The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), under the Horizon Europe program, the EU's largest research initiative, announced a call for proposals to establish its 10th Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) titled EIT Water.

According to the European Commission, EIT Water will address pressing challenges in water, marine, and maritime ecosystems. The initiative aims to tackle issues such as water scarcity, droughts, floods, and the degradation of marine and freshwater ecosystems. The EIT invites universities, research institutions, and businesses to present their vision and strategy for this initiative.

EIT KICs are large-scale, pan-European partnerships that bring together educational institutions, research organizations, and businesses to foster innovative products and services. These partnerships receive EIT funding for up to 15 years.

EIT Water is expected to have an initial budget of up to €5 million in 2026, joining the nine existing KICs operating in areas such as climate, digital technology, energy, health, raw materials, food, manufacturing, urban mobility, and culture and creativity.

To date, the EIT and its KICs have achieved significant milestones, including:

• Training over 800,000 individuals in innovation, entrepreneurship, and deep technology.

• Launching thousands of innovative products and services.

• Supporting more than 10,000 businesses, which have collectively secured nearly €10 billion in private and public funding, with their current valuation exceeding €72 billion.