EURECA-PRO Alliance Wins Competitive EIT Funding to Launch "EURECA-SPARK" Innovation Initiative
- News
EURECA-PRO has been selected by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to launch EURECA-SPARK (Stimulating Partnerships, Applied Research and Knowledge Transfer in EURECA-PRO). The ambitious two-year initiative, kicking off in September 2026, will receive up to €2 million to transform how research is commercialised and how entrepreneurship is taught across Europe.
Selected under a highly competitive call that attracted a record 138 consortia, EURECA-SPARK is one of only 17 projects funded under a special EIT strand designed to build long-term, structural bridges between European University alliances and the EIT’s vast innovation ecosystem.
Bridging the Gap: From Lab to Market
At the core of EURECA-SPARK is the creation of a fully digital, stackable MicroDegree in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Comprising at least ten distinct microcredentials, the curriculum will be co-developed by universities, research hubs, and industry partners. Students and researchers will tackle real-world industry challenges while mastering intellectual property (IP) management, market validation, and responsible resource management.
Furthermore, the project establishes a dedicated start-up pathway, seamlessly connecting classroom innovation with regional incubators and elite acceleration services via close collaboration with EIT RawMaterials and EIT Climate-KIC. The initiative will focus heavily on urgent global sectors, including critical raw materials, digital technologies, circular economy, and climate tech.
- “Europe's universities generate world-class knowledge, but too many promising ideas never make it beyond the laboratory,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. “By connecting students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and businesses, we can help turn research into innovation and innovation into economic growth.”
A Major Pan-European Collaboration
EURECA-SPARK leverages a powerful network of leading European higher education institutions and industry hubs. Core participating universities driving the initiative include:
- Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany)
- Universidad de León (Spain)
- Technical University of Crete (Greece)
- Université de Lorraine (France)
- Hochschule Mittweida (Germany)
- Enriched by strategic project partners including companies and institutes from Sweden, Italy, and the Netherlands.
The project directly contributes to the European Union’s broader goal of training 200,000 STEM students and staff in entrepreneurship by 2028, ensuring the next generation of innovators has the practical tools to launch competitive startups and boost Europe’s global industrial standing.
About EURECA-PRO
EURECA-PRO (The European University on Responsible Consumption and Production) is a strategic alliance of higher education institutions dedicated to fostering sustainable consumption and production patterns. Through deeply integrated education, research, and innovation, the alliance empowers students and researchers to solve the pressing ecological and economic challenges of our time.
About the EIT Higher Education Initiative
The EIT Higher Education Initiative (HEI) is a key initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) aimed at boosting the entrepreneurial and innovation capacity of higher education institutions across Europe. By integrating universities into Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem, the EIT helps translate cutting-edge research into impactful commercial realities.
Photo credits: European Commission Audiovisual Service
