European Innovation Council (EIC) Seeking New Board Members
Between 15 and 20 applicants will be accepted to guide the work of the EIC.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) is the European Commission’s primary tool for identifying and supporting breakthrough technologies and significant innovations with the potential to scale up internationally and become market leaders. The EIC supports all stages of innovation, from R&D on the scientific underpinnings of breakthrough technologies, to validation and demonstration of breakthrough technologies and innovations to meet real world needs, to the development and scaling up of start-ups and SMEs.
The EIC is now looking to appoint 15 to 20 leading innovators for its new Board. Applications are welcome from all parts of the innovation ecosystem, including researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem builders.
The Board’s overriding role is to advise the Commission on:
- The overall strategy for the EIC component under Pillar III ‘Innovative Europe’
- The work programme for the implementation of the EIC actions
- The criteria for assessment of the innovativeness and risk profile of the proposals and the appropriate balance of grants, equity and other forms of financing for the EIC accelerator
- The identification of strategic portfolio of projects
- The profile of programme managers
EIC Board members will also contribute to outreach and communication activities, including those oriented towards establishing connections between the EIC Community of funded innovators and the wider ecosystem, particularly investors, corporates and public procurers.
The Board is expected to meet four to five times per year, either virtually or in person at Commission premises in Brussels or elsewhere. A maximum of 20 days of working time per year is expected, of which approximately half for Board and ad-hoc meetings and half for remote working days for additional tasks outside the Board meetings.
The Commission is seeking experienced European and/or global leaders with vision and a passion for innovation. It will look to appoint a diverse group of high level individuals including:
- Entrepreneurs who have started up and scaled up innovative enterprises at European/global level
- Investors and venture capitalists
- Corporate leaders and individuals experienced in corporate venturing and corporate-startup relationships
- Researchers and academics with leading expertise in fields relating to future and emerging technologies
- Individuals with a strong track record in developing the wider innovation ecosystem, in particular in knowledge/technology transfer, in building start-up communities, and in managing innovation agencies/incubators/accelerators
- Experts on public sector and social innovation and academic experts on innovation
Members of the Board will be remunerated for the services they offer, consisting of a flat fee honoria of €2,000 for full attendance at a plenary meeting, and €1,000 for partial attendance. In addition, travel and subsistence expenses incurred by participants in the activities of the Board and its sub-groups shall be reimbursed by the Commission.
Members are appointed all for a period of two years, renewable twice.
Applications must be completed in one of the official languages of the European Union. However, applications submitted in a language other than English should ideally include a summary of the application in English.
Applications should be submitted via email by the 30 June 2021 (17:00 CET) deadline.