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Fostering Innovation and Strengthening Synergies within the EU

How have the different EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) found unique ways to best organise the knowledge triangle in order to achieve impact on the European Innovation landscape through excellent partnerships, innovative funding models and project portfolio? How can these impacts be measured? How will the future of the EIT capitalise on the multiplier capacity of individuals in spreading the expertise gained throughout their relation with the EIT and its KICs?

What is the current engagement with regions, other national and EU instruments succeeding? How can synergies be created and further explored? And what specific future measures can be taken?

Key questions not only for the EIT to learn from and to use as a basis for developing and preparing for its next wave of Knowledge & Innovation Communities (KICs) and its innovation agenda, but also for the wider innovation community.

This conference served as a forum to answer precisely these questions, within the framework of wider discussions on the future of EU innovation policies and the integration of the so called Knowledge Triangle (business, research, higher education) both within the EU and globally.

The EIT showcased its activities and achievements via impact and engagement to date at all levels: at European level, Knowledge & Innovation Communities and locally at Co-location Centres. It provided participants with an in-depth understanding of current and future EIT activities, that will allow them to benefit from the lessons learnt during the implementation of its ambitious agenda.

DAY 1 - Present and future KICs: what makes a KIC a KIC?

Opening of the Conference

Welcome and Intoduction

  • Patrick Prendergast, EIT Governing Board Member and Provost of Trinity College Dublin

Opening Addresses

  • Sean Sherlock, T.D., Minister for Research and Innovation, Ireland (Speech)
  • Xavier Prats Monné, Deputy Director General, DG EAC, European Commission
  • Maria Da Graça Carvalho, Chair of the Friends of the EIT MEP network
  • Alexander von Gabain, Chairman of the EIT Governing Board (Presentation)

Plenary Session 1: Achieving impact through excellent partnerships

The session was built around the questions of: How has each of the current three KICs found a unique approach to best integrating the Knowledge Triangle in order to achieve impact? Critical mass is related not only to the number of partners in each of the research, higher education and business fields, but also to their collective strength. As such, the organisation and structure of a KIC is a crucial element to optimally achieve impact and contribute to the EIT’s mission.

Introduction to the topics of the 1st day:

  • Alexander von Gabain, Chairman of the EIT Governing Board

Moderator:

  • Ann Mettler, Executive Director, Lisbon Council

Panellists:

  • Lambert Van Nistelrooij, Member of the European Parliament
  • Ian Short, Chief Executive Climate-KIC Governing Board (Presentation)
  • Karl-Friedrich Ziegahn, KIC InnoEnergy - Chairman of the KIC Governing Board
  • Magnus Madfors, EIT ICT Labs ESB Members, Director of R&D Policy, Ericsson

Plenary Session 2: Achieving impact through an innovative funding model

The session was built around the questions of: How do the funding models of the EIT’s KICs leverage funding otherwise not available for innovation and it aligns its existing investment across the EU to stimulate innovation in an efficient and lean manner? In addition, how does the EIT funding model ensure that partners are committed to the KIC by requiring concrete financial contributions?

Moderator:

  • Ann Mettler, Executive Director, Lisbon Council

Panellists:

  • Jari Ahola, Head of Unit Services and Finance, EIT (Presentation)
  • Richard Templer, Director of Education and Director of UK Co-Location Centre, Climate-KIC
  • Constant Smits, Chief Operations Officer, EIT ICT Labs (Presentation)
  • Bart de Beer, Chief Financial Officer in KIC InnoEnergy

Plenary Session 3: Achieving impact through an innovative project portfolio

The session generated discussion, focusing on the creation of innovative projects that is a crucial decision for a KIC as it determines its focus on excellence and ensures an overall commitment to quality. The KICs activities fix the necessary partners to undertake them as well as the actual funding needs. KICs Annual Business Plans guarantee the necessary flexibility for adapting project portfolios to a rapid changing environment. In addition, the development of cross-KIC projects offers further potential to maximise their impact and their added value.

Moderator:

  • Ann Mettler, Executive Director, Lisbon Council

Panellists:

  • Alexandre Caldas, Head of Unit Partnerships Management, EIT (Presentation)
  • Daniel Zimmer, Innovation Director, Climate-KIC
  • Constant Smits, Chief Operations Officer, EIT ICT Labs (Presentation)
  • Arne Lorenz, Chief Operations Officer, KIC InnoEnergy

Plenary Session 4: Measuring impact: monitoring in the EIT and its KICs

The session’s discussion was focusing on the monitoring systems applied in each KIC and at the EIT. In order to achieve impact in an optimal way, a robust monitoring system must measure the results of the EIT and KICs activities. How is the EIT monitoring system with relevant KPIs performing from both the EIT’s and the current KICs’ perspectives?

Moderator:

  • Ann Mettler, Executive Director, Lisbon Council

Panellists:

 

DAY 2 - Beyond the KICs: engaging with the stakeholder community

Introduction to the topics of the 2nd day

Introduction to the topics of the 2nd day:

Plenary Session 5: Synergies at EU and national level

Objective of the session was to generate discussion focusing on the existing and potential synergies in the EU innovation landscape. The EIT is built on the principles of collaboration and co-operation. The current KICs are already actively engaging with other EU initiatives and instruments and are establishing a dialogue with innovation stakeholders. This session showcased some of the synergies already underway and asked the question of how these synergies can be further amplified. The session was preceded by a morning discussion (08:30-09:30) about a draft Analysis of potential synergies fostered by the EIT in the EU innovation landscape. During the morning session, the EIT contractor, Technopolis Group, presented initial finding and recommendations for further validation with participants.

Moderator:

  • John Hegarty, Director, Innovation Advisory Partners

Panellists:

  • Mathea Fammels, Head of Unit Policy and Communications (Presentation)
  • EIT Marja Makarow, EIT Governing Board Member
  • Erik Neumann, Project Lead, Software Campus (Presentation)
  • Imelda Lambkin, Enterprise Ireland (Presentation)

Plenary Session 6: Engagement with Europe’s talented innovators, and creating new talent

Objective of the session was to focus on Europe’s talented innovators. During its initial period, the EIT has proven its appeal to students, researchers and entrepreneurs from different backgrounds and world regions. Through actual testimonials, this session presented the role of the EIT in engaging with talented individuals keeping in mind the question: “How will the future of the EIT capitalise on the multiplier capacity of individuals in spreading the expertise gained through their relationship with the EIT and its KICs?".

Moderator:

  • John Hegarty, Director, Innovation Advisory Partners

Panellists:

  • Andreas Reinhardt, Student, Climate-KIC
  • Pep Salas Prat, Entrepreneur, KIC InnoEnergy
  • Kai Kuikkaniemi, Researcher, EIT ICT Labs
  • Veronica Campbell, Dean of Graduate Studies in Trinity College (Presentation)

Plenary Session 7: Engagement with Europe’s Regions

Objective of the session was to generate discussion focusing on the collaboration with European Regions. The EIT, through its KICs, has a unique way of approaching regions. The existing KICs already have a strong presence in regions as a result of their co-location centres and in addition Climate KIC through its Regional Implementation and Innovation Communities (RICs). The SIA presents outreach as one of the key objectives for the EIT during 2014-2020. Regions are exceptional partners with a view to strengthen the presence of the EIT throughout Europe and ensure a widespread dissemination of its lessons learnt and experiences.

Moderator:

  • John Hegarty, Director, Innovation Advisory Partners

Panellists:

  • Xavier Prats Monné, Deputy Director General DG EAC, European Commission
  • Jana Kolar, Member of the EIT Governing Board
  • Aled Thomas, Regional Implementation and Innovation Communities (RIC) Director, Climate-KIC (Presentation)

Official closure

  • José Manuel Leceta, EIT Director (Presentation)
  • Patrick Prendergast, EIT Governing Board Member and Provost of Trinity College Dublin