Project description
Building Europe’s integrated water innovation community
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) launched EIT Water, a new knowledge and innovation community, marking an important milestone for Europe’s water resilience and innovation capacity. The EU-funded EITWATER project will set up its legal and operational structures. Headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark, with eight co-location centres across Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Spain and the UK, EIT Water forms a global innovation community in water, marine and maritime sectors. It connects industry, researchers, educators, innovators and policymakers to address challenges such as water scarcity, droughts, flooding, pollution and ecosystem decline. By reducing fragmentation and scaling systemic innovation, it will strengthen skills, support the blue economy and enhance Europe’s resilience, competitiveness and water security.
Objective
This 2026 Start Up Grant Agreement is focussed on the establishment of the legal and operational structures of the future EIT Water KIC, the newest Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. EIT Water will be the leading global innovation community in the water, marine and maritime (WMM) space. Headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark, with eight co-location centres across Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Spain, and the UK, EIT Water is an open and inclusive community of partners spanning the knowledge triangle.
EIT Water’s mission is to accelerate Europe’s transition to sustainable, resilient and inclusive water systems by enabling coordinated, place-based systemic innovation across regions and sectors. We will connect industry, innovators, researchers, educators and policymakers to tackle the most urgent water challenges-from scarcity, drought and flooding to pollution and ecosystem decline. By bringing together the right expertise, investment and partners, we will help new ideas flow into real-world solutions that strengthen Europe’s water resilience, support the blue economy and protect ecosystems from source to sea.
EIT Water will overcome fragmentation by unlocking the full potential across our water landscape, amplifying the impact of existing strengths, assets and initiatives across Europe, and enabling systemic innovation from the Arctic North to the Global South. We will deliver groundbreaking innovations, support impactful businesses to scale solutions across borders, and develop a skilled workforce able to respond to existing and emerging challenges. In doing so, EIT Water will help secure Europe’s water future: protecting its water resources, building its climate resilience, improving its competitiveness, and strengthening its security. Our vision is a Europe where healthy water ecosystems drive economic opportunity, environmental protection and social wellbeing.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.3 - The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIT-2025-STARTUP-IBA
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.