EIT and EEN sign cooperation agreement

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the EC’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) have signed in December 2025 the official cooperation agreement between EIT and the European Enterprise Network (EEN.).

While the EEN and the EIT have not previously operated under a formal cooperation framework, their collaboration to date has been pragmatic and project-based, with EEN acting as a broad small and medium sized enterprise (SME) gateway and partner broker, and EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) providing deep, thematic innovation ecosystems. The new cooperation guidelines (EEN-EIT Cooperation Guidelines) represent the first structured approach to coordinating these complementary services across Europe. This coordination aims to help companies navigate EU support more easily and access the expertise and opportunities they need to grow.

The new guidelines encourage both networks to work together systematically, establishing shared structures and methods to offer complementary services to their stakeholders. A particular focus will be on strengthening EIT KICs’ connections with EEN services and extending the EIT’s regional and SME reach.

EIT - press release