NEXT-HEI today announces the official launch of HEIconnect, a new European innovation community designed to bring together Higher Education Institutions, startups, innovators, corporates, and investors. The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between academic talent and the entrepreneurial world, accelerating the flow of knowledge, skills, and market-ready solutions across Europe.HEIconnect is a core pillar of the NEXT-HEI Horizon Europe project, which supports universities and innovation stakeholders in turning cutting-edge research into impactful ventures. The new community provides a structured meeting point for those working at the intersection of education, research, and business—particularly in emerging innovation regions.

HEIconnect responds to a persistent challenge across Europe: strong research output and talent exist within universities, but many innovators struggle to access the networks, investors, and partners needed to bring ideas to market. The new community addresses this gap by:Connecting HEIs with startups, SMEs, corporates, investors, and public agencies

• Connecting HEIs with startups, SMEs, corporates, investors, and public agencies
  
• Facilitating knowledge exchange, mentorship, and collaborative innovation
• Supporting participation from moderate and emerging innovator regions
• Strengthening Europe’s capacity to commercialise deep tech, digital, green, and space-related innovations
  
• Providing a single entry point to the wider NEXT-HEI support programmes
  

The initiative is supported by the NEXT-HEI consortium, bringing together leading universities, accelerators, and innovation networks from across Europe.

HEIconnect is now open to:

• Higher Education Institutions (universities, universities of applied sciences, research institutes)
  
• Startups and spin-offs linked to HEIs
• Innovators, students, and researchers
• Investors, corporates, and public innovation agencies
  
• Ecosystem builders and networks
  

Interested organisations can join the HEIconnect community here: [insert link].
Further information about NEXT-HEI and upcoming calls, events, and programmes is available at:
👉 https://next-hei.eu

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe.