The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

Georgi Dimitrov, European CommissionTCI Annual Conference 2010 Facilitating global outreach of European and Indian innovation clusters New Delhi, 1 December 2010

Contents

1. What is the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)?

2. What is a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC)?

3. Open to the World

• Set up in 2008 as an independent Community Body with the mission “to be the catalyst for a step change in the EU’s innovation capacity and impact”;

• Strengthen the integration of education, research & business (knowledge triangle);

• Addressing societal challenges (currently 3 themes: sustainable energy, future information & communication society, climate change adaptation & mitigation)

• Independent Governing Board; EIT HQ seat in Budapest, Hungary, lightweight structure;

• Operational since end 2009;• First call for KIC proposals closed in December 2009;

What is the EIT?

What is the EIT? (cont)

- Vision: promote the full integration of education, research and business for entrepreneurial and innovation-driven activities;

- Strategy: establish new models for innovation, collaboration and funding of innovation;

- Execution: through results-driven instruments such as the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs);

What is a KIC?- KICs = highly integrated and excellence-driven autonomous partnerships; internationally distributed but thematically convergent;

- KIC co-location = a geographical location of a KIC where all or large part of the innovation chain can be found in close proximity working together across the innovation chain;

- KIC governance: a single legal entity with a strong leadership (CEO);

- KIC outcomes to be measured in: – New business creation;– Education and development of entrepreneurial people;– New governance models for innovation-driven collaboration;– Improvements in curricular and learning and teaching methods;

How are KIC funded?

- True commitment from KIC partners, translated in funding from a variety of sources:

- National/Regional

- EU (non-EIT) - e.g. FP7 research grant or structural funds

- Private funding

- Own resources

25%

75%

EITOther

- EIT funding (= EIT grant to the KIC): 25% of KIC budget

KIC annual total spending (est.): 50-100 million Euro

KIC InnoEnergy

2

• 13 companies, 10 research institutes, 13 universities

• ~50% industry partners (incl. associated partners)

• >50% of key research players in Europe

• Covering the whole energy mix

• Knowledge triangle balanced along all dimensions

• Strong connection with VCs andlocal governments

Complete and complementary world class innovation hotspots

Each Co-location features at least:

One strong research institute One major university One European-based multinational company

EindhovenBerlin StockholmHelsinki

Otaniemi Science Park

Paris

Pôles de Competitivité

Associate clusters in Budapest, London, TrentoSystematic build-up of innovation hot-spots outside our initial nodes

Active regional network of SME Full national and regional support

+

EIT ICT Labs

Climate-KIC

Vision

• Catalyse climate change innovation

• Create a community for climate change innovation

• Deliver integrated climate change innovation

• Transform Europe’s response to climate change

Vision

• Catalyse climate change innovation

• Create a community for climate change innovation

• Deliver integrated climate change innovation

• Transform Europe’s response to climate change

Collocation Centre

Regional Innovation Centre

9

KICs: open to the world

- Global challenges call for global solutions;

- Participation of excellent institutions from third countries in a KIC is clearly possible and desirable if they bring added value to the KIC;

- Condition for participation: agreement of the EIT Governing Board and 50% of partners forming the KIC are from EU;

- Next wave of KICs to be launched after 2013;

Thank you very much for your attention!