The INSIGHT project aims to establish and operationalise a network of interconnected talent ecosystems that foster attractive, inclusive, and sustainable research careers for early-stage researchers across academia, industry, and the public sector. It addresses systemic challenges in developing structured talent ecosystems and aims to bridge the gap between the skills acquired in academic settings and those required in the labour market, particularly in areas related to the Green Deal, digital transformation, and deep tech. The project brings together a consortium of 11 European partners, including universities, research institutions, industry representatives, and public authorities, to implement the principles of the new Charter for Researchers. It focuses on creating sustainable organisational change and providing tailored training pathways, mentorship programmes, and career support services that enhance the employability and mobility of early-stage researchers. INSIGHT aims to establish a pilot talent ecosystem, emphasising human factors in technology acceptance within the automotive and manufacturing sectors, thus ensuring that researchers develop practical, market-relevant skills. Through collaboration, capacity building, and policy feedback, INSIGHT will provide actionable recommendations for establishing sustainable talent ecosystems across Europe, supporting career development, and promoting diversity and inclusivity in research careers. The project is expected to create a lasting impact by fostering a dynamic, interconnected European Research Area, where early-stage researchers have access to attractive and meaningful career opportunities.

The Cross-KIC Global Outreach programme was established in 2018 to act as a bridge, linking the EIT’s innovation ecosystem with those of innovation valleys around the world, forging synergies with global innovation leaders and creating significant value for the European economy, alongside the local ecosystems. The cluster currently comprises a well established and successful EIT Hub in Israel and Silicon Valley, and an additional global platform dedicated to expanding the reach of EIT to new locations was established in 2023 as will be detailed in this business plan, under the new leadership of EIT Health. A new Hub will be established in the Uk as of January 2024. The Global Outreach programme creates significant value for the EIT Community, as well as the outreach location, with tangible success stories and concrete results from the past 4 years of activity. These stand to show the significant collaborations that have been forged in each outreach location, the impact of creating significant ties between Europe and these strategic global innovation valleys. The strong brand awareness that has been carefully crafted, and the intricate thought process that has been put into creating a strong foundation for each hub. This business plan for the next three years, 2023 - 2025 builds upon this strong foundation that has been established, and lays out the groundwork for further strengthening the existing Israel hub and creating a flexible and “on demand” global platform that will further expand EIT’s global footprint. The growth of the Global Outreach programme with an additional global platform with programmes in multiple locations will be based upon the scale of successful programmes that have a strong foundation, and adapting them to the needs and risks of the local ecosystems. The BP will show the strengthening and expansion of the Global Outreach programme stands in EIT’s best interests, connecting talents, knowledge and key players worldwide to tackle societal challenges.

The Cross-KIC Strategic Education Cluster (Edu Cluster) is an unprecedented endeavour to integrate, systematise and leverage education activities from different KICs, create joint offerings, and open new opportunities for raising EIT’s profile and market penetration. By ensuring interactions and synergies between KICs’ educational activities, the Edu Cluster creates cross-cutting opportunities, fosters peer-learning, and allows efficiency gains. As a result, EIT partners are equipped to innovate solutions to global challenges tackled by European policies, most notably the Green Deal and the Deep Tech Talent Initiative (DTTI). The different Work Packages (WPs) comprising the Edu Cluster reflect the need for transversality of EIT’s educational offer. WP2 will develop, execute, and scale the DTTI by training one million deep tech talents by 2025, therefore contributing to the new European Innovation Agenda. WP3 will build on its success with the Girls Go Circular project by expanding its educational resources and reach to all EU member states. WP4 will support the long-term sustainability of the EIT Alumni community while ensuring inclusion and diversity. WP5 will scale up the EIT Virtual Campus (VC) through upskilling or reskilling learners with competences in line with market demand. EIT VC will become the go-to educational portal to address knowledge needs in Europe and complement the resources of higher education institutions. WP6 will explore a mode of operation with the platform consortium (hereafter InnoNext)for the EU Next Generation Innovation Internship scheme and coordinate integration into the scheme with the KICs. The Edu Cluster, in synergy with other Cross-KIC Clusters and the HEI Initiative, will keep strengthening the Cross-KIC offering along the entire education value chain.

The main goal for the years to come is the transformation of EIT Manufacturing into a well-regarded service organisation offering qualified services to the European Manufacturing domain. This transformation will include all parts of the organisation; the pillars, the CLCs and the Manufacturing SASU. An extensive catalogue of possible service offerings has been established and prioritised. The first results have been achieved already. According to our go-to-market strategy, services will be piloted by the CLCs or the Manufacturing SASU and, if successful, rolled out over the whole organisation. The first portfolio of start-ups with financial sustainability agreements has been established, with an estimated valuation of more than €2 million. EIT Manufacturing will focus its investment in the next three years on the “European Manufacturing System”, taking an integrated European approach of all pillars: Innovation, Education, RIS, Business Creation and Communication. The “European Manufacturing System” will play a key role in the Circular Economy. It will link the steps of value creation processes in a multidimensional way, in order to identify the environmentally, economically and socially sustainable favourable alternatives for each step, going from an idea to a finished product, process or service. With Europe’s sensitivity for sustainability, and its ingenious talents in developing innovative technologies, processes and means of collaboration, Europeans are destined to lead the way to further evolved and improved Manufacturing Systems. EIT Manufacturing, in cooperation with its partners and ecosystem, helps drive this leadership by postulating the “European Manufacturing System” as a strategic objective for the European manufacturing industry, with global implications. The Business Plan implementation will fully comply with the EIT Financial Sustainability principles, KIC fund principles, Innovation Principles, EIT RIS Hub Minimum Standards and Good Governance principles.