The Initiative for Innovation in Engineering Education, IDEE, is a university-wide activity at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), aiming to strengthen the capacity for evidence-based innovation in engineering education. The goal is to create a more systematic and evidence-informed approach to educational innovation at TU Delft, and to ensure that the knowledge gained is documented and shared with the wider education community. This paper describes the first steps in establishing the structures for the initiative, identifying the educational themes to be addressed, mobilising teams of faculty members and recruiting junior researchers, creating support for these teams, and building a productive community. Through this setup, IDEE has high ambitions for creating both educational innovation and associated scientific gains. It is also intended to create role models for novel kinds of academic careers with an emphasis on teaching.