Technology Explained
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has, since 2008, been one of the European Union's principal tools for turning research into real-world impact. Its model is simple but ambitious: bring together universities, research institutes and businesses — the so-called knowledge triangle — and create the conditions in which innovation and entrepreneurship can genuinely thrive.
The EIT's premise is that breakthrough ideas rarely emerge in isolation. They need the right people, the right environment, and the right moment — all at once.
Knowledge and Innovation Communities
The EIT operates through Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) — cross-border collaborative programmes targeting Europe's most pressing economic and societal challenges. KICs develop innovative products and services, support new company formation, and train the next generation of entrepreneurs. The EIT anchors its work in six core values: inspiration, passion, engagement, openness, excellence and dynamism.
- Inspiration — drawing on shared knowledge and experience to generate new solutions
- Passion — a genuine commitment to Europe's economic and social progress
- Engagement — active collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders
- Openness — transparent interaction as ideas move from concept to reality
- Excellence — results-oriented work with leading professionals
- Dynamism — a community ready to help innovators reach their potential
The EIT and Horizon 2020
The EIT sits within Horizon 2020, the European Commission's unified research and innovation funding framework. With nearly €80 billion in funding, Horizon 2020 is the largest EU research programme ever assembled, built on the conviction that sustained investment in knowledge is the surest path to global competitiveness and job creation.
By connecting the best minds from across the Union within a structured, well-funded framework, the EIT positions itself as a practical model for reinforcing Europe's place at the frontier of innovation and technology.