Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Digital platforms touch our everyday lives: operating systems, search, mobile and social are deeply transforming our economy and our society. Network effects apply, putting these platforms at the heart of the global society, and making the world hyperdependent on them. In order to fuel growth in our continent and protect our way of life, Europe needs to take centre stage in the future of digital. We need to invent the next wave of digital platforms, applications and innovations.
PRE-INCUBATION
From deep tech to venture or mvp (minimum viable product)
The first focus of EIT Digital’s innovation & entrepreneurship strategy is to drive the market uptake of top European research results (“deep tech”). The objective is both to “create digital disruption” (through venture creation) and to “support digital transformation” (through the launch of a Minimum Viable Product - or MVP).
SCALEUP ACCELERATION
From venture to dominant industry player
The second focus of EIT Digital’s innovation & entrepreneurship strategy is to build a new generation of dominant European industry players. To this end, EIT Digital provides growth support to fastgrowing European deep tech startups (also known as scaleups). This addresses a European weakness: Europe creates a fair number of startups, but most of them stay small. Europe needs to put more emphasis on scaleup support across the continent and beyond, in order to build the likes of Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple. In addition, deep tech scaleups are the ones that the European future depends upon.
Figure: The integrated Innovation and Entrepreneurship funnel
Innovation Action Lines
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Digital Industry
The Digital Industry Action Line covers the seamless process from production to retail and the related supporting functions such as logistics and consumer engagement... -
Digital Cities
The Digital Cities Action Line leverages the digital transformation of the cities through centralised, participative and collaborative interactions between city actors: government, city service providers, industry, and citizens... -
Digital Wellbeing
Slowing down the growth of healthcare expenses while maintaining the quality of life during the working life and at higher age is the focus of the Digital Wellbeing Action Line, through prevention of and coping with mental and physical conditions... -
Digital Tech
The Digital Tech Action Line is the core enabler of the digital transformation by providing secure, robust, responsive and intelligent communications and computation facilities... -
Digital Finance
EIT Digital set up the Digital Finance Action Line in 2018 to support the creation of innovative tools and services to help the finance industry adapt to the challenges it currently faces. Robust yet agile and tailored financial services are essential for our economies, citizens and enterprises.