iMinds becomes a member of EIT’s ICT Labs
A Belgium research institute specialising in ICT innovation is to become an associate partner of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s (EIT) ICT Labs Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC). It’s hoped the membership will strengthen the institute’s collaboration with Europe’s research and technology organisation and support the KIC’s mission to make Europe a global leader in ICT innovation.
Speaking about the new partnership, Wim De Waele, chief executive of iMinds, said: “The EIT ICT Labs membership offers exceptional opportunities to strengthen our digital incubation and entrepreneurship programme. iMinds strongly believes that start-ups and SMEs in ICT must have an international perspective from the start. EIT ICT Labs has set up initiatives such as an international coaching infrastructure to support ICT spin-offs and SMEs. Its European network can help iMinds start-ups with their plans to take their business international.”
The new partnership will allow iMinds to further expand the scale of its innovation activities in Europe and to exchange knowledge, best practices and people across borders. The venture will also allow iMinds to better stimulate ICT as Key Enabling Technology in several fields, including health, energy, manufacturing and media, assisting economic growth in Europe level.
“We are pleased to welcome iMinds,” added Willem Jonker, chief executive of EIT ICT Labs. “iMinds has a proven track record in stimulating entrepreneurship. iMinds’ strong commitment to EIT ICT Labs is well recognised, especially through its strengthening of our Eindhoven co-location centre.”
ICT Labs links education, research and business in a European entrepreneurial ecosystem and was the first KIC formed by the EIT.
