Brussels, 08/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - Higher education, research and business organisations strongly support the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to drive forward more and better cooperation between the worlds of academia, entrepreneurship, research and innovation. This was revealed by the results of a public consultation exercise in which nearly 200 organisations and individuals took part from 14 April to 30 June 2011. Such support “clearly shows that the EIT is on track and that its role in fostering innovation in Europe is essential”, commented Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, responsible for education, culture, youth and multilingualism, on Thursday 8 September.
According to respondents, the EIT should play a specific role in the context of the future EU programme for research and innovation, “Horizon 2020”, and establish closer links with other European and national initiatives. A majority of respondents taking part in the survey also praised the way in which the EIT ensures the participation of businesses in its work and urged the institute to step up its outreach activities.
On the subject of the creation of new “knowledge and innovation communities” (KICs), interested parties find that the most relevant themes are health and ageing (81%) and sustainable mobility and towns (77%). Results of the consultation exercise will be used to establish a “strategic innovation programme” concerning the EIT, to be presented by the Commission at the end of this year. (I.L./transl.jl)