EIT Regional Innovation Scheme

Every region has ideas. EIT RIS makes sure they’re heard.

What is EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS)?

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 access EIT activities, creates links among regional innovation actors, and offers tailor-made programmes to support moderate and emerging innovating countries, as well as the EU’s Outermost Regions, in building their innovation capacity.

How we work

EIT RIS boosts innovation capacity across targeted regions – supporting businesses, start-ups, incubators, research institutions and educational bodies. Key objectives include:

Strengthening local innovation ecosystems through capacity-building and fostering stronger connections between local and European actors.

Attracting new partners to the KICs, integrating them into pan-European networks through initiatives such as Co-Location Centres (CLCs) and EIT Community Hubs.

Securing additional private and public funding , with a focus on European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF).

How EIT RIS is delivered?

Each KIC has the flexibility to shape its RIS activities according to its own strategy and priorities.

The RIS approach involves partnering with local organisations to act as EIT Community Hubs, which increase visibility, promote cooperation, and attract participants from education, business, and research sectors.

These hubs also collaborate with local authorities to share knowledge and integrate new participants into KIC activities.

How is the EIT RIS funded?

The EIT budget devoted to implementing EIT RIS activities in the 2021-2027 period will be at least 10% and a maximum of 15% of the overall EIT funding for existing and new KICs.

The EIT grants funds to each EIT KIC for EIT RIS implementation. Each EIT KIC uses these funds in line with its strategy and designs its activities accordingly.

Activities under EIT RIS aim to attract and facilitate the integration of potential new partners into the EIT KICs, as well as link local innovation ecosystems to pan-European innovation ecosystems.

Where We Work

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

*These third countries, all listed in the European Innovation Scoreboard, will be fully eligible for the EIT RIS, following the successful conclusion of individual Horizon Europe Association Agreements.