Call: EIT HEI Initiative Call for Proposals 2024

Project title: The Higher Education Institutions as Innovation Engines for place-based climate solutions - Climate Engine

Project acronym: Climate Engine

Project duration: April 2025 – April 2027

Max. funding: EUR

Project website: _____________________ (in progress)

Partnership:

• Humanistic University of Applied Sciences, (Finland).
• Savonia University of Applied Sciences, (Finland).
• Estonian Aviation Academy, (Estonia).
• Kyiv Agrarian University, (Ukraine).
• King Danilo University, (KDU, Ukraine).
• Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, Україна (ChNU, Ukraine).
• The State University of Moldova, (Moldova).
• University of Suceava, (Romania).
• The University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, (UCTM, Bulgaria).
• University of Forestry, (UF, Bulgaria).
• Business partner: Nokia Solutions and Networks Ltd. (Nokia, Finland).
• Business partner: ISPIM - the International Society for Professional Innovation Management.
• Research Institute: National Scientific Center “Institute of Agriculture NAAS,” (Ukraine).

Abstract:

The Climate Engine project aims to bring together universities, research institutes and business partners to transform higher education institutions into engines of local climate innovation with an active handprint by 2030. The project includes five new universities from enlargement countries, which will establish Climate Innovation Labs with the support of six experienced partners from the previous ILCA project.

The project has four main objectives:

1. Empowering HEI ecosystems to become engines of climate-oriented innovation.
2. Facilitating Innovation-to-Market Pathways.
3. Strengthening climate transition capacity through HEI-supported programmes.
4. Long-term institutional change.

The project's activities focus on building capacity for climate solutions, supporting cross-sector partnerships, and co-creating innovative projects with stakeholders in line with regional smart specialisation strategies.

Expected results by the end of the project (2027) include:

• Training at least 1,680 students and staff and mentoring 232 people.
• Creation and improvement of five Climate Innovation Labs (CILs).
• Involvement of over 100 stakeholders in the development of 10 climate innovation projects.
• Support for 60 start-ups/scale-ups.
• Creation of 12 new partnerships.
• Updating of strategies for five higher education institutions.

Partners from Ukraine:

King Danylo University

https://ukd.edu.ua/en

Phone: +38(0342) 77 18 45 – Rector

Responsible person: Maksym Karpash, Vice-Rector for International Relations and Strategic Development

Contacts:

• Phone: +380673420128
• E-mail: maksym.karpash@ukd.edu.ua

Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University

http://chnu.edu.ua/

Phone: +38(0372) 58 48 10 – Rector

Responsible person: Ruslan Biloskurskyi, Dean of the Faculty of Economics

Contacts:

• Phone: +380506655901
• E-mail: r.biloskurskyy@chnu.edu.ua

National Scientific Center Institute of Agriculture NAAS

https://zemlerobstvo.com/en/golovna/

Phone: +38(044) 526 23 727 – Director

Responsible person: Anton Tkachenko, Head of Economics Department

Contacts:

• Phone: +380930757856
• E-mail: tkachenko.a.m@outlook.com

Kyiv Agrarian University

https://kaunaas.com/en/home-page/