EIT- HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education

The HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education has been designed with the aim of increasing the innovation and entrepreneurial capacity in higher education, bringing together HEIs in innovation value chains and ecosystems across Europe.

Thematic Areas: To ensure the pilot projects are addressing the needs of the HEIs taking part, institutions will select and implement six Actions (at least one action per domain) from the five Domains:

Domain 1 – Fostering institutional engagement and change

• Secure and maintain institutional engagement for the implementation of the IVAP, including departments and other units of HEI(s) as well as the leadership of HEI(s)
• Enhance the scale and scope of student engagement activities, including improving student support offices to advise on entrepreneurship and innovation
•  Infrastructure development (incl. digital infrastructure)
• Develop inter- and multi-disciplinary support structures, testbeds and other structures to foster innovation
• Set up or improve organisational units and/or entities, such as technology transfer offices, to develop collaborations for technology transfer

Domain 2 – Strengthening partnerships (knowledge triangle integration)

• Establish new collaborations and enhance the nature, content and types of collaborations with external partners, including businesses, research organisations, governmental bodies, NGOs and other societal partners
• Exchange good practices through enhanced networking and mutual learning
• Collaborate with the EIT KICs, e.g. through peer-to-peer collaboration

Domain 3 - Contribution to developing innovations and businesses

• Develop structures and conditions for people to create or develop their business and start-ups
• Create structures and conditions for innovation-driven research
• Utilise testbeds and other types of platforms

Domain 4 – Enhancing the quality of innovation and entrepreneurial education

• Develop or improve innovation and entrepreneurial curricula
• Assessment of teaching and learning practices
• Develop innovation and entrepreneurial training programmes and mentoring schemes for staff and students
• Organise internships in businesses

• Collect and share Success Stories and Lessons

Following Key Performance Indicators are expected to be completed during the project implementation:

• Minimum 2 start-ups/scale-ups supported
• Minimum 350 students trained, with a view to innovation and entrepreneurship of which, minimum 35 students mentored
• Minimum 50 academic staff members trained, with a view to innovation and entrepreneurship, of which, minimum 15 academic staff members mentored
• Minimum 50 non-academic staff (e.g. professional staff, support staff) trained, with a view to innovation and entrepreneurship, of which, minimum 15 non-academic staff mentored

Eligible Applicants: Universities, Private companies, Public institutions and organizations, Research Institutes. It is expected that at least 2 faculties or departments joining the project from each universities. TTO and Entrepreneurship Center are open to cooperation.

Eligible Consortium: 

• Must consist of a minimum of four organizations from three different countries
  
  • Minimum one HEI shall be an existing partner of an EIT KIC
  • A minimum of one actor from another side of the Knowledge Triangle (e.g. VET organisations, RTOs, SMEs and start-ups).

Phase 1: May 1 – November 30, 2023

Duration: 15 Months

Budget: 350.000 EURO

Only if certain criteria are fulfilled can a pilot project be extended from Phase 1 into Phase 2. 

Phase 2: January 15 – July 31, 2024

Duration: 3 years

Budget: 400.000 EURO

Phase 1 Deadline for Application: February 28, 2023

Click here for detailed information.

Due to the application limitation from each institution, it is important that our researchers who want to apply for the call inform TTO until December 25, 2022. An organisation involved as a full partner in a successful HEI project may participate as an associated partner in an HEI application.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us via tto@ozyegin.edu.tr.