What is the EIT and what are KICs?

The EIT (EIT = European Institute of Innovation & Technology) is an independent body of the European Union set up in 2008 to spur innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe to overcome some of its greatest challenges. It brings together leading higher education institutions, research labs and companies to form dynamic cross-border partnerships – Knowledge and Innovation Communities, KICs - that develop innovative products and services, start new companies, and train a new generation of entrepreneurs.

The EIT achieves its mission by fully integrating all three sides of the ‘knowledge triangle’, i.e. higher education, research and business, in Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). By bringing together leading players from all these dimensions to cooperate within the KICs, the EIT is able to promote innovation in Europe. The EIT's is basing on following KICs Climate-KIC, EIT Digital, KIC InnoEnergy, EIT Health and EIT Raw Materials (addressing sustainable exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and substitution).

KICs since 2014:

EIT Health: Healthy living and active aging

EIT Raw Materials: Sustainable Exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and Substitution

KICs since 2009:

KIC InnoEnergy: Sustainable Energy

Climate-KIC: Climate change - mitigation and adaptation

EIT Digital: Future Information and communication technologies