Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS)
The EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (EIT RIS) is designed for EU Member States and Horizon 2020 Associated Countries in Europe who are modest and moderate innovators (according to the European Innovation Scoreboard), and where Innovation Communities have few or no partners. Strategically, the scheme is an additional offer to these countries to facilitate their engagement with the EIT Innovation Communities.
Objectives
Widen participation in the EIT Innovation Communities’ activities by engaging players from countries that have lower participation. Sharing good practice, experience and know-how emerging from the EIT Communities’ activities with local innovation ecosystems. Offer tailor-made services to address identified innovation gaps. Ultimately, the EIT will contribute to boosting innovation in EIT RIS countries by strengthening linkages among key innovation actors.
EIT Innovation Communities engage local organisations to serve as EIT Hubs in EIT RIS countries and regions. Local organisations are selected through an open competitive selection process, and are designated to function as an EIT Hub for a specific Innovation Community. The primary role of the EIT Hub is to ensure the visibility of the EIT Community and raise awareness of activities and cooperation opportunities for local players representing education, business and research areas. EIT Hubs also liaise with the relevant national, regional and local authorities and facilitate the sharing of EIT Innovation Community expertise with them. To date there are more than 60 EIT Hubs in 18 EIT RIS countries representing EIT Innovation Communities.
Funding
Every year, the EIT grants funds to the Innovation Communities for EIT RIS implementation. Each Innovation Community uses these funds in line with its strategy and designs its activities accordingly. Activities under EIT RIS include education programmes, business acceleration services and Knowledge Triangle Integration mentoring. Each Innovation Community cooperates with local innovators – individuals such as students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and organisations such as SMEs, universities, research labs, regions, NGOs and cities. The EIT Innovation Communities involve the local players in education, business creation and acceleration activities, as well as innovation-driven research.