Europe 2020 Strategy presents a concept of 'Innovation Union' which is supposed to improve framework conditions and access to finance for research and innovation, so as to ensure that innovative ideas can be turned into products and services that create growth and jobs. There is an urgent need for future professionals who can contribute to the creation of new social, economical, technological and ecological innovations.However, there is only a limited amount of valid research-based information on the target competencies when wanting to educate somebody to be innovative. It is also essential for the future to get valid experience-based information on different R&D-related methods showing how these innovation competencies can be enhanced and reached.The INCODE project is inspired by the on-going Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO) process, a recent global initiative led by OECD. This project supplements perfectly the AHELO initiative by developing in four well-experienced European Universities from North, Central, West and South Europe novel solutions to assess and enhance innovation competencies of Higher Education students. It launches the concept of Innovation Pedagogy, which is a pedagogical strategy supporting the creation of innovations.The two main outputs are1. Innovation Competencies Barometer (ICB), which will be created to assess innovation competencies. The ICB will be developed, tested and validated in the project.2. The Research Hatchery (REHA) model for better utilization of on-going research activities in learning and teaching. The REHA pilots will be organized in all participating countries and assessed with the new ICB tool.These novelties impact directly on better performance of the knowledge triangle of education, research and innovation in Higher Education. Active dissemination and exploitation efforts ensure the optimal use of outputs during and after the project.