Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) are integrated and interdisciplinary collaborations that are part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). The EIT is an initiative of the European Union aimed at promoting innovation and economic growth through the integration of higher education, research, and innovation. KICs are designed to be centres of excellence that bring together universities, businesses, research centres, and other relevant actors to address society's most important challenges.

KICs focus on specific areas such as health, energy, climate change, and urban mobility. Each KIC aims to promote collaboration between the public and private sectors, promote knowledge transfer and drive innovation projects that can have a significant impact. By comnining knowledge and effort, KICs inspire the creation and implementation of pioneering solutions to address the most urgent challenges, driving a brighter future for society.

KICs can link stakeholders in innovation from specific environments with others. Individually, Communities have been granted a high degree of autonomy to define their internal organization, composition, agenda, and working methods, allowing them to choose the approach and range of activities that best suit their innovation objectives.

EIT funding for projects is allocated to KICs, specifically for KIC added-value activities, which support the integration of the knowledge triangle into basic and applied research and innovation projects. These funded activities are selected by the Communities through calls mainly aimed at their partners.

Transdisciplinary and multicultural teams working together on social challenges result in new products, services, processes and business models.