The newly published EIT RIS Report 2025 showcases how the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s (EIT) Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) continues to strengthen innovation ecosystems across Europe, ensuring that talent, ideas and entrepreneurial ambition can thrive regardless of geography. The 2025 results demonstrate the growing impact of the programme in connecting emerging innovation regions to European opportunities, networks and funding.
Across the EIT Community, RIS activities supported 910 startups and scaleups, engaged 71,445 participants in education and skills development programmes, attracted a record €579.3 million in external investment, and collaborated with 1,680 ecosystem partners. These figures highlight the role of RIS in helping bridge Europe’s innovation divide while supporting sustainable economic growth at regional level.
Connecting local ecosystems to European opportunities
As part of this collective achievement, EIT Urban Mobility continued to strengthen innovation ecosystems across RIS countries through activities spanning education, entrepreneurship, innovation and investment. In 2025, the organisation engaged 1,951 participants through 40 activities in 16 RIS countries and territories, supporting innovators, startups, researchers, students and public authorities working to transform urban mobility.
Central to this success is EIT Urban Mobility’s network of 11 Country Representatives, who act as local entry points to the EIT Community. By connecting regional stakeholders with European programmes, partnerships and funding opportunities, they help ensure that promising innovators can access support regardless of where they are based. Their efforts contributed to the generation of 36 new leads, the creation of six new partnerships, and the establishment of 16 new startups during 2025.
The work of the Country Representatives is complemented by the broader network of EIT Community Officers, who foster collaboration across the different EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). Together, they help create stronger regional ecosystems by connecting local actors with expertise and opportunities spanning sectors such as mobility, energy, digital technologies, health, food and climate innovation. This coordinated approach enables regions to benefit from the full strength of the EIT Community and unlock cross-sector innovation opportunities.
Investing in people and skills
Developing entrepreneurial and innovation talent remains a core objective of EIT Urban Mobility’s RIS activities. In 2025, the organisation supported 15 RIS education projects, equipping students, researchers, young professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills needed to address mobility challenges and bring innovative solutions to market.
Through challenge-based learning, entrepreneurial training and international collaboration opportunities, participants gained practical experience in innovation management, business development and sustainable mobility. The current edition of the RIS Education Open Call 2026 (launched June 2025) selected 16 projects from over 20 countries, including first-time initiatives in Albania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Building stronger innovation ecosystems
Beyond supporting individual innovators, EIT Urban Mobility is investing in the long-term development of regional innovation ecosystems. A notable example is inVest – Urban Mobility Accelerator, the first programme in Romania dedicated exclusively to urban mobility innovation. Developed with support from EIT Urban Mobility, ADR Vest, Iceberg Plus and Cowork Timișoara, the initiative aims to position Western Romania as a hub for mobility entrepreneurship and urban innovation.
The programme attracted more than 50 applications from across Europe, selecting 14 startups and entrepreneurial teams developing solutions in areas such as urban logistics, shared mobility, micromobility and traffic optimisation. Participants received tailored mentoring, access to pilot opportunities with cities and public authorities, investor connections, and access to a €260,000 funding pool, helping transform innovative ideas into scalable businesses.
The programme has now entered its second phase, with four of the most promising startups from the first cohort set to receive a combined €800,000 in funding to further develop and scale their solutions.
By combining startup support, regional collaboration and investment opportunities, inVest demonstrates how RIS initiatives can strengthen local innovation capacity while creating pathways for long-term growth.
Turning innovation into real-world impact
The report also highlights several examples of RIS-supported innovations addressing concrete urban mobility challenges.
One such example is SAFELIGHT, an AI-powered solution developed by Romanian company Flash Lighting Services through the RAPTOR programme. The technology enables cities to assess nighttime visibility conditions and identify locations where improved lighting can enhance safety, particularly for vulnerable road users. Pilot implementations have supported evidence-based improvements to urban infrastructure, translating innovation into tangible benefits for citizens.
Another standout success story is EIT Urban Mobility’s portfolio startup .lumen, the Romanian deep-tech company developing the world’s first AI-powered navigation glasses for people with visual impairments. In 2025, EIT Urban Mobility invested €500,000 in the company, supporting a solution that combines artificial intelligence, computer vision and haptic feedback to help users navigate independently. Already tested by more than 300 users in nearly 30 countries, .lumen demonstrates how mobility innovation can improve accessibility and quality of life on a global scale.
More broadly, EIT Urban Mobility’s Impact Ventures activities supported 129 startups, facilitated seven investment deals worth €1.9 million, and helped RIS-supported companies attract €16.83 million in external investment, significantly exceeding programme targets.
A shared European success
The results showcased in the RIS 2025 report demonstrate the value of connecting regional talent with European opportunities. For EIT Urban Mobility, these achievements reflect the combined efforts of innovators, partners, cities, Country Representatives and EIT Community Officers working together to strengthen local ecosystems and bring innovation closer to citizens across Europe.
As Europe continues its transition towards a greener, more competitive and more resilient future, EIT Urban Mobility remains committed to empowering innovators, supporting entrepreneurship and ensuring that sustainable mobility solutions can emerge and scale from every corner of the continent.
