Research is one of the three legs of the knowledge triangle. At EIT ICT Labs we build on the existing strengths and activities of our partners to support European innovation. The research catalysts allow researchers to spearhead projects linked to the EIT ICT Labs thematic action lines.

Our action lines benefit from research catalysts funded by EIT ICT Labs to pave the way of the innovation from research to marketable products and services within the specific area. Research catalysts range from mobility programs, networking activities and access to state-of-the art testbeds and Experience and Living Labs.

EIT ICT Labs co-funds research activities with a model that combines an existing project, i.e. carrier project, already funded by an industrial or an academic partner (in-kind contribution), a member state funding agency or by the European Commission, and a set of catalysts funded by EIT ICT Labs.

The catalysts aim at further developing research activities carried out within a carrier project to be in a position to better exploit their results, generating new knowledge, innovative products and services.

These catalysts cover the knowledge triangle: education, research and business. There are four research  catalysts:  "Testbeds, Testing Platforms & Simulation Tools", "Experience Labs & Living Labs", "Mobility Program" and "Spearhead Research".

The "Spearhead research" catalyst aspires to fund new research actions on promising research topics, having manageable risks and high innovation potential through the collaboration of several partners from different co-location nodes.

These research topics have to be connected to either a thematic area or a research action line. To get funding through this catalyst, a proposal has to highlight its links with what is being or has been done in the carrier project it is associated with and what will be the added value of the new research to be carried out.

A set of key performance indicators is selected for its evaluation by the management committee and the proposers. This catalyst is the corner stone of the EIT ICT Labs strategy to support research and can be associated with other catalysts to further expand its impact.