European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): strategic innovation agenda 2014-2020

PURPOSE: to adopt the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision N° 1312/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): the contribution of the EIT to a more innovative Europe

CONTENT: the Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA) describes the priorities of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for the period 2014-2020 as well as its methods of operation. The EIT will be integrated into the Horizon 2020 framework programme for Research and Innovation in order to strengthen the innovation capacity of the EU and its Member States and to contribute to the Programme objectives by integrating the knowledge triangle of higher education, research and innovation. This integration takes place through the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), which bring together in a sustainable manner the organisations working on addressing societal challenges.

The key actions are as follows:

Fostering growth and impact of the existing KICs: the EIT will: (i) encourage KICs to develop a greater variety of and provide advice on educational and training activities and to raise awareness of the existence of these activities; (ii) gradually set- up competitive review mechanisms for the allocation of a percentage of the KICs grant; (iii) incentivise KICs to develop joint activities on horizontal issues; (iv) set up a system of peer evaluations for EIT labelled qualifications.

Creating new KICs: five new KICs will be launched during the programme, in three stages:

-two new KICs will be launched in 2014 in the themes of Healthy Living and Active Ageing and Raw Materials;

-two themes in 2016 of Food4Future and Added-value manufacturing and

-the last theme in 2018 will be Urban Mobility.

The priority fields and the long-term strategy for the EIT are detailed in the EIT's strategic innovation agenda. The other actions aim to:

·         enhance EIT's impact: for example, by encouraging participation in outreach activities, supporting a network of graduates from EIT/KIC educational and training activities, Making lessons learned systematically accessible to the wider Union innovation community and beyond;

·         ensure new delivery mechanisms and results-oriented monitoring: e.g. setting up a simplification agenda, including benchmarks to assess progress;

·         invest in KICs: providing a number of services to KICs and coherent guidance on expectations, obligations and responsibilities throughout the entire life cycle of the KICs;

·         engage with stakeholders in a Stakeholder Forum, which will meet regularly.

Budget: the EIT's budget needs in the period 2014-2020 are EUR 2 711.4 million and are based on three main components: (i) the expenditure necessary for consolidation of the existing three KICs, (ii) gradual development towards new KICs in 2014, 2016 and 2018 respectively, and (iii) dissemination and outreach activities and administrative expenditure.

Through the EIT's strong leverage effect, the KICs are expected to mobilise a further EUR 7.5 billion of other public and private sources.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 23/12/2013.