EIT Water

The Call for Proposals for EIT Water is now closed! The winning consortia leading EIT Water has been designated.

As part of its strategy for 2021-2027, the EIT launched an open call to create a new Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) in the field of water, marine and maritime sectors and ecosystems in January 2025. The need and value of the Call was confirmed by a European Commission analysis published in June 2024 that presented how the establishment of the new KIC is needed to tackle water scarcity, droughts, floods, and marine and freshwater degradation.

Following a rigorous evaluation process, a Pan-European consortium was selected to lead the creation of EIT Water in November 2025. The new KIC will unite water, marine, and maritime innovators to join the EIT Community and build a pan-European partnership that addresses the most pressing challenges facing water-related innovation ecosystems.

What will this new Knowledge and Innovation Community set out to do?

EIT Water will help position Europe as a global leader, strengthening the EU’s competitiveness, employment, and economic growth.

It will apply the unique EIT KIC model and bring together top businesses, research centres, and universities to provide education programmes, innovation-driven research projects, and business creation and acceleration programmes.

It will also forge synergies and complement existing initiatives by creating a pan-European ecosystem in the water, marine and maritime fields, connecting business, education and research organisations. The KIC will capitalise on the knowledge and findings of Horizon Europe Partnerships and missions, including the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’.

How was the winning team of the Call for EIT Water selected?

The EIT has organised a series of info sessions and events, as well an extensive outreach campaign to inform business, research and academia across Europe about the Call for Proposals to create a new KIC in the water, marine and maritime sectors.

After the 17 June 2025 application deadline, the evaluation of applications took place from June to September, with the involvement of external experts. By the end of October 2025, the EIT Governing Board (GB) confirmed evaluation results and invited those applicants to the EIT GB hearings who have reached the threshold of 70/100. The hearings took place on 11 November.

Find out more about the evaluation process!

What are the next steps?

The winning consortium will be invited to submit a Start-Up Plan in late December 2025–early January 2026. The Start-Up Grant agreement is planned to be signed in February 2026, and upon successful completion of the start-up phase, the EIT will sign a 7-year Partnership Agreement in late 2026–early 2027 with the new KIC.

Why the water, marine and maritime fields?

Water is essential for sustaining all life on Earth. It plays a significant role in the Earth’s climate and biodiversity. It has a crucial role for health, wellbeing, and prosperity. It is also a vital source of food and renewable energy production, and a key driver of the global economy including trade and transport.

Freshwater and marine ecosystems have been under considerable and increasing stress due to the overuse and mismanagement of natural resources and changing land-sea uses. Global aquatic resources are significantly impacted, and biodiversity is threatened by climate change, industrial misuse and pollution.

The new EIT KIC will develop an integrated approach across freshwater, marine and maritime sectors, supporting education and skill development, innovation projects as well as the ideation, development, deployment and commercialisation of new technologies, products and services.

What is an EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC)?

An EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community is a thriving partnership that brings together partners from businesses, research centres and higher education institutions to power innovation. EIT has set up nine KICs, each tackling a specific global challenge, from climate change to sustainable energy and urban mobility to the digitalisation of our societies.

The EIT Community powers:

a new generation of trained entrepreneurs and innovators

innovative products and services that are developed and launched on the market in green, health and deep tech

startups and ventures that are formed and scaled.

Download the factsheet on the winning team!

Read the press release