The European Commission has proposed an update of the legal base of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) as well as its new Strategic Innovation Agenda for 2021-2027. The proposals adopted today will align the EIT with the EU’s next research and innovation programme Horizon Europe (2021-2027) delivering on the Commission’s commitment to further boost Europe’s innovation potential. The EIT currently supports eight Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) which bring together companies, universities and research centres to form cross-border partnerships. Two new KICs, selected in fields most relevant to Horizon Europe policy priorities, will be launched in the coming years.
The first new KIC is set to focus on Cultural & Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) and is planned to start in 2022. These sectors and industries are Europe’s heart and soul. They highlight both our diversity and unity and inspire us to innovate. CCSI are key drivers of sustainable growth and job creation across Europe but have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing crisis. The suspension of cultural and creative activities has led to widespread job loss and economic disruption. It is therefore critical to support these sectors and industries and create new opportunities for innovation, education, business creation and acceleration. This will help power the next generation of innovators and creatives across Europe. You can learn more about the theme for this new EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) in this factsheet.
By uniting cultural and creative organisations from business, higher organisations and research in a pan-European innovation ecosystem, this new EIT KIC will deliver innovative solutions to help the sectors and industries become stronger and more resilient. This new community will train the sector’s future entrepreneurs, power its cutting-edge ventures, and deliver innovative solutions to the challenges facing the sectors. It would also bridge regional innovation gaps and harness the power of these sectors to support Europe’s cultural leadership.
For the timeline, updates and events, please visit the dedicated landing page of the new ETI community.