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

2011/0384(COD)

The European Parliament adopted by 516 votes to 22 with 62 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 294/2008 establishing the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

Parliament adopted its position in first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in plenary were the result of a compromise between Parliament and Council. They amend the Commission proposal as follows:

Mission and objectives: the EIT’s mission is to contribute to sustainable European economic growth and competitiveness by reinforcing the innovation capacity of the Member States and the Union in order to address major challenges faced by European society. The EIT should:

  • foster entrepreneurship in its higher education, research and innovation activities. In particular, it should promote excellent entrepreneurial education and support the creation of start-ups and spin-offs;
  • carry out information and communication activities targeting relevant stakeholders ;
  • promote an appropriately balanced participation between the different actors from the knowledge triangle involved in the Knowledge and Innovation Communities ("KICs") ;
  • promote strong participation from the private sector, in particular micro-/small and medium-sized enterprises ("SMEs").

Governing Board: the EIT will have a Governing Board composed of high-level members experienced in higher education, research, innovation and business. It shall be responsible for steering the activities of the EIT, for the selection, designation and evaluation of the KICs, and for all other strategic decisions. It shall be assisted by an Executive Committee.

A Director, appointed by the Governing Board, shall be responsible to the Governing Board for the administrative and financial management of the EIT and shall be the legal representative of the EIT. Upon request, the Director shall present the final work programme to the competent committee of the European Parliament.

Knowledge and Innovation Communities ("KICs"): the EIT shall select and designate KICs following an open, transparent and competitive process. To this end it must adopt and publish detailed criteria, based on the overarching principles of excellence and innovation relevance. The following will be taken into account :

  • the current and potential innovation capacity, including entrepreneurship, within the partnership as well as its excellence in higher education, research and innovation;
  • the partnership’s capacity to achieve the goals of the SIA and thereby contribute to the general objective and priorities of Horizon 2020;
  • a multidisciplinary approach to innovation ;
  • the partnership’s capacity to ensure sustainable and long-term self supporting financing ;
  • measures to support the involvement of, and cooperation with, the private sector, and in particular SMEs, as well as the creation of start-ups, spin-offs and SMEs ;
  • readiness to interact with other organisations and networks outside the KIC with the aim of sharing best practices and excellence.

The EIT contribution should not exceed on average, 25 % of the total KIC funding.

The KICs have been given a large degree of autonomy in defining their internal organisation, composition, agenda and working methods.

Annual report: the EIT shall transmit the annual report to the European Parliament and the Council and inform them of the activities of the EIT, its contribution to Horizon 2020 and to the Union innovation, research and education policies and objectives at least once a year.