The European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) aims to create more connected, inclusive, and efficient innovation ecosystems and support the scaling of companies.

Innovation ecosystems 

• bring together people or organisations whose goal is innovation, and
• include the links between resources (such as funds, equipment, and facilities), organisations (such as higher education institutions, research and technology organisations, companies, venture capitalists and financial intermediaries), investors and policymakers.

The actions supported by European Innovation Ecosystems complement the actions carried out by the EIC and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), activities across Horizon Europe, initiatives at national, regional and local level as well as private and third sector initiatives.

Areas of intervention

• builds interconnected, inclusive innovation ecosystems across Europe by drawing on the existing strengths of national, regional and local ecosystems and pulling in new, less well-represented actors and territories to set, undertake, and achieve collective ambitions towards challenges for the benefit of society, including the green, digital, and social transitions
• reinforces network connectivity within and between innovation ecosystems to accelerate sustainable business growth with high societal value
• supports the European Partnership for Innovative SMEs (Eurostars 3)
• complements the European Regional Development Fund support for innovation ecosystems and interregional partnerships around smart specialisation topics.

All funding information and details on how to apply are on the Funding and Tenders portal.