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European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) 2014-2020

2011/0384(COD)

The Council took note of a Presidency progress report on a draft regulation amending the rules of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and on a draft decision setting the EIT's strategic implementation plan for the coming years.

The EIT, which was set up in March 2008, will continue to reinforce the innovation capacity of the EU and its Member States and to contribute to the general objectives of Horizon 2020, mainly by integrating the "knowledge triangle" of higher education, research and innovation. Under Horizon 2020, the EIT would receive a financial contribution of EUR 3.1 billion for the 2014-2020 period.

EIT Regulation: the draft proposal for an amendment of the EIT Regulation has, in general, been welcomed by delegations.  Delegations raised some questions for clarification, inter alia the role of the Governing Board and the relation between the Governing Board and the Director of the EIT, the role of the Member States and the rules for management of Intellectual Property Rights. In particular the role of the Member States needs to be further clarified in the future discussions.

EIT SIA (Strategic Innovation Agenda): the EIT Regulation foresees that after the initial phase the long-term strategy of the EIT is to be set up in the Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA), to be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, on the basis of a Commission proposal. The discussions clarified certain aspects of the proposal and identified topics, which require further examination. Budgetary questions will be examined at a later stage.

KICs (Knowledge and Innovation Communities): delegations have highlighted that the number of new KICs is fundamentally linked to the overall budget of Horizon 2020. Given that the EIT concept is still at its early stage, several Member States wish to take a cautious approach to the establishment of new KICs. Subject to the outcome of the negotiations of the MFF, there was wide support to the two-wave approach for launching new KICs as proposed by the Commission.

  • The total number of new KICs and the timetable for setting them up remain outstanding issues that require further examination. Likewise, whether the list of thematic areas proposed by the Commission for new KICs should be considered as an exhaustive or merely indicative list remains an issue for further examination.
  • Access to existing KICs has been raised by some delegations as their main concern. Some delegations have enquired about the leverage effect of the KICs and their ability to mobilise investment and long-term commitment from the private sector.
  • During the discussions, delegations have called for an enhanced focus on entrepreneurship in the KICs.
  • Finally, the importance for the EIT and KICs to seek synergies across pillars in Horizon 2020 and other relevant European initiatives has been raised by several delegations.

COREPER agreed to forward the progress report to the Council.