Regional and local authorities can become a KIC partner provided they add value to the partnership in line with the KIC’s strategy.

Moreover, Each KIC has - usually around five to ten – Co-Location Centres (CLCs) with partners in close proximity, which is essential to facilitate interaction among members of the regional community. CLCs are the focal point for the KICs’ activity within these areas of focus. These Innovation Hubs build on the existing labs, offices or campuses of some of the KIC’s core partners, which serve as clusters for a particular region, discipline or task. There they bring together people and teams from across the knowledge triangle for ideation, projects and other initiatives. (A CLC is a physical hub, established in an open and transparent manner, that promotes links between and active collaboration among knowledge triangle actors.)

Last but not least, all KICs undertake a “place-based” innovation approach and 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 RIS Hub for a specific KIC. The primary roles of the EIT RIS Hubs are to ensure the visibility of the EIT Community, raise awareness of activities and cooperation opportunities for local players representing education, business and research areas, as well as, attract and facilitate the engagement of new participants in EIT KIC activities. EIT RIS Hubs also liaise with the relevant national, regional and local authorities and facilitate the sharing of EIT KIC expertise with them.