The European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union, celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Regional Innovation Scheme, a programme that has been crucial in closing the European innovation divide. Millenáris, one of Budapest’s most significant event venues, that used to be a giant industrial site, was the spotlight of European’s innovation ecosystem on the last week of November.
EIT Community Officers Annual Meeting
Among a week full of events, on the 27-28 November, the EIT Community Officers annual meeting took place. The appointed EIT Community Officers, a current chain of eighteen representatives from sixteen countries, that act as a one-stop-shop for all the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) in Europe, were welcomed in person by Martin Kern, the director of the EIT. The meeting was a great opportunity to share best practices and to build stronger foundations to reduce regional disparities in innovation across Europe. The attendees also had the chance to connect with other European Innovation networks such as the Enterprise Europe Network, represented by Marija Popovic, and COST, represented by Katalin Alföldi.
The Next decade of innovations for the future of Europe
On 28 November, a memorable milestone was celebrated: the ‘The Next decade of innovations for the future of Europe’ a conference marking the 10 years of the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme programme. Through inspiring keynotes and dynamic panel discussions, the attendees could explore the best achievements of the scheme in closing the regional innovation divide. Recently, the EIT RIS 2023 Report was published, highlighting the programme’s remarkable impact on achieving the EIT Strategic Innovation Agenda’s objectives.
As EIT Urban Mobility, we count with 11 regional innovation hubs since 2020. During these years, they have helped us in fostering interactions among the local innovation ecosystems, attracting partners and supporting start-ups, among many other outcomes.
EIT Jumsptarter Grand Final
On the same day, the EIT Jumpstarter Grand Finale took place, showcasing brilliant ideas from 49 teams from 21 countries, addressing global challenges across various sectors, as well as the EIT Red Kalyna Initiative, recognising outstanding Ukrainian female entrepreneurs.
This year’s winner of the urban mobility category was Urbix Hub from Bulgaria, who provide on-demand professional driving simulation training for businesses. Sessions can include weather challenges like rain and snow, traffic incidents, vehicle issues, hazards in the roadway, and emergency manoeuvres.
The second prize went to a Hungarian startup, ARport Hungary. Their solution aims to transform navigation with AR-powered guidance, enabling seamless movement in large urban spaces while reducing costs through smartphone-based integration.
Finally, the third prize was for Wyvernn from Italy, who presented an AI-driven sensor fusion software that ensures precise vehicle localization, even in challenging urban environments and enhances autonomous driving.
The programme has trained 1,180 participants so far, leading to the establishment of 124 new start-ups in emerging countries and contributing to the creation of 2,100 new jobs. Plans for 2025 include additional support for talent from Ukraine, the Western Balkan, the Mediterranean, and EU outermost regions innovators. You can check the rest of the winners and more information about EIT Jumpstarter here.
