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KIC Selection Criteria Published
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) launched the call for proposals for its first Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) on Thursday 2 April 2009.
KICs are highly integrated public-private partnerships between higher education, research, business and entrepreneurial actors and will be the operational engine of the EIT. They will be innovative webs of excellence, responding to key societal challenges such as sustainable energy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the future information and communication society.
KICs will drive effective new interactions between partners in terms of ideas, technology, culture, business and design models. They will create new business for existing industry, including SMEs, and for new endeavours alike. A strong component of KICs' innovation strategies will be to educate and develop entrepreneurial people working across traditional borders, sectors and disciplines.
Launching the call for proposals for the KICs consists of a major step forward for the EIT. The call will be open until 27 August and the first two or three KICs selected by the end of 2009.
KIC Selection Criteria Published
The EIT today released the selection criteria for the first Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). While the official publication of the call for proposals is expected in April, the EIT Governing Board already wants to provide interested parties with timely and comprehensive information on the main requirements that applicants are expected to fulfil in their KIC proposals. "We are aware of timing constraints. This is why we want to be as transparent as possible and provide potential applicants with clear guidance on what the EIT expects from a KIC" says EIT Chairman Dr. Martin Schuurmans.
The detailed call for proposals is expected to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union in early April and will equally be available through the EIT website.
The EIT presentation will provide background information on the concepts referred to in the selection criteria.
Chairman presents latest developments to the Council of Ministers and European Parliament
Dr Martin Schuurmans, Chairman of the EIT's Governing Board, was invited to Brussels on 2 December 2008 in order to present latest developments of the EIT to the Council of Ministers and at the European Parliament. As co-legislators, the two institutions had adopted the EIT's legal base earlier in the year.
Dr Schuurmans had been invited to meet Ministers at the Competitiveness Council, where he presented the vision and strategy of the EIT Governing Board, as well as an overview of latest developments. He was equally invited for an exchange of views at the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE), where he updated Members of the Committee on the progress in implementing the EIT (see presentation).
The EIT Chairman assured both his audiences that the EIT's Governing Board is very committed to bringing this initiative forward and making it a true success for Europe.
EIT seminar launches discussion on shape of KICs
European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): Commission welcomes launch of discussions on shape of Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs)
The first seminar on the format of, and selection criteria for, the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), is held today in Bratislava, Slovak Republic. The KICs will be the operational parts of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). The Commission welcomes this seminar, which the EIT Governing Board is using to start a dialogue with interested parties to establish a common vision for the KICs.
Europa Press Release (IP/08/1759)
EIT Governing Board elects its Executive Committee
The Governing Board of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) reconvened in Budapest on 17th October for its second meeting. The members had their first in-depth discussion on the EIT's strategic outlook, which will serve as a basis for further dialogue with stakeholders over the coming months.
The Executive Committee is presided by the Chairman of the Governing Board, Dr. Schuurmans, and will prepare meetings and facilitate the EIT's strategic decision-making. It will The Board also elected the four members of the Executive Committee (see below)oversee the implementation of the Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA) and the rolling triennial work programme, as well as the selection procedure for the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). However, the Chairman made clear that all EIT-related decisions will be taken by the Board as a whole.
COLOMBO Giovanni Adjunct Professor, Politecnico di Torino Former CTO, Telecom Italia LAB and Head of long-term research, Telecom Italia
FLODSTRÖM Anders, Dr. University Chancellor, Swedish National Agency for Higher Education
GOŁĘBIOWSKA-TATAJ Daria, Dr. Founder and Managing Partner, EMF (Enterprise Management & Finance) Consultancy Professor/Researcher, Warsaw University of Technology Business School
NEUVO Yrjö, Dr. Professor, Research director, Helsinki University of Technology Former Chairman, ARTEMIS Joint Technology Platform Former CTO, Nokia
Short biographies: Europa Press Release (IP/08/1220)
European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) begins its work
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), the EU's flagship initiative for boosting innovation in Europe, has marked the launch of its activities with the first meeting of its recently appointed Governing Board on 15 September 2008. The meeting took place in the Institute's host city of Budapest, and was preceded by a ceremonial opening in the presence of Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, Commission President José Manuel Barroso, and Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Ján Figel', among others.
See also: Europa Press Release (IP/08/1318)
Speech by Commission President José Manuel Barroso "The EIT: Opening the Doors to Innovation" (SPEECH/08/425)
Members of the EIT Governing Board and Commission President Barroso at the inaugural meeting in Budapest.
Martin Schuurmans elected as Chairman of newly established EIT Governing Board.
Prof. Dr. Martin Schuurmans has been elected Chairman of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology's (EIT) Governing Board. In their constituent meeting, held on 15 September 2008 in Budapest, the Governing Board Members unanimously elected the Professor of Physics and former Executive Vice President of Philips Research to head the EIT's independent decision-making body.
While explaining the significance of the inaugural Governing Board meeting, Prof. Schuurmans said "I think I have never seen a group of people which has such a collective wisdom in so many fields of innovation." He added "Let's make sure that in the next two to three years we have at least two successful KICs, successful in innovation and successful in education."
Official appointment of the EIT Governing Board
The EIT's first Governing Board was officially appointed on 30th July 2008 following a selection process which began in February this year.
The 18-strong Board provides a collective balance of expertise and experience from the worlds of higher education, research, business and innovation in Europe.
The inaugural Board meeting has already been set for 15th September in Budapest and the Board's first major task will be the selection and launching of the first 2-3 Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) by the end of 2009 / start of 2010.
See also : Europa Press Release (IP/08/1220), including short biographies of the Board members.
EIT headquarters to be located in Budapest
On 18th June, EU Member States decided unanimously that the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) will have its headquarters in Budapest.
The Hungarian capital had been one of five candidates that expressed an interest in hosting the EIT headquarters : Jena (Germany), Sant Cugat (Spain), Wrocław (Poland) and the "Twin City" of Vienna / Bratislava (Austria / Slovakia).
The discussions on the location of the EIT headquarters clearly reflected the genuine interest and strong mobilisation of national, regional and local authorities across the Union in support of the EIT.
Closing of the public consultation for the selection of the EIT Governing Board
The second phase of the public consultation for the selection of members of the EIT Governing Board came to a close on 25th April 2008.
The independent Identification Committee, in charge of selecting the Board members, received over 180 applications representing a balance of candidates from academia and industry.
The Committee is expected to decide on the names of the 18 members of the EIT's first Governing Board by June 2008.
Nota bene : please note that, due to timing constraints, no further applications can be accepted.
Opening of the second phase of the public consultation for the selection of the EIT Governing Board
The ad-hoc Identification Committee launched on Friday 11th April 2008 the second phase of the public consultation for the selection of the EIT Governing Board.
During the first stage (10th March – 28th March 2008), over 130 different proposals were submitted from EIT stakeholders and the general public, commenting on the Governing Board selection criteria initially proposed by the Identification Committee.
Taking into account these proposals, the Identification Committee has produced a final set of selection criteria.
During the second phase, relevant organisations are invited to propose candidates as future members of the Governing Board, bearing in mind the revised selection criteria.
Please note that the closing date for submissions is Friday 25th April 2008.
Publishing of the EIT Regulation in the Official Journal
The Regulation establishing the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) was published today in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This follows the European Parliament's approval, on the 11th March 2008, of Council's common position on the establishment of the Institute.
The Regulation will enter into force at the end of April.
Further information :
Adoption of the EIT Regulation by the European Parliament
Signing of the legal act establishing the European Insitute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) by the European Parliament and the Council, 11th March 2008.
The European Parliament approved by a large majority on Tuesday 11th March 2008 Council's common position on the establishment of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
Today's Parliament vote completes the legislative process and will secure the EIT's legal base, allowing the Institute to begin its operations in the near future.
The Regulation is expected to enter into force in April 2008.
Further information :
Commission press release
European Parliament press release
Council's common position on the Regulation establishing the EIT (21st January 2008)
Opening of the public consultation on selection criteria for the EIT Governing Board
The ad-hoc Identification Committee, set up by the Commission in January, launched on Monday 10th March 2008 an open consultation on the main criteria to be taken into account in identifying potential members for the EIT Governing Board.
This first stage will consist of a public consultation where EIT stakeholders and the general public will be invited to comment and / or expand on the proposed criteria for the selection of the EIT's initial Governing Board. Please note that the closing date for submissions is Friday 28th March 2008.
For more information, please consult the selection criteria.
To submit your proposals, visit the consultation page.