Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs)
The Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) are the EIT's instrument for fostering innovation.
sdecoret / stock.adobe.com
The Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) are the EIT's instrument for fostering innovation.
sdecoret / stock.adobe.com
The task of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) is to implement innovation activities and investments with European added value. This also includes fostering the creation of innovative start-ups and the development of innovative companies, complementing the EIC and InvestEU. KICs support testing, prototyping, and demonstration, particularly in areas of central economic, ecological, and societal interest. Implementation is carried out, among other things, through the publication of calls for innovation-oriented research projects by the KICs.
Furthermore, KICs are responsible for the development of educational and training measures, especially at the Master’s and doctoral levels, as well as vocational and continuing education courses. Through the Higher Education Initiative (HEI), they promote the innovative orientation of universities, develop national innovation ecosystems, and foster inclusion in technology and business.
KICs are largely independent in their internal structure and administration. Participants in a KIC can be organisations active in the knowledge triangle of higher education, research, and innovation, with at least three partner organisations located in different Member States.
Each KIC has regional nodes, so-called "Co-location Centres" or "Innovation Hubs". Therefore, all KICs also have a presence in Germany.
The EIT supports the initial phase of each new KIC with a grant of up to 5 million euros ("Start-up Grant"). A gradual increase of annual funding to over 80 million euros is possible, provided that the KICs achieve the targeted results. KICs are also expected to attract significant investments from private and public sources, which multiply and gradually replace EIT investments to achieve long-term financial sustainability within no more than 15 years.
In total, ten KICs are now established by the EIT. Under Horizon Europe, a KIC on water, marine and maritime sectors and ecosystems was initiated on 11 November 2025. The Partnership Agreement (PA) of the first-wave KICs established in 2009 (EIT InnoEnergy, EIT Climate-KIC, and EIT Digital) expired on 31 December 2024 after 15 years of EIT funding. These three KICs remain connected to the EIT community through a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) and can participate in competitive calls of the EIT for supporting strategic areas (especially in education).