The main achievements for 2023 are the following:
Bring talent to business: IHaving obtained the full EIT Label for the Master School (MS) and Doctoral Training Network (DTN) programmes in 2023 reflects our commitment to expanding our EIT-labelled activities, in 2024 we have launched the new Master’s programme Business Engineering in Urban Mobility (BEUM) to start in Fall 2024. We have also opened the DTN to external applicants, with the aim to explore financial sustainability options and augment the number of graduates from EIT-Labelled programmes. We piloted the EIT Urban Mobility I&E Fellowship Scheme, based on new EIT Label formats. For non-degree programmes, we have already developed and tested the EIT Label process for Non-Degree Education and Training in 2023. In 2024, we are rolling out this process for more courses. We continue to take steps to support our learners and graduates to initiate their entrepreneurial ventures, the Student Entrepreneur Grant Scheme (SEGS) has already supported 7 initiatives to date and continues to support our learners.
o The first initiative, the SME Market Expansion Call supported European SMEs to innovate and expand into either new geographies or industry sectors. As an agile call with lump sum procedures and processes, it built new cooperation pathways for SMEs into the ecosystem.
o The second initiative, the Targeted Programme was designed to fill bridge portfolio/KPI gaps and respond to urgent issues and technology changes i.e. Artificial Intelligence, Energy Crisis. The Targeted Programme allows for an ad hoc and quick response ensuring the Innovation Programme can respond to the market and partners with maximum impact. A successful call was launched in 2023.
o The Commercial Sustainability team facilitated marketisation and financial success of our EITHE2.4 products supporting with development of common growth strategies, sales enabling and tender scoping. Without successful launch on the market, these innovations are unlikely to reach their maximum societal, environmental, or economic impact. Overall, the portfolio FSM, has improved and EIT UM commercial partners now see ongoing and informed assistance beyond project end dates. This has changed the dynamics associated with the FSM and cooperation.
o A strong link with Impact Ventures was promoted, working together to support the journey and success of startups and SMEs. For example, Start-ups and SMEs that come through the RAPTOR or SME Market Expansion have subsequently qualified for investment from the Impact Ventures team.
Bring startups to scale: The overall impact and value generated ambition of the portfolio is to achieve the projected equity investments in startups and secure fees from value-added services in order to contribute to EIT UM's Financial Sustainability Mechanism.
• Impact Ventures (IV) intends to be recognised as the leading social, environmental and financial impact investor in sustainable urban mobility entrepreneurs in Europe. IV long term objective is to gradually shift to later-stage and lager investments and to further operationalise its investment process by setting up a dedicated venture fund. The equity portfolio has increased from 80 start-ups in 2023 to 127 start-ups in 2024 with a market value 15.5M€, of which 4.7M€ refers to SAFEs. In addition, EITUM has been appointed as the most active investor in mobility startups in Europe in 2023 by a study carried out by VIA ID and dealroom.co. This is a great achievement for EITUM.
o The Value-Added Services is a fast-track value proposition for the EIT UM startup community portfolio. The value offer aims to collect and share all possible opportunities that would help the startups grow faster. The services is accessible through a digital subscription-based platform, GrowthLab. Furthermore, Value-Added Services include customised services to ventures such as support to access non-EIT funding, professional coaching, and matchmaking which is charged at a premium. The IV thematic area generated 418K€ revenues for these services.
o The activity's Financial Sustainability will become the major contribution to the KIC's future Financial Sustainability, with an increasing equity portfolio and growing revenues. The first divestments occurs after five years (2025) and the Value-Added Services contributes to the Financial Sustainability by building yearly revenue growth from the Growth Lab platform and other customized services.
