The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) recently presented the innovation cooperation opportunities it offers to help power Malta’s innovators during an awareness day in Kalkara organised in cooperation with the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST).

The awareness day showcased the EIT’s unique innovation model that sets up pan-European partnerships between leading companies, universities and research labs. The partnerships, called Innovation Communities, support entrepreneurs and innovators in bringing ideas to market, turning students into entrepreneurs and, most importantly, stimulating innovation.

The EIT’s six Innovation Communities tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing society today, ranging from climate change to sustainable energy and from healthy living to active ageing. Organisations and innovators in Malta can also join their wide range of activities to drive innovation.

The first six Innovation Communities work to mitigate and adapt to climate change (EIT Climate-KIC), create sustainable sources of energy and increase its supply (EIT InnoEnergy), accelerate the digital transformation (EIT Digital), support healthier and longer living (EIT Health), provide sustainable and healthier food (EIT Food) and manage our planet’s raw materials in an efficient, secure and sustainable way (EIT RawMaterials).

The partnerships, called Innovation Communities, support entrepreneurs and innovators in bringing ideas to market, turning students into entrepreneurs and, most importantly, stimulating innovation

Together with their leading partners, they offer a wide range of innovation and entrepreneurship activities. This includes education courses that combine technical skills with entrepreneurial ones, business creation and acceleration services, and innovation-driven research projects.

During the awareness day, members of the EIT Community, together with innovators that work with the EIT, presented their wide range of innovation support activities.

In December, the EIT will select new Innovation Communities in the areas of urban mobility and added value manufacturing.

The panel of speakers during the EIT awareness day.

EIT interim director Martin Kern said: “The EIT offers a one-stop shop for innovators and we want to increase access to our unique resources and opportunities in Malta. The EIT focuses on solutions to global challenges through our six Innovation Communities that bring together more than 1,000 partners from business, education and research. Our unique innovation model creates sustainable innovations and accelerates innovative ideas, which ultimately leads to job creation and economic growth.

“The EIT stands ready to support Maltese innovators. That’s the role of the EIT – to support students, researchers and entrepreneurs to help them grow their entrepreneurial skills and their businesses, creating jobs and improving the lives of citizens across Europe. As a global player, the EU, through the EIT, is focused on powering innovators to turn their best ideas into products, services and jobs for Europe.”

The event was opened by MCST executive chairman Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando. He said: “Malta is a resourceful, determined and ambitious country. As a small nation continually adapting our economy to modern challenges, we have the advantage of being able to change quickly, to collaborate effectively and to advance our economy in new directions as global markets shift. Working closely with the EIT, Malta’s innovators, and our great researchers, now have a strong partner to accelerate new ideas, products and services. We see this awareness day as a stepping stone to create jobs, growth and a stronger global reputation.”

For more information, visit http://eit.europa.eu