European innovation body offers support to Portuguese and Lithuanian regions

Climate KIC is calling on leading business, educational and research institutions in Lithuania and Portugal to apply to its regional development scheme as part of plans to accelerate local innovation that can help these countries mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Climate-KIC was one of six Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), under  European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to hold open days across Lithuania and Portugal last month, showcasing a range of programmes to support local innovation and entrepreneurship through access to European knowledge and networks.

The impacts of climate change are defined according to local circumstances, which means local mitigation and adaptation solutions are needed. With this in mind, the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme aims to stimulate innovation in southern and eastern European countries, previously over-looked by pan-European innovation efforts. 

Climate KIC, together with other knowledge and innovation communities participating in the Regional Innovation Scheme, have been encouraging local organisations to team together and apply to their programmes, with the chance to become official partners and run these programmes themselves. Such programmes encompass entrepreneurship training, access to networks and funding.

Attendees at events across Kaunas, Lithuania and Lisbon, Portugal, met representatives from across the EIT and its other knowledge and innovation communities focused on raw materials, health, digital and food, to discuss plans and discuss the potential for working with the scheme.

The Lisbon event was hosted by Climate KIC partner, the Faculty of Sciences and Technology at Nova University Lisbon. Professor Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, alongside academics from universities, delivered speeches highlighting the progress stemming from cooperation between research institutes, industry, the public sector and the EIT.

EIT Strategy, Impact and Monitoring Officer, Laura Sapujeva, highlighted how the EIT innovation programmes are crucial to solving the paradox of European innovation, where significant scientific breakthroughs have remained in laboratories.

The events driving engagement with local innovators in Lithuania and Portugal reflect the continued efforts of EIT, Climate-KIC and other knowledge and innovation communities to deliver an inclusive and truly pan-European innovation offering. 

Join the community

Lithuanian organisations interested in working on climate innovation are invited to apply for Climate-KIC’s current call for consortia.

Those in other countries looking to hear more about support on offer should contact the EIT RIS team at Climate KIC at eitris@climate-kic.org.