EIT-BEST: NCP EIT Training, Networking and Best Practices Initiative

EIT-BEST is a European cooperation project designed to strengthen and professionalize the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) National Contact Point (NCP) network across Europe.

The project addresses key challenges such as fragmentation of support services, uneven visibility of EIT and Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC) opportunities, and varying maturity levels among national NCP systems. EIT-BEST aims to establish a coherent, harmonized, and high-quality support framework for stakeholders interested in EIT programmes.

Project Objectives

EIT-BEST focuses on five strategic objectives:

• Improving and professionalizing EIT NCP services across Europe
• Strengthening transnational cooperation among EIT NCPs
• Enhancing structured cooperation between EIT NCPs, KICs, and the broader EIT Community
• Increasing participation and success rates in EIT and KIC calls, especially for newcomers and widening countries
• Building synergies between EIT and other EU, national, and regional programmes

Methodology and Activities

The project is implemented through a structured, impact-driven methodology organized into six Work Packages covering communication and outreach, capacity building, cooperation with KICs, applicant support, synergies with other programmes, and overall project management.

Key activities include:

• Training, mentoring, and capacity-building actions for EIT NCPs
• Development of shared tools, guidance materials, and best practices
• Enhanced cooperation mechanisms with KIC offices
• Analysis of participation patterns and identification of barriers
• Knowledge exchange and networking at the European level

Consortium

EIT-BEST brings together 24 partner organizations from 22 European countries and is coordinated by FORTH | PRAXI Network. The consortium includes national EIT NCP organizations with strong expertise in innovation support, entrepreneurship, and EU funding programmes.

Role of InSET (Albanian Partner)

InSET – Institute for Sustainable Development, Environment and Tourism – participates in EIT-BEST as a project partner, contributing to project implementation, dissemination activities, and the strengthening of EIT support services. Through this engagement, InSET reinforces its role as an active European partner, supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.

Impact

EIT-BEST contributes to a more visible, inclusive, and effective EIT ecosystem by raising NCP service standards, reducing participation gaps, and enabling a wider range of stakeholders to access EIT and KIC opportunities.

Institute for Sustainable Development, Environment and Tourism (InSET) Address: "Him Kolli" 46/19, Tirana, Albania Website: www.inset.al Email: info@inset.al |Mobile: +355 69 220 6923