Brussels (Brussels Morning) The EIT Digital, a European digital innovation and education platform funded by the EU, has recently embarked on construction of “EIT Digital 2022” activities. Proposals and submissions received by 12 May 2021 will be considered. EIT Digital 2022 is specifically looking to attract and promote deep tech ventures and products plus delivery of entrepreneurial digital tech education programmes.
The platform seeks to mobilise a pan-European, multi-stakeholder open-innovation ecosystem involving top European corporations, SMEs, startups, universities and research institutes. The aim is to encourage students, researchers, engineers, business developers and investors alike to address the technology, talent , skills, business and capital needs necessary to underpin and cultivate digital entrepreneurship.
In short, the idea is to attract and gather a cross-section of “bright minds” to foster innovation and research in the digital sector. Those selected will receive EIT Digital funding and support to help them launch or further develop their digital deep-tech ventures and products.
The 2022 work programme is guided by the EIT Digital Strategic Innovation Agenda 2020-2022, which has identified five key areas of focus— Digital Tech, Digital Industry, Digital Cities, Digital Wellbeing and Digital Finance.
“We consider these to be key areas to support for a strong digital Europe”, EIT Digital stated.
The EIT Digital innovation and technology hub brings together over 300 partners from business and industry, research and academia, investment, and the public sector. To date, it has supported over 370 startups and scale-ups that have raised over 1 billion euro, and enrolled 3,000 entrepreneurial students.
Co-financed by the EU, the EIT Digital ecosystem is well positioned to contribute to the European Digital Decade, as proposed by the European Commission, EIT CEO Willem Jonker said.
“Join us to build European digital solutions with global impact. Join us in the delivery of entrepreneurial education programmes that bring Europe digital talents and skills. In short, join us to build a strong digital Europe”, Jonker urged.
EIT Digital invests in strategic areas to accelerate market uptake and research-based digital technologies, with special attention paid to Europe’s key societal challenges.
Proposals can be submitted from April 6 until 12 May and the selection will be finalised by the end of June 2021. Activities are expected to start on 1 January 2022.
