Inauguration of the board of directors of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology: Encouraging public/private cooperation in the most strategic areas
- On: 15.09.2008
- In: Hungary, Budapest
Valérie Pécresse, the French Minister of Higher Education and Research, in the presence of José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, inaugurated the board of directors of the European Institute of Technology (IET), the aim of which is to improve the organisation of the European Research Area.
The minister spoke of the intention of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union to put science at the service of society and of the wish to construct a framework for innovation based on scientific excellence and promote the integration of the knowledge triangle: education, research and innovation.
The European Institute of Technology provides an ambitious means of increasing the efficiency of research and developing innovation based on knowledge. It is the symbol of a rapprochement between academic research and innovation and will encourage the creation a network of European researchers in centres of excellence. The IET will continue to encourage the mobility of researchers in Europe, which is one of the French Presidency’s priorities. The Institute will thus be able to draw on a budget of €2.4 billion in its first six years financed by private and public contributions. The initial community budget will amount to nearly €308m.
The IET will be based around Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC) which will constitute its operational entities, comprising at least three partner organisations located in at least two countries with, as a minimum, one third-level education establishment and one private company. Ten of these communities will eventually be set up.
The diplomas (Master’s degrees and doctorates) awarded by higher education establishments involved in a KIC will be eligible for the IET’s quality label.
Valérie Pécresse warmly welcomed the quality and diversity of the profiles of the members of the IET’s governing body including that of the Frenchman Bertrand Collomb, the President of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology. Composed of 18 members, the governing body is responsible for implementing the rules for running the Institute and defining its overall strategy. It will also be responsible for selecting, coordinating and evaluating the Communities. The first KICs will be selected by invitations to tender and launched between now and the end of 2009.
Press Contact:
Cabinet de la Ministre de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche
Marion Lamure – 33 1.55.55.84 32 – marion.lamure @ recherche.gouv.fr
- Updated: 29.10.2008
