Climate Kic Ris

Introduced in 2014, the Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) was created by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to bridge the existing innovation gap between different European countries. The programme stemmed from a structured outreach scheme for all EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) to support the integration of the so-called Knowledge Triangle (business, education and research), and increase innovation capacity in regions with little pre-established presence. Until the end of 2022, EIT Climate-KIC relied on our RIS Hubs active in Southern, Central and Eastern European countries where we do not operate through office structures. The EIT Climate-KIC RIS Hubs were our national ‘focal points’ in 13 countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia). They acted as innovation community catalysts – being local knowledge brokers for innovation and promoting the Knowledge Triangle locally. As of January 2023, we moved towards a more comprehensive approach covering all RIS countries. Therefore, we closed our RIS Hubs, and we will rely on the National Secretaries who run EIT Community RIS Hubs.