The European Institute of Innovation and Technology, (EIT) opened up the bidding process for two new Knowledge and Innovations Communities, (KICs) in Innovation for healthy living and active ageing; and Sustainable exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and substitution of raw materials.
Two grants will be awarded to consortia of companies, research institutes and universities, to set up KICs in these fields, joining three existing KICs focussing on climate change, ICT and sustainable energy.
The European Commission claims that these KICs have so far provided entrepreneurship training for more than 1,000 students and contributed to the creation of more than 100 start-ups. In addition, some 90 new products, services or processes have been launched.
Under the new Horizon 2020 R&D programme, EIT will receive €2.7 billion to create a total of five new KICs. Following the launch of the first two in 2014, KICs will be set up to specialise in sustainable food supply chains and added-value manufacturing in 2016, and urban mobility in 2018.
The deadline for submissions to the calls launched on 13 February is 10 September 2014.More information on the new calls here.
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