Barroso congratulates EIT on achievements

The European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, has visited the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) headquarters in Budapest.

President Barroso met with Peter Olesen, chairman of the EIT Governing Board, Bruno Revellin-Falcoz, member of the EIT Governing Board, and Martin Kern, EIT interim director, during his visit to Hungary. Discussions focused on the EIT’s progress, its priorities for the future and the institute’s contributions to Horizon 2020.

Welcoming the progress made by the EIT, Barroso particularly praised its development of the knowledge and innovation communities (KIC) on climate change, ICT and energy. Commenting, he said: “The EIT was set up to boost innovation in the EU, and I am impressed with these initial results and the institute’s potential to increase competitiveness and job creation. I look forward to seeing the EIT and its KICs continue to grow and contribute to the realisation of the Innovation Union goals.”

So far, the EIT’s first three KICs bring together more than 500 leading partners in business, research and higher education from across Europe, integrating the three sides of the knowledge triangle. By the end of 2014, the EIT will select two new KICs in the fields of raw materials and innovation for healthy living and active ageing, helping further enlarge the EIT community.

Adding his thoughts on the EIT’s development, Peter Olesen, chairman of the EIT Governing Board, said: “Investing in innovation and entrepreneurship is key to creating more sustainable growth and skilled jobs in Europe. I am delighted that the European Commission, under the leadership of Barroso, has supported the development of the EIT and the negotiations for the EIT’s eightfold budget increase for the 2014-2020 period.”

The EIT receives a budget of €2.7bn as part of Horizon 2020.