Notice has been published in the OJEU on April 2nd 2009, of the launch of a call for proposals for Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). KICs will be highly integrated, creative partnerships including education, technology, research, business and entrepreneurship that will produce new innovations and new innovation models and inspire others to emulate them.

The EIT is designed to be a key driver of sustainable European economic growth and competitiveness through the stimulation of top-class innovations with a positive impact on economy and society. In conformity with Regulation (EC) Nº 294/2008 of March 11th 2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which established the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a Call for Proposals has been launched for the establishment of Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).

A KIC is a collaborative partnership, a legally and financially structured and managed entity of internationally distributed but thematically convergent parties. The KIC will establish an innovation chain - from education to economic impact - drawing on, but moving beyond the experience and capabilities of individual parties. A KIC will deliver measurable societal, economic and entrepreneurial learning and business impact.

Specific activities of Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs)

• Address long-term challenges in the themes and identify and tackle new opportunities for innovation in Europe.
• Transfer higher education, research and innovation activities to the business context and commercial and societal applications (stimulating innovation in large firms as well as creating spin-offs and start-ups and supporting SMEs).
• Attract, keep and work with partner organizations and top-class talent from around the world.
• Develop entrepreneurial people and bring them to business.
• Maximize the share of financial contribution from the private sector.
• Address leading innovation-driven research essential to the KIC objectives.
• Set up new schemes of innovation-focused education through EIT-branded master, doctorate and post doctorate education.

KICs will be characterised by geographically distributed people who are brought together for significant periods to work in centres where individuals from different types of organisations and cultures (nationalities, industry, academia, research etc) are co-located in significant parts of the innovation chain (co-location centres).

The total contribution from the Community budget to the EIT available for funding all KICs activities, is expected to be around 270 million in the period 2010-2013, with the following indicative distribution over the execution period:

• 2010: 26 M€
• 2011: 55 M€
• 2012: 72 M€
• 2013: 119 M€

The aim of the call is to select and designate the first two or three KICs. Call for Proposals EIT-KICS-2009 – Knowledge and Innovation Communities has three priority areas:
 

• Climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Sustainable energy
• Future information and communication society

Although a KIC proposal may span across areas, the KIC must address one of these priorities.

The deadline for proposal submission is 17.00 on 27 August 2009 (Brussels time). Prior to proposal preparation, the coordinator must register via the link "Register to the call EIT-KICS-2009" on KICs Call page of the EIT website. The EIT electronic registration system will open in May 2009.

Further informations as well as relevant documents for EIT-KICS-2009, can be found at the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) website.