Madrid, 27 March 2025– The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, has launched a new hub in Spain as part of its EIT Community aiming to fostering innovation and enhance regional cooperation. By connecting key stakeholders—including businesses, researchers, and educators—to Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem, the newly established EIT Community Hub will serve as a gateway for local talent and entrepreneurs to access EIT’s education, business creation, and innovation opportunities.

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) continues to support innovation in Spain by opening a new EIT Community Hub to drive collaboration among leading business, education, and research organisations. This initiative aims to boost regional competitiveness and contribute to sustainable economic growth. The hub is a key component of the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (EIT RIS), designed to bridge Europe’s innovation gap.

The official launch event, co-organised by CDTI and the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities in Madrid, occurred last Thursday, 27 March 2025. It brought together high-level representatives from the European and Spanish innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, reinforcing the importance of this initiative.

The new EIT Community Hub in Spain will represent all of EIT’s Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), with a strong focus on attracting and engaging a growing number of local participants in EIT Community activities. The hub will act as a centralised resource, offering innovators comprehensive information on EIT’s services and funding opportunities in the EIT Community Spain and across all EU Member States and Horizon Europe-associated countries. Additionally, it will strengthen EIT Community’s engagement with local authorities and key stakeholders while fostering new collaborative initiatives.

Speaking at the launch, EIT Director Martin Kern highlighted EIT’s impact in Spain, stating: “Between 2021 and 2023, the EIT has channeled €213 million into Spain, supporting 665 ventures that have launched 130 innovations. This new hub marks a significant milestone in furthering our mission to drive innovation across the region.”

Teresa Riesgo, Secretary General for Innovation, praised EIT’s initiative to set up a Hub in Spain, highlighting its importance in today’s complex business, technological, and social landscape. “These Hubs play a key role in fostering innovation by bringing together different sectors and regions, creating synergies, and encouraging collaboration. They strengthen our ability to tackle the challenges Europe faces today.”

José Moisés Martín Carretero shared “CDTI’s renewed commitment to EIT’s activities in Spain and more specifically to the initiative presented today”, since “both organisations have the common goal of promoting the advancement of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country”.

The event concluded with remarks from Lina Gálvez, Member of the European Parliament, following three panel discussions featuring representatives from EIT KICs and their Spanish partners. These discussions provided first-hand insights into successful collaborations, with the final panel showcasing strategic partnerships in the Canary Islands, a priority region for EIT under its Strategy for the Outermost Regions.

The launch of the EIT Community Hub in Spain is part of a broader effort to establish a stronger EIT presence across Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe. Similar hubs are being rolled out in over 20 countries to enhance regional innovation networks and expand access to EIT’s resources.

For more information on the EIT Community and its initiatives, visit https://eit.europa.eu/.

If you’re interested in delving deeper into the EIT’s offerings and discovering how it can support you on your innovation or entrepreneurial journey, please reach out to the EIT Community HUB Spain: spain@eitcommunity.eu or follow the LinkedIn page and EIT-RIS country page.

About the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

The EIT Community is a collaborative network comprising the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s (EIT) long-term partnerships, known as Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). ​

These KICs drive systemic change in Europe and beyond, focusing on key areas such as climate change, energy, health, food, manufacturing, raw materials, digitalisation, urban mobility, culture and creativity. By harnessing the collective expertise of the KICs, the EIT Community initiatives power innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity in Europe. We believe we can foster a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable European economy for generations to come.