Foundation and objective A 'European Institute of Technology' was first proposed by the European Commission in September 2006, with a proposal planned for October the same year. On 11 March 2008, the
European Parliament and the Council signed
Regulation (EC) No 294/2008, establishing the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. The goal was to foster the integration of the knowledge triangle—higher education, research, and innovation—across the European Union under organizations called Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). Each KIC would have a strategic mission and would be financially supported by the EIT during 15 years, by which it would have to achieve financial sustainability. Decreasing EIT funding rates for KIC added-value activities shall be applicable across phases of the KICs' entire life cycle (start-up, ramp-up, maturity, exit from the EIT grant. The rationale behind the establishment of the EIT was the EU's attempt to re-launch its
Lisbon Strategy, signed in 2000, focusing on a 'growth and job' agenda. The EIT was, therefore, an attempt to redefine the European Commission mandates and governance of higher education institutions as part of a knowledge-based economy route to economic and social development. On 18 June 2008, HQ were established in Budapest, Hungary, and on 15 September 2008 the inaugural meeting of EIT Governing Board was held. There, Martin Schuurmans was elected Chair of the Board.
Initial phase (2008–2011) As determined in the Regulation establishing EIT, That meant hands-on entrepreneurial education that addressed topical issues such as the climate crisis, finding alternative power source solutions, and technological advances to improve people’s lives. All three KICs accelerated the enlargement of their project portfolio through MSc, Master’s, and Doctoral programmes. During these two years, EIT-labelled programmes allowed the EIT to raise awareness of its activities and value proposition for society among external stakeholders.
As part of Horizon 2020 (2014-2020) Horizon 2020 was adapted in 2013 to reduce the fragmentation of European research and industry and refocus their efforts on UN SDG-related issues. Its implementation would be partly carried out by the EIT, who would use the KICs to overcome Europe’s fragmentation. The EIT’s budget was expanded to €2.7 billion for the 2014 to 2020 to meet Horizon 2020 objectives. Based on the Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA) of the EIT for 2014–2020, a call for proposals was announced in 2014 with two distinct thematical areas. One was for innovation for healthy living and active ageing (EIT Health) and the second was raw materials—sustainable explorations, extraction, processing, recycling, and substitution (EIT RawMaterials). The SIA also set the themes for 2016 and 2018 calls to establish an additional three KICs in the themes of Food4Future (now EIT Food), added-value manufacturing (now EIT Manufacturing), and eco-friendly urban mobility (EIT Urban Mobility). During this period, the eight KIC EIT structure was established to contribute to a larger EU policy agenda and, specifically, Horizon 2020. Additionally, the RIS Scheme was introduced as an answer to underrepresentation of innovation start-ups and education for entrepreneurs in non-EU countries. The scheme seeks out and nurtures new partnerships with research and education institutions in RIS countries. Its funding mobility programmes offer students, researchers, and entrepreneurs of any age the chance to gain new skills. In 2017, the EIT expanded the total EIT RIS countries to 18. That same year, Forbes chose 18 EIT Community members for the annual
Forbes 30 Under 30 list. In 2018, the EIT and its KICs established the EIT Global Outreach Programme, the first EIT Community-coordinated effort at the global level. It expanded the reach of the EIT Community to non-European partners. In 2020, the EIT launched the EIT Crisis Response Initiative which mobilised 60 million in additional funding for the Community to launch new projects dealing directly with the COVID-19 pandemic and its socioeconomic fallout.
As part of Horizon Europe (2021–2027) For the budget period of 2021–2027, the EIT was mandated by the EU Parliament and Council to deliver on
Horizon Europe objectives. Between 2021 and 2027, the EIT should: • Increase the impact of its activities • Create two new KICs: • Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (established in June 2022 under the name EIT Culture & Creativity) • Water, Marine and Maritime Sectors and
Ecosystems (established in November 2025 under the name EIT Water) • Put more emphasis on the regional dimensions of its activities by providing targeted support to countries who lag in innovation performance • Launch a new pilot initiative to increase the entrepreneurial and innovation capacity of higher education institutions. In March 2021, the EIT opened its liaison office in Brussels, ensuring close working ties with stakeholders like the EU Commission and the EU Parliament. 2021 also saw the launch of the HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education, addressing one of the key objectives of the EIT's SIA 2021–2027. The HEI Initiative helps coordinate cross-sectoral activities related to education and gives a wider circle of future entrepreneurs access to the EIT Community's experience and knowledge. Several projects were developed through this initiative: Skills for Future, Girls go Circular, and Women in AgriFood. In light of a full-scale
war against Ukraine started by Russia on February 24, 2022, the EIT together with several KICs initiated activities to help Ukrainians. These included providing traineeships and professional development, as well as initiating projects aimed at post-war reconstruction. == Budget 2021–2027 ==