2026 EIT HEI Call Now Open - Application Deadline: January 13, 2027

October 21, 2026

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has launched the 2026 Project Call for the EIT Higher Education Initiative (EIT HEI)! With a total budget of €40 million, the call will provide up to €1.25 million in funding per selected project over an 18-month period.

The call is aligned with various EU initiatives, including the Union of Skills, the Strategic Plan for STEM Education, the Competitiveness Compass, and the Clean Industrial Deal. Through the supported projects, the aim is to strengthen the capacity of higher education institutions and to develop the innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property skills of students and staff within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines—specifically those related to manufacturing and deep tech. Furthermore, the initiative seeks to enhance knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and intellectual property management, while strengthening ties with industry partners, investors, and innovation networks—a process that will be supported by the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).

Application Requirements

Each consortium must consist of at least five partners, including a minimum of three higher education institutions from three different countries eligible to participate in Horizon Europe (at least one of which must be an EU Member State) and at least two business/industry partners or industry-representative organizations (such as SMEs, startups, large-scale enterprises, or industry associations). The participation of industrial partners active in the fields of manufacturing or deep tech within the consortia is strongly encouraged. Organizations supported under the EIT HEI 2025 Call will not be eligible to apply for the 2026 call; furthermore, for the 2026 call, each organization may participate as a funded partner in only one application.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted by January 13, 2027, at 19:00 Turkish Time (17:00 CET). It is recommended to review the call text when preparing your application and to utilize the matchmaking platform if you are seeking partners.

Do not miss this opportunity to secure your place in the EIT HEI initiative—a program that has garnered significant interest from our country and in which we have been involved in numerous successful projects! Information Sessions

The EIT HEI will host the following information sessions as part of this call:

Upcoming Events - EIT Higher Education Initiative

Introduction to HEInnovate – November 6, 2026

Impact Areas and Actions within the MEL Framework – November 11, 2026

KPI Expectations – November 13, 2026

Application and Budget Planning – November 17, 2026

EIT KIC Discovery Day – November 23, 2026

Open Q&A – December 3, 2026

Call Document: https://eit-hei.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/EIT_HEI_Call_6_FINAL_20.10.2026.pdf

Call Announcement: eit.europa.eu/news-events

EIT HEI and Supported Projects: eit-hei.eu