2010 was the KICs' kick-off year: the EIT's three Knowledge and Innovation Communities (Climate-KIC, EIT ICT Labs and KIC InnoEnergy) took shape as organisations led by an independent management team and each defined their legal structure.
In parallel, the EIT Headquarters were set up and developed in Budapest, the location chosen as the seat of the EIT by the European Council.
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The Executive Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Energy Initiative, Ms Melanie Kenderdine visited the EIT HQ on 13 May for an open exchange of views on similarities and differences between the MIT and the EIT.
This was followed by a short introduction on the Draft Strategic Innovation Agenda and on lessons learned from setting the EIT HQ and the KICs by Ronald de Bruin, EIT Acting Director. Co-operation opportunities, for example in the area of entrepreneurial education have been deliberated.
On 17 May 2011, the EIT Headquarters in Budapest hosted its fourth joint EIT/KIC Entrepreneurship Workshop. This meeting brought together representatives from each of the three Knowledge Innovation Communities (KICs), the European Commission as well as the EIT Governing Board and headquarters with the aim of discussing and furthering the practical implementation of the EIT Entrepreneurship Agenda.
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology's (EIT) Governing Board today appointed José Manuel Leceta as the institute's Director . Mr Leceta will lead the EIT's headquarters during the next four years.
Mr José Manuel Leceta, formerly International Director at CDTI, the Spanish Innovation Agency worked on the fostering of Spanish participation in European and international R&D programmes and the representon of Spain in R&D related forums.
The European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) invited the EIT Headquarters and the three KIC CEOs to discuss state of play and simplification of rules for seed financing of the KICs.
As stipulated in the EIT Regulation (Article 16), “By June 2011 and every five years after the entry into force of a new financial framework, the Commission shall provide for an evaluation of the EIT. This shall be based on an independent external evaluation and shall examine how the EIT fulfill its mission.
The SIA describes how the EIT will cement its position within the EU innovation landscape by building on the successes and lessons learnt since its inception in 2008. “The EIT and our current three Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) are proving that there is a need for a new European innovation approach. We are committed to stepping up the efforts necessary to ensure Europe remains a key competitor on the global stage” says Martin Schuurmans - Chairman of the EIT Governing Board.
On Saturday 25 June, Dr. Martin Schuurmans (Chairman of the EIT Governing Board) presented the EIT, its vision and achievements at the China – Eastern and Central European Countries Economic and Trade Forum, which took place in Budapest.
First of all, welcome to the EIT. Could you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?
On 7 and 8 May the EU institutions represented in Hungary organise a two-day street festival on the occassion of Schuman Day. Next to the whole-day programmes, theatre performances, concerts, and other attractions, there will be information tents of the institutions working with/for the European Union.
Come and learn more about the EIT at the Europe Day Festival, at the Millenáris Park in Budapest, Saturday, 7 May from 14 pm till late!
Waiting for you in the information tent nr. 10
