EIT Higher Education Initiative Call for Proposals 2025

Boosting STEM innovation and strengthening university cooperation

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has launched a new call under its Higher Education Initiative (HEI) to boost STEM education, strengthen innovation capacity and support Europe’s future workforce. 

For the first time, the call will also deepen cooperation between EIT’s Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) and the European Universities alliances.

The 2025 call aims to reinforce Europe’s innovation and entrepreneurship capacity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), supporting the EU’s Union of Skills and the STEM Education Strategic Plan. The initiative will train 200,000 students, academics and non-academic staff in innovation, entrepreneurship and intellectual property management by 2028.

With a budget of up to EUR 70 million and up to EUR 2 million available per project over 24 months (2026–2028), this is the largest call issued under the programme to date. It strengthens innovation and entrepreneurship in STEM fields while inviting the European Universities alliances to collaborate more closely with Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem.

How to apply

Consortia of higher education institutions, businesses, research organisations, public bodies and other non-academic partners are invited to consult the full call text and begin preparing applications. A dedicated matchmaking platform is available to support partner search and a new interactive guide will help applicants assess their eligibility and readiness.

What funding covers

Projects can receive up to EUR 2 million, delivered across a two-year period (2026–2028). This call will support projects that enable universities and their partners to develop critical entrepreneurial skills and mindsets, launch new innovation structures and programmes, and strengthen strategic collaboration with industry and society.

Projects can apply under:

• Topic 1: Boosting the innovation and entrepreneurship capacity of Europe’s STEM talent pipeline.
• Topic 2: Strengthening synergies across the European higher education and innovation area, specifically between the EIT ecosystem and the European Universities alliances.

Funding can support:

• Developing and implementing innovation action plans
• Designing and delivering entrepreneurship programmes
• Training and mentoring
• Establishing new innovation structures
• Building partnerships and ecosystems
• Supporting technology transfer and startups

Who can apply?

Funding is available to partnerships (consortia) led by higher education institutions, working together with other organisations to build innovation capacity.

To apply for funding, you need to form a partnership, or ‘consortium’. We fund projects led by higher education institutions, working together with businesses and other organisations to build innovation capacity in higher education.

Eligible partners may include:

• Higher education institutions (HEIs)
• Businesses (SMEs, corporates)
• Research institutes
• Public bodies and networks

Your consortium must:

• Have at least five partner organisations, all based in Horizon Europe-eligible countries
• Include at least three HEIs from three different Horizon Europe eligible countries for Topic 2, all three HEIs must be either members of the same European Universities alliance established under the European Universities Initiative, or were members of the same European Universities alliance after 1 January 2019
• Include at least one business partner
• Include at least one other non-HEI partner (business or other)