PIONEER+ enters the second round – European innovation project strengthens universities, start-ups and digital skills

The EU-funded project PIONEER+ (‘Pioneering Innovation & Entrepreneurship capacity building activities through Digital Transformation’) is officially entering its second project phase. Following a successful first phase, the project, funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) as part of the HEI initiative, is continuing its work to strengthen European universities as centres for digital innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.

PIONEER+ brings together activities related to digitalisation, start-up promotion and innovation capacities at universities across Europe. The aim is to empower students, researchers and staff to translate knowledge into market-relevant innovations and to better integrate universities into regional and international innovation ecosystems.

The second round of the project covers the period from January 2026 to December 2026, followed by a subsequent phase until April 2027, and builds on previous results, including workshops, leadership training and the development of new educational formats.

The consortium brings together universities and partners from several European countries. Its members include Ionian University (project coordination), RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, the Business + Innovation Centre Kaiserslautern (bic), the University of Trier, the University of Haute-Alsace, Lazarski University and other partners from Italy and Cyprus.

PIONEER+ is part of the fourth wave of funding from the EIT HEI initiative, through which the EU has been supporting universities since 2025 in expanding their role as drivers of innovation in Europe's digital and economic transformation.

Further information on the project can be found at eit-hei.eu/projects/pioneer