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The EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS): Closing the Innovation Divide in Europe

Supporting the innovation communities that need us

The EIT launched the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (EIT RIS) in 2014 as its main tool for reducing Europe’s regional innovation disparities. It helps innovators from eligible countries and territories gain place-based access to EIT activities, foster connections among regional innovation actors, and provides bespoke programmes to support moderate and emerging innovator countries, as well as the EU’s Outermost Regions, in building their innovation capacity.  

EIT RIS activities are tailored to meet the diverse innovation needs of eligible countries based on their scores on the European Innovation Scoreboard. 

A network of on-the-ground Hubs established in all EIT RIS-eligible countries and territories, spearheads the EIT RIS’ unique place-based innovation support approach. These Hubs foster closer interaction between local innovation actors, link local ecosystems to the EIT’s pan-European innovation network, and serve as gateways to the services and opportunities offered by the EIT Community. They also help integrate potential new partners and participants from the local innovation ecosystem into EIT Community activities. 

Countries eligible:

  • EU Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia;
  • Horizon Europe Associated Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine;
  • Outermost Regions: Guadeloupe (France), French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain).

Check the EIT RIS website

Result of the Regional Innovation Scheme

Check out our video report from the RIS 10 years anniversary event in 2024.

Want to know where to find your closest EIT RIS Hub? 

By the end of 2025, Hubs will operate in all EIT RIS-eligible areas. There are two types of hubs:  

  • EIT RIS Hubs, each run by a different Knowledge and Innovation Community, where activities are implemented to advance regional innovation
  • EIT RIS Community Hubs, which serve as shared nodes for all EIT Communities – a one-stop shop providing information on all opportunities and activities available

Check where to find EIT hubs 

Regional Innovation Booster

The EIT Regional Innovation Booster is a new flagship initiative of the EIT, offering targeted support to start-ups and scale-ups in modest and moderate innovator countries, helping them grow towards commercial success, access international markets, and attract further investment. With a view to launching a broader pilot in at least four countries from 2026, followed by full roll-out from 2029, Poland will host the pilot phase of the EIT RIB in 2025. The EIT RIB programme, developed together with national authorities, will simplify and connect Europe’s innovation support landscape. It will create country-specific support ecosystems by connecting existing funding and initiatives, offering the most promising start-ups a seamless path to commercial success and internationalisation. The EIT plans to invest at least €30 million in piloting the EIT RIB until 2028.

The pilot phase will focus on ecosystem mapping, start-up selection and mentoring, internationalisation support, and strategic alignment with Poland’s smart specialisation priorities. A joint EIT–Poland Task Force will oversee the implementation of the programme.

The EIT Regional Innovation Booster is a key step towards realising the EIT Governing Board’s future vision of a more connected, inclusive, and competitive innovation ecosystem across Europe, as outlined in their strategic vision document.

Check out the RIS activities of the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities

EIT Climate-KICEIT DigitalEIT FoodEIT HealthEIT ManufacturingEIT Urban MobilityEIT JumpstarterEIT Raw Materials

Learn more about what the RIS can do for you with our RIS Activity Reports and Success Stories

Mid-Term Evaluation of the Regional Innovation Scheme (2024)

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has published the mid-term evaluation of the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) for the 2021–2027 programming period. Launched in 2014, the EIT RIS aims to address regional disparities in innovation across Europe by extending support to less innovative regions.

Report EIT country factsheets 2024

EIT Presence by Country and Territory

EU Outermost Regions  

The EIT works to maximise the innovation potential of the EU’s Outermost Regions through the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme. Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain) benefit from targeted EIT RIS activities through joint initiatives of the EIT Community.  

Learn more about the EIT activities in the Outermost Regions

Western Balkans

During the current programming period (2021-2027), the EIT has prioritised deeper engagement with the Western Balkan economies. In this context, all EIT KICs, working both individually and jointly, have launched a range of activities to support Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo.

EIT Community Activities

  • Business Creation: EIT Business Creation programmes connect innovators with the resources, networks, and support needed to grow. Whether at the idea stage, running a start-up, or scaling up, the EIT provides the tools to bring ventures to life.

  • EIT Community Education: the EIT drives systemic change through education, equipping learners with the skills needed to innovate. Key initiatives include: EIT Higher Education Initiative, Girls Go STEM, and EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative.

  • Artificial Intelligence: the EIT supports Europe’s ecosystem in addressing societal, business, environmental, and regulatory challenges by promoting the human-centric use of artificial intelligence (AI). It also contributes to upskilling AI professionals and enabling the EIT Community to adopt AI effectively.

  • New European Bauhaus: the EIT helps translate the Green Deal into tangible improvements in citizens’ daily lives by collaborating with startups, change-makers, civil society, and local authorities.

  • Women Entrepreneurship (Supernovas): the EIT empowers women to participate more actively in the entrepreneurial and investment ecosystem through a dedicated network and targeted educational opportunities.

  • EIT Jumpstarter: the EIT supports startups in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe through pre-acceleration and acceleration programmes.

  • InfraBooster: The EIT builds capacity for research infrastructures, and bridges the gap between academia and industry.

  • Ukraine Support: the EIT supports Ukrainian innovators through mentorships, internships, and opportunities across EU countries. Our Red Kalyna programme provides dedicated support to Ukrainian women.

Here's how to reach us

Learn more about the rules and frameworks guiding the RIS

RIS Implementation Framework

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