Alliances for innovation
Alliances for Innovation aim to strengthen Europe’s innovation capacity by boosting innovation through cooperation and flow of knowledge among higher education, vocational education and training (both initial and continuous), and the broader socio-economic environment, including research.
Summary of action
To boost innovation, the focus will be on digital skills as they are increasingly important in all job profiles across the entire labour market. Also, the transition to a circular and greener economy needs to be underpinned by changes to qualifications and national education and training curricula to meet emerging professional needs for green skills and sustainable development.
The objectives of Alliances for Innovation can be achieved by applying to one or both of the following Lots (an organisation can be involved in several proposals):
Lot 1: Alliances for Innovation:
Aim to bring together enterprises, higher education and vocational training providers to work together in partnership and foster innovation and the broader socio-economic environment. This includes confronting societal and economic challenges such as climate change, changing demographics, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and rapid employment changes through social innovation and community resilience, as well as labour market innovation.
Lot 2: Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills (implementing the ‘Blueprint’):
Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills aim to create new strategic approaches and cooperation for concrete skills development solutions – a major action of the European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience, the Pact for Skills. The main objective of the Pact is to mobilise and incentivize all relevant stakeholders to take concrete actions for the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, by pooling efforts and setting up partnerships, also at EU level addressing the needs of the labour market, supporting green and digital transitions as well as national, regional and local skills and growth strategies. Tackle skills gaps on the labour market that hamper growth, innovation and competitiveness in specific sectors or areas, aiming both at short term interventions and long term strategies. These Alliances will be implemented in the 14 industrial ecosystems identified in the New Industrial Strategy for Europe (see eligibility criteria: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0102).
N.B.
LOT 1: Alliances for Education and Enterprises must cover at least 4 Programme countries, involving a minimum of 8 full partners. The partnership must include at least 3 labour market actors (enterprises or companies, or representative intermediary organisations, such as chambers, trade unions or trade associations) and at least 3 education and training providers (VET and/or HEIs), as full partners.
LOT 2: Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills (Blueprint) must cover at least 8 Programme countries and involve at least 12 full partners. The partnership must include at least 5 labour market actors (enterprises or companies, or representative intermediary organisations, such as chambers, trade unions or trade associations) and at least 5 education and training providers (VET and/or HEIs) as full partners.
Application and deadline
Usually mid-September.
Process for preparation of project proposal
For new initiatives, the internal administrative process at KTH will last around 2-3 months before approval of comittment to the joint programme
- Contact Head of Department/Prefect in order to ensure internal support to the initiative. (Note: New initiatives will need a signed "School approval" form presented by the responsible project representative at KTH to KTH IRO).
- Discuss with potential partners and stakeholders.
- Contact IRO for useful information and generic texts.
- Prepare your proposal in line with the programme guide documents.
- Contact the IRO for finalisation, proof reading.
- Provide documents for signatures:
For signatures from KTH Legal Representative provide the following documents to IRO 10 days before deadline: Manadate (KTH as partner), signed School approval form (electronic singnature) . School approval (docx 539 kB) - Submit proposal.