The European Institute of Innovation and Technology

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology [EIT] is a new initiative which aims to become a flagship for excellence in European innovation in order to face the challenges of globalisation.  Focusing on strategic priority areas where given the nature and scale of the innovation challenge, action at European level could generate the ‘critical mass', which could not be achieved by Member States alone.  

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology will integrate effectively the three sides of the ‘knowledge triangle', education, research and innovation, performing its activities through partnerships between the private sector, research organisations and higher education institutions. These would be known as Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology will be fairly small scale in the initial period until 2013 - just two or three KICs (thematic areas not yet defined, but may encompass energy efficiency/renewable energy and next generation of ICT).

The Governing Board will be the principal driving force behind EIT governance issues. It will bring together 18 high-calibre members balancing prominent expertise from the higher education, research, business and innovation fields. The Board will be entrusted with the role of strategic leadership and coordination of The European Institute of Innovation and Technology activities through the selection, evaluation and support of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).

Professor Julia King has been appointed to the governing board of the EIT. The EIT governing board is made up of 18 experts, from business, research and higher education and will be responsible for overall strategy-setting and for the selection, coordination and evaluation of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), the EIT's operational centres.

Professor King is Vice-Chancellor of Aston University, Birmingham.  She is a board member of the Technology Strategy Board and a non-Executive Director of the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills. 

At an EU Member States ministerial meeting it was unanimously agreed to locate The European Institute of Innovation and Technology headquarters in Budapest, located in Infopark - an existing science park close to the city centre. A building has been earmarked for the EIT and the office facilities are ready for use.

For further information download the EIT document under relevant documents on the left.

For further details contact
Graham M Mobbs
European Operations Manager
Technology Strategy Board
graham.mobbs@tsb.gov.uk