EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s Post

https://lnkd.in/dZCKdzxm: This report should open the eyes of the European policymakers and bureaucrats, as their vision of how innovation actually happens is far from reality, and they continue to waste much money in stimulating innovation in the wrong way! Check out page 57 of the report. " Our analysis reveals that a large share of EU support for innovation is absorbed by companies that specialize in obtaining Horizon grants, often subsidiaries of large corporations, participating in dozens and in some cases as many as 200 projects. Horizon grants have become a regular source of financing for these companies, rather than an opportunity to fund innovative ideas. " Experts, such as Tom Broekel have already highlighted the problems with such rigid funding systems! https://lnkd.in/dxVBc8KS: Here is the full report

🚀 A pivotal moment for European innovation The European Innovation Council (EIC) Board has just released its statement on the Commission’s FP10 proposal - and the message is clear: Europe is doubling down on innovation. 💡 The Board welcomes the Commission’s strong commitment to a standalone innovation pillar centred around the EIC, with a proposed 3.5× budget increase - a powerful signal at a time when negotiations on FP10 are underway. 🔗 This vision keeps the EIC’s independence intact, reinforces the full innovation journey from research to scale-up, and strengthens Europe’s ability to turn breakthrough ideas into global impact. ⚙️ Yet, as the statement highlights, some key details remain to be defined -particularly around: • Reflows to the EIC Fund • The ARPA-like Challenge model • Synergies with the ERC and Pillar 2 🌍 For countries like Bulgaria, where innovators are increasingly active in deep tech and emerging sectors, a stronger, better-resourced EIC could open new pathways to scale European excellence from every corner of the continent.

Understanding Horizon Europe's types of action. Calls from Horizon Europe refer to types of action, where the three most common are Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). What does this mean and how does this affect your project? Here’s a clear breakdown to help you align your project idea with the right funding scheme 👇 Research & Innovation Action (RIA) Purpose: Create new knowledge, test feasibility of new or improved tech, processes, or services. TRL range: ~2 → 6 Funding rate: 100% for all participants Consortium: Minimum 3 partners from 3 different EU or Associated Countries Best for: Universities, TTOs, and early-stage innovation consortia Innovation Action (IA) Purpose: Move from prototype to demo, pilot, or market replication. TRL range: ~6 → 8 Funding rate: 70% for companies, 100% for non-profits Consortium: At least 3 partners from 3 countries (often with strong industry presence) Best for: Mature innovations close to market and public-private collaborations Coordination & Support Action (CSA) Purpose: Focus on networking, policy alignment, dissemination, and standardisation, not direct R&D. TRL: Not applicable Funding rate: 100% Consortium: Can be more flexible (sometimes single applicant allowed) Best for: Clusters, associations, policymakers, and capacity-building projects Key Takeaways for preparing a Horizon Europe proposal: Match your TRL and project maturity to the action type. Plan IA budgets carefully. Industrial partners get 70% funding. Use CSAs to boost impact, outreach, and coordination across Europe. Always check the specific call text—some exceptions may apply! If you’re shaping a Horizon Europe proposal and not sure which type fits best, start with your TRL level, consortium composition, and expected outcomes. Those three clues often reveal your best path forward. #HorizonEurope #EUfunding #ResearchInnovation

🔬 Innovation begins with discovery. We have contributed our institutional perspective to the EU policy discussions on the future of research and innovation, aligning with the goals of the proposed EU Innovation Act. 🗣️ Our core message is clear: Excellent fundamental research is the indispensable cornerstone of European competitiveness and long-term societal impact. 👉 This requires a significant increase in budget, stronger integration of basic science across all funding pillars, and enhanced flexibility to drive transformative innovation. We look forward to seeing these priorities reflected in the upcoming policies and instruments. #FundamentalResearch #InnovationAct

Europe Can Accelerate - If It Starts Acting as a System After analyzing the most successful development strategies - from Silicon Valley to South Korea’s tech corridors - one pattern stands out: breakthroughs emerge where there is rhythm, concentration, and coordination. Europe has world-class talent and infrastructure, yet much of its potential dissipates across layers of management, funding programs, and jurisdictions. If we start treating innovation as a connected system rather than a collection of isolated initiatives, Europe could make a measurable leap forward within the next three years. Here are several directions worth considering, based on lessons from the Draghi Report and the Digital Decade 2025 framework: 1. From distribution to concentration. Building a few high-impact innovation megaclusters with coordinated budgets between EU members and private investors can create true scale and global competitiveness. 2. Completing the Capital Markets Union. A single European platform for tech companies would simplify access to investment and reduce the cost of capital across borders. 3. A Pan-European Breakthrough Technologies Fund. Investing at least 3% of EU GDP into R&D - through public-private co-financing - could become the foundation of Europe’s technological sovereignty. 4. New educational and mentorship institutions. Systemic thinking and entrepreneurial leadership schools can create the next generation of transformation-driven innovators. 5. Infrastructural pragmatism. Developing extraction, processing, and dual-use energy industries will strengthen Europe’s industrial base and strategic resilience. 6. From precaution to managed risk. Creating “sovereign innovation sandboxes” for AI, biotech, and data systems would balance safety and experimentation - fostering innovation under clear governance. These steps don’t oppose existing EU policies - they reinforce them. The key is to connect all moving parts into one coordinated mechanism. Europe doesn’t need a radical restart. It needs coordinated courage - decisions made not for reports, but for real progress. If we act systemically, Europe can define a new global standard: innovation backed by responsibility, and technology serving people. #EuropeanInnovation #TechSovereignty #CapitalMarketsUnion #DeepTech #EUDigitalDecade #RDI #SystemicLeadership #SustainableGrowth #FutureofEurope #InnovationEcosystem

In its recent proposal, the European Commission proposed to increase the budget of the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) by 3.5 times in 2026, but some details still require clarification. #EU #Innovation https://lnkd.in/eFPQkM4b

The online workshop "Insights into Digital Product Passports and EU Research" will bring together researchers, EU project coordinators, policy experts, and funding representatives to: 💡 showcase innovative DPP pilots and prototypes from current EU-funded projects 👩💻 Explore practical solutions and best practices for cross-sector collaboration 👩🔬 Identify opportunities for future research, funding, and policy alignment The session aims to foster dialogue, share knowledge, and accelerate the adoption of DPPs as enablers of the circular economy You can register here: https://lnkd.in/deyAAufn

EBN Position Paper: Strategic Recommendations for the European Innovation Act EBN welcomes the European Innovation Act (EIA) as a pivotal step towards strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and closing its innovation gap. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗼𝗱𝘂𝘀: Why Europe cannot afford to wait every month of delay in implementing the EIA costs Europe its brightest innovators. Despite an 84.5% three-year startup survival rate and €880M mobilised annually by EBN’s certified EU|BICs, too many success stories still relocate abroad seeking simpler regulations and better access to capital. Building the coalition for change EBN’s recommendations draw on decades of experience and the shared voice of research institutions, investors, corporations, and regional authorities, all recognising that fragmented national approaches have failed. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: ✅ 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗺𝗲 to provide a unified corporate structure for scaling across borders. ✅ 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 by embedding certified EU|BICs and Entrepreneurial Support Organisations (ESOs) in the EIA’s delivery framework. ✅ 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 to attract and retain global talent and capital. ✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 to translate Europe’s scientific excellence into market success. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d6caCc24

We yearn for stability, but are dealing with increasing volatility, as a result we need to develop greater agility but are struggling to develop the capability. Some key messages from fantastic panel expertly chaired by Janet B. Ilieva at #GoingGlobal2025 Thoughtful and insightful discussion with Jo Johnson Leina Shi , Minh Quach and Andy Westwood . The massification of higher education presents real challenges and opportunities. The move to 14 rather than 4 “major” destination markets does not have to result in a fall in recruitment to traditional destinations – as the audience thought would happen - if these countries up their game. The solution will not come from policy anytime soon - as HE continues to suffer the great policy backlash from the failure of these Governments to address widespread public concerns about migration. The sector needs to take control of its own destiny and the panel identified the need for better governance structures and processes in order to increase agility – and we see through rapidly implemented TNE in China, South Asia and SE Asia that universities can act quickly when they feel they have to - it’s the covid effect all over again. The other key to increased agility is new and innovative public-private partnerships. This the focus of the Masterclass I was delighted to chair at the start of the conference today with Janet B. Ilieva , Richard Follett , Zoya Zaitseva, Caryn Nery, Dr Suzanna Tomassi and Dr Tom Kennie. With great participant engagement we defined the many benefits public-private partnerships can deliver to transform the outcomes for universities dealing with revenue, regulatory and reputational challenges. We covered a lot of ground over 2 hours – but here are my 10 golden rules for a successful PPP 1. Strategic fit: Does the partnership advance your mission and values? 2. Governance: Who owns oversight and risk? 3. Financials: Cashflows, margins, risk-sharing mechanisms? 4. Quality assurance: Who ensures academic or service standards? 5. Data & compliance: Who controls and protects student data? 6. Contract term & exit: Break clauses and renewals? 7. Transparency: Are KPIs reported and auditable? 8. Reputation & ESG: Partner alignment with institutional ethics? 9. Scalability: Can it flex with demand and policy change? 10. Value for money: Benchmark cost vs internal With many thanks to British Council Oxford International Education Group and QS Quacquarelli Symonds for their support and Matt Durnin for authoring and Universities UK International for supporting a pioneering report on PPP’s

Like David Pilsbury, we too "yearn for stability," but understand the #highereducation sector is dealing with increasing volatility. We agree with him that the sector needs to develop "greater agility & is struggling to develop its internal capabilities." This is particually relevant when it comes to international #graduateoutcomes & destinations data! As was identified by the panel Janet B. Ilieva, Richard Follett, Zoya Zaitseva, Caryn Nery, Dr Suzanna Tomassi & Dr Tom Kennie. Public Private Partnerships (PPP) - can be the key to developing necessary capability quickly & cost effectively. Asia Careers Group SDN BHD holds international #graduate outcomes data, destinations & insight for all #universities in #Australia & the #UK, available to all institutions for an annual subscription of under GBP10,000. Pilsbury continues "Some key messages from fantastic panel expertly chaired by Ilieva at #GoingGlobal2025 Thoughtful & insightful discussion with Jo Johnson Leina Shi , Minh Quach & Andy Westwood. "The massification of #highereducation presents real challenges & opportunities. The move to 14 rather than 4 “major” destination markets does not have to result in a fall in #recruitment to traditional destinations – as the audience thought would happen - if these countries up their game. The solution will not come from policy anytime soon - as #higered continues to suffer the great policy backlash from the failure of governments to address widespread public concerns about #migration. The sector needs to take control of its own destiny & the panel identified the need for better governance structures & processes in order to increase agility." It is time for higher #education to evidence that the majority of #internationalstudents return home following their #degree to successful #careers, driving economic growth, reducing global inequality & building #softpower. Evidencing to governments that #internationaleducation is largely #immigration neutral is essential to retain #university autonomy now being quickly erroded by increasing government, control, oversight & regulation. Asia Careers Group SDN BHD - Investing in International Futures AGCAS AIEA - Association of International Education Administrators AUIDF British Council BUILA Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) | Bureau canadien de l’éducation internationale EAIE: European Association for International Education Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) Innovative Research Universities (IRU) National Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (NAGCAS) Regional Universities Network The Group of Eight UCAS UKCISA Universities Australia Universities Canada Universities UK Universities UK International