The project will receive funding from the EIT’s HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education. This new initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) aims to boost the entrepreneurial and innovation capacity of higher education institutions (HEIs).
As part of this project, we will be working together with the following partners:
- Helixconnect Europe (Romania)
- Wageningen Economic Research (Netherlands)
- University College Dublin (Ireland)
- Yaşar University (Turkey)
- National School of Political and Administrative Studies (Romania)
- Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (Germany)
- European Business Angels Network (Belgium)
Under the EIT’s HEI Initiative, the project will receive funding of [€ 400.000], and it will run until December 2021, with the possibility of getting extended for 18 more months.
The project will focus on the development of Ecosystem Integration Labs (EILs), which will be developed and implemented by each participating university (by relying on existing infrastructures, such as research support offices and technology transfer offices). The EILs will be tailored based on each university’s HEInnovate needs assessment and smart specialisation areas, which will govern the focus of the envisioned spin-offs. As a result, this will motivate each higher education institution (HEI) to commit to their Innovation Vision Action Plan (IVAP).
The EILs and the IVAP will build on capacity developed around the following toolkits:
- Toolkit 1: participatory engagement strategy for facilitating the entrepreneurial discovery process;
- Toolkit 2: setting up, institutionalising and operationalising the EILs;
- Toolkit 3: embedding responsible research and innovation in the innovation spin-off strategy of HEIs;
- Toolkit 4: bridging public and private impact investors to support spin-offs;
- Toolkit 5: implementing an inclusive performance measurement system (operationally, environmentally and socially) to monitor the impact of the spin-offs;
- Toolkit 6: effective collaboration, innovation, entrepreneurship, participatory engagement, and co-creation in a digital environment (DigComp and EntreComp).
ABOUT THE EIT'S HEI INITIATIVE
The EIT’s HEI Initiative is a key objective for the EIT as part of its new strategy, the EIT Strategic Innovation Agenda 2021−2027. The initiative aims to support higher education institutions with expertise and coaching, access to the EIT innovation ecosystem, and funding, enabling them to develop innovation action plans complementing the needs of individual higher education institutions. As part of its Pilot Phase, the initiative has provided funding to 23 projects, with the next call for proposals expected towards the end of 2021.
ABOUT THE EIT
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) strengthens Europe’s ability to innovate by powering solutions to pressing global challenges and by nurturing entrepreneurial talent to create sustainable growth and skilled jobs in Europe. The EIT is an EU body and an integral part of Horizon Europe, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The Institute supports dynamic pan-European partnerships, EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities, among leading companies, research labs and universities.