MEPs give go-ahead to EU technology institute

STRASBOURG - The European parliament has agreed, by a large majority, to the creation of a European institute of innovation and technology (EIT).

MEPs gave the new EU agency the green light at its second reading on Tuesday in Strasbourg despite strong opposition from the parliament’s Green/EFA group.

 The compromise deal, backing a common position with member states to establish the EIT or EIIT as it may now be called after the inclusion of innovation in the title, could see the new agency operational by the summer.

"The agreement with council represents a success for parliament," said parliament’s rapporteur Reino Paasilinna, adding that "the compromise stresses the role of innovation".

“Innovation is where we really have to catch up. Too often, our brilliant students and researchers do not reap the rewards of their work simply because there is no one to help them turn research results into commercial products."

Sharing a press conference with Paasilinna, commissioner for education, training, culture and youth Ján Figel’ said that EU member states could ok the new agency and decide on its location by the end of June.

 “[The decision] is on the council’s agenda, not mine, but I suspect that the Slovenian EU presidency will formally put the EIT on the agenda, probably in May, [during the competitiveness council] to start discussions or to decide the candidates,” said Figel’.

Budapest, Munich, Vienna and Wroclaw have all expressed an interest in hosting the institute, which is expected to have an overall budget of €2.4bn in its first six years.

However Figel’ hinted that the institute should probably be sited in one of the EU’s newest member countries.

“[As recommended back in 2003 at the December summit] I believe that new EU offices or agencies should preferably be located in new member states.”

Paasilinna said that the institute’s location should be reasonably easy to get to.

 “This [Strasbourg] is an example of where we [MEPs] shouldn’t be”.

 Commission president José Manuel Barroso said he was “delighted that the parliament had adopted the EIT proposal".

“The EIT is now becoming reality. It is set to become an important feature of Europe's research and innovation landscape," said Barroso.

“By the end of 2009 it should be beginning its groundbreaking work on such important themes as climate change, renewable energies and the next generation of information and communication technology.

 “The EIT will facilitate and enhance partnerships and cooperation between the worlds of business, research and higher education across the EU.

 “By allowing networking on an unprecedented scale, European research and innovation can move into a new dimension. The Commission and I personally are proud of our proposal and the large support it has gathered.”

 The EIT will have a two-tier structure, with the institute’s governing board selecting higher education institutions, research organisations, companies and other stakeholders to form autonomous partnerships, the so-called "Knowledge and Innovation Communities" (KICs).

 Each KIC will consist of at least three partner organisations, from at least two different member states and include at least one higher education institution and one private company. Universities which take part in a KIC will be encouraged to add an EIT label to the degrees and diplomas they award.

 According to the commission, within 18 months after the EIT is established, a first set of two or three KICs will be selected "in areas that help the EU to face current and future challenges", such as climate change, renewable energy and the next generation of information and communication technologies.

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