Overview

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has launched its Higher Education Initiative Call for Proposals 2026, offering up to €1.25 million per project to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education.

With a total budget of €40 million, the call aims to help universities develop innovation and entrepreneurship skills, improve technology transfer and bring research closer to commercial and industrial applications, with a particular focus on deep technology and manufacturing.

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Universities and other eligible organisations in Cyprus can participate through international consortia bringing together higher education institutions, businesses, research organisations and other innovation partners.

Applications will close on 13 January 2027 at 17:00 CET.

What The Funding Supports

Selected projects can receive up to €1.25 million over 18 months to strengthen the capacity of higher education institutions to develop innovations, support entrepreneurship and collaborate with industry.

The call focuses on three interconnected objectives:

• STEM talent and entrepreneurship: Developing innovation, entrepreneurship and intellectual property management skills among students, academics and university staff, particularly in fields relevant to deep tech and manufacturing.
• Institutional innovation capacity: Strengthening universities’ ability to move research and knowledge towards commercialisation and industrial applications through technology transfer, intellectual property management and support for startups.
• Innovation ecosystem collaboration: Building stronger relationships between universities, businesses, research organisations, investors and other partners across regional and European innovation networks.

Projects must contribute to all three objectives, although their activities can be tailored to the needs and priorities of participating institutions.

Funding can support the development and implementation of institutional innovation action plans, entrepreneurship programmes, training and mentoring, technology transfer activities, startup creation and partnerships with industry.

Who Can Apply

The call is open to consortia led by higher education institutions, with participation from businesses, research organisations, public bodies and other eligible organisations.

Each consortium must include at least five partner organisations, meeting the following requirements:

• At least three higher education institutions established in three different countries eligible for Horizon Europe funding, including at least one institution from an EU Member State.
• At least two business or industry partners, which may include companies, startups, SMEs, larger enterprises or organisations representing industry.
• All funded consortium partners must be established in eligible countries.

Participation from businesses operating in manufacturing and deep-tech industries is particularly encouraged.

Other eligible partners may include research institutions, technology companies, public bodies, intermediary organisations, social enterprises and NGOs, provided the consortium meets the call’s requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

Participating higher education institutions must demonstrate institutional commitment to the proposed project.

Each institution must involve at least two faculties, departments or equivalent units, provide evidence of its recognised higher education status and submit a formal commitment letter signed by its senior management.

The call also places restrictions on previous funding recipients.

Organisations funded as beneficiaries under the EIT Higher Education Initiative’s 2025 Call for Proposals (Cohort 5) cannot participate as funded beneficiaries in the 2026 round. They may, however, join consortia as associated, non-funded partners.

Each organisation may participate as a funded beneficiary in only one application under the 2026 call, although participation as an associated, non-funded partner in other consortia is permitted.

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted through the official EIT Higher Education Initiative application portal by 13 January 2027 at 17:00 CET.

Prospective applicants must review the full call documentation and establish an eligible consortium before submitting a proposal.

The application process includes completing the HEInnovate self-assessment, which helps participating higher education institutions identify their innovation and entrepreneurship strengths and development needs. The assessment must be completed during the application period, from October 2026 to January 2027.

Consortia must then prepare an Innovation Vision Action Plan (IVAP), setting out their proposed activities, institutional objectives, expected results and implementation approach.

Applications consist of two parts:

• Part A: Completed online, covering project and partner details, activities, performance indicators, work packages and budget information.
• Part B: A narrative proposal prepared using the official template, addressing excellence, impact, and the quality and efficiency of implementation.

Applicants must also provide supporting documentation, including the project budget, relevant declarations, institutional accreditation evidence, HEInnovate results and signed commitment letters.

Applicants are expected to receive evaluation results in March 2027. Selected projects are scheduled to begin on 1 May 2027 and run until 31 October 2028.

Information Sessions

The EIT Higher Education Initiative is organising a series of online information sessions to help prospective applicants understand the call requirements and prepare their proposals.

Upcoming sessions include:

• 4 November 2026: Overview of the 2026 Call for Proposals.
• 6 November 2026: Introduction to HEInnovate.
• 11 November 2026: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework, impact domains and actions.
• 13 November 2026: Key performance indicator expectations.
• 17 November 2026: Application and budget planning.
• 23 November 2026: EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities Discovery Day.
• 3 December 2026: Open Q&A.

The initiative also provides an online matchmaking platform to help universities, businesses and other organisations identify potential international consortium partners.

Full call documentation, application templates, eligibility guidance, information session registration and access to the application portal are available on the official EIT Higher Education Initiative Call for Proposals 2026 page.

About The EIT Higher Education Initiative

The EIT Higher Education Initiative, coordinated by EIT RawMaterials, supports universities in developing stronger innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities and building closer relationships with industry.

Launched in 2021, the initiative brings higher education institutions together with businesses, research organisations and other partners to strengthen Europe’s innovation ecosystem.

According to the EIT, the initiative has supported more than 500 higher education institutions, trained over 150,000 students and staff in innovation and entrepreneurship, and helped launch more than 207 startups since its establishment.