WATER

The Commission ex-ante analysis on the relevance of a new EIT KIC on Water, Marine and Maritime Sectors and Ecosystems reconfirmed relevance of the challenges faced by Water, Marine and Maritime Sectors and Ecosystems identified in the EIT Strategic Agenda 2021-27 and the relevance of the KIC innovation model in delivering solutions in response to these challenges. Furthermore, a KIC with an integrated approach to water, marine and maritime sectors and ecosystems holds significant potential in addressing fragmentation (incl. through EIT Regional Innovation Scheme), skills gaps and serves as a vital connecting node.

The new KIC shall add value and demonstrate excellence in each activity area (innovation, entrepreneurship and skills education and business creation / acceleration), widely cover the relevant fields of the water, marine and maritime sectors and ecosystems and have a strategy in place to build on and upscale innovative solutions developed under existing programmes and initiatives such as Horizon Europe, EU Missions – notably the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters – and relevant Horizon Europe partnerships.

For information on the thematic scope of this KIC, please consult the SIA factsheet on Water, Marine and Maritime Sectors and Ecosystems and the Commission Staff Working document on a Commission ex-ante analysis on the relevance of a new Knowledge and Innovation Community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology on Water, Marine and Maritime Sectors and Ecosystems and confirming its launch in 2026, also available in the annexes of this call.

Together with excellence, impact has been one of the guiding principles of the EIT since its creation. In a context of economic frailty, demonstrating a tangible and measurable impact is essential. The EIT Community is characterised by a focus on results and on achieving long-lasting impact in the way the EU approaches and manages innovation. It is therefore critical that the KIC demonstrates substantial impact at the socioeconomic level over time, and significant progress towards achieving its mission and objectives. The KIC should harvest intellectual, human, material and financial resources to create valuable outputs such as innovation communities, high quality curricula, start-ups, innovative products, services, technologies, through which it develops and sustains value-added business, enhances competencies necessary for innovation and entrepreneurship, and for developing solutions to major societal challenges.

A KIC is expected to create the following impacts:

• technological/economic/innovation impact by influencing the creation and growth of companies, as well as the creation and deployment at scale of new innovative solutions to address the global challenges, creating direct and indirect jobs and mobilising additional public and private investments;

• educational impact by strengthening human capital in research and innovation, enhancing innovative and entrepreneurial skills both at individual and organisational levels and fostering the creation and diffusion of knowledge and innovation openly within society;

• societal impact, including the impact derived by the delivery of systematic solutions within and beyond the EIT Community, also through Cross-KIC activities7, by addressing EU policy priorities in the Water, Marine and Maritime Sectors and Ecosystems (‘Water’) through innovative solutions, engagement with citizens and end-users and by strengthening the uptake of innovative solutions in these areas in society.

This KIC's approach to building systemic impact should be aligned with and contribute to Horizon Europe impact pathway approach as well as the EIT Impact Framework KPIs.