REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): the contribution of the EIT to a more innovative Europe

16.1.2013 - (COM(2011)0822 – C7‑0462/2011 – 2011/0387(COD)) - ***I

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Rapporteur: Marisa Matias
Rapporteur for the opinion (*): Chrysoula Paliadeli, Committee on Culture and Education
(*) Associated committee - Rule 50 of the Rules of Procedure

Amendments

• 001-083 (PDF - 501 KB)
• 001-083 (DOC - 493 KB)
• 084-084 (PDF - 651 KB)
• 084-084 (DOC - 404 KB)
• 085-085 (PDF - 648 KB)
• 085-085 (DOC - 402 KB)

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): the contribution of the EIT to a more innovative Europe

(COM(2011)0822 – C7‑0462/2011 – 2011/0387(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2011)0822),

–   having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 173(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C7‑0462/2011),

–   having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–   having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 28 March 2012[1],

–   having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the opinions of the Committee on Culture and Education and the Committee on Legal Affairs (A7-0422/2012),

1.  Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

2.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Amendment  1 Proposal for a decision Recital 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(2) The SIA should define long-term priory fields for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology ("the EIT") and include an assessment of its economic impact and capacity to generate best innovation added-value. The SIA should take into account the results of the monitoring and evaluation of the EIT.	(2) The SIA should define long-term priority fields for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology ("the EIT") promoting excellence and wide participation across the EU, and include an assessment of its economic and social impact and capacity to generate best innovation added-value. The SIA should take into account the results of the monitoring and evaluation of the EIT.
Amendment  2 Proposal for a regulation Recital 2 (a)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(2a) Still too often, excellence in higher education, research and innovation, while clearly existing across the Union, remains fragmented. Europe needs to overcome this lack of strategic co-operation across boundaries – countries, sectors and disciplines – to create sufficient critical mass in the knowledge triangle, in order to contribute to attaining the Europe 2020 goals, making education, research and innovation greater than the sum of their parts.
	The EIT, ensuring greater integration of the components of the knowledge triangle, strengthening cooperation between education systems, the research and the business world, developing new curricula and doctoral programmes, involving all relevant actors in a context of globalisation and digitisation of the economy, will contribute to accelerating education, research and innovation as key tools both to attain a sustainable and competitive economic model and to generate and maintain future employment.
	By using a flexible concept of innovation, guided by the public interest and the Societal Challenges – that focuses on education, technological and product-oriented innovation and on its social impact –, leveraging and stimulating investments from the private sector, as well as a fruitful cooperation between education and research institutes, including research and technology organisations (RTOs), businesses, governments and citizens, the EIT will help to establish new collaborative platforms and tools such as open networks, open standards, clusters, sharing knowledge and ideas, at university level.
	The EIT is the effective Union body to cope with new, emerging needs, to find innovative solutions and to strengthen their impact on society. Widening participation to spread excellence across Europe, fostering strong synergies and complementarity with the structural funds, embracing flexibility and accountability and standing committed to openness, transparency and external engagement, the EIT can also actively promote the take-up and acceptance of innovations by society at large.
Amendment  3 Proposal for a decision Article 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Subject matter
The Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology as set out in the annex is hereby adopted.	This decision establishes the Strategic Innovation Agenda ("SIA") of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology ("EIT") for the period from 2014 to 2020.
Amendment  4 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 1a
	Objectives of the Strategic Innovation Agenda
	1. The SIA outlines the priorities for the EIT over the period 2014-2020 as well as the modalities for its operation. It is therefore a key tool to steer the strategic direction of the EIT, while leaving it with considerable autonomy in defining the ways and means to achieve the set goals. Innovation guided by the Societal Challenges – that focuses on education, technological and product-oriented innovation, and flexibility – stands at the centre of the EIT.
	2. The SIA shall facilitate the coordination of policies and coherence among their different instruments and create synergies with regard to innovation policy by adopting a truly holistic approach focused on the major societal challenges, making EIT act as an "innovation catalyst", helping create open and inclusive innovation models in Europe, building itself as an internationally recognised and acclaimed world-class innovation institution.
	3. The EIT is for these purposes the effective Union body to cope with new, emerging needs, to find innovative solutions and to strengthen their impact on society. By embracing flexibility and accountability and standing committed to openness, transparency and external engagement, according to its SIA, the EIT can actively promote the take-up and acceptance of new innovations by society at large, creating sustainable solutions for the dissemination and adoption of new technologies with end-consumers, citizens and society at large, taking particular care in incentivising new research and innovation accommodate for special needs in different entrepreneurial spaces.
	4. The SIA is an EIT key tool for innovation policy, for job creation and sustainable development, for promoting the widening of participation to spread excellence across Europe, including the conditions to generate employment for young graduates on SIA projects.
	5. The SIA aims at fostering EIT potential to develop new financing models, such as innovation prizes, allowing to maximize the public returns of the financing of research, ensuring that innovation not only tackles the most urgent needs of society but also can bring benefits rapidly to European citizens by obtaining precise scientific and technical answers at short notice.
	6. The SIA shall play a key role in providing answers in times of crisis, as it is essential to attract young people to the new types of jobs and to ensure that new and existing educational programmes promote access to the labour market for young people.
	7. The SIA is to be implemented in accordance with the Regulation (EC) No 294/2008.
Amendment  5 Proposal for a decision Article 1 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 1a
	EIT headquarters
	The EIT headquarters shall be located in Budapest, Hungary.
Justification
The agreement between the EIT and the Hungarian Government was signed in 2010, REF number: 2010/CLXVI.Due to this agreement part of the administrative expenditure is covered by the host country Hungary through provision of free of charge office space until the end of 2030, as well as an annual contribution of 1.5 million euro to the staff cost until the end of 2015.
Amendment  6 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 1b
	General Priorities
	1. The EIT shall contribute to the creation of a "science base of excellence" by fostering mobility across boundaries – between disciplines, sectors and countries – by adopting new principles and practices based, in particular, on open and inclusive research ensuring that research efforts are targeted, as a priority and effectively, at issues of major public interest and by embedding entrepreneurship and a risk-taking culture in innovative post- graduates degrees. Excellence shall be the main driver for EIT. The widening of participation shall be promoted in order to stimulate excellence across Europe, including the concept of "stairway to excellence" which will enable the creation of the conditions for the participation of small units of embryonic excellence, such as small research groups and highly innovative start-ups.
	2. The EIT and the KICs shall function as models for the implementation of the knowledge triangle in the EU and should, eventually, emerge as service providers for innovation capacity building across the EU in designing and implementing innovation policies and 'smart specialization' strategies. The strategic goal for the EIT is to become more than the sum of its parts, therefore cross-KIC coordination and cooperation should be exercised by the EIT in order to ensure synergies and added-value creation from the KICs and the numerous of partners within the EIT ecosystem.
	3. Overcoming fragmentation via long-term integrated partnerships and more strategic co-operation across countries, sectors and disciplines in order to create sufficient critical mass in the knowledge triangle, and achieving this critical mass through its European dimension, in a wide and balanced geographical coverage, the EIT shall act as a catalyst with flexibility to test out new innovation models, nurturing talent across borders and creating an internationally recognized brand of excellence. Through a smart human resource strategy, including systematic use of internal and external expertise, and internal management procedures, the EIT shall develop into a reference institution for innovative governance, developing new financing tools when needed.
	4. The EIT shall consolidate and further increase its role as an 'investor' that develops and enables existing centres of excellence at all levels in research, business and higher education in Europe to come together and foster their long- term systematic collaborations. The EIT shall encourage the creation of sustainable innovative start-ups and spin- offs and increase the number of post- graduate students in order to improve the delivery of its outputs. The EIT shall aim at boosting technology transfer and commercialisation and developing new ventures within existing business or creating new innovative businesses.
	5. In close cooperation with the KICs, the EIT shall establish a "Regional Innovation Scheme" for the association of so called affiliated co-location centres in countries which do not host any co- location centre. These will primarily support KIC innovation activities through their high potential for innovation and access to first costumers and end users of KIC enabled technologies, by means of demonstration facilities, test sites, etc. as described in Annex, part 2, point 2.2..
	6. The EIT shall exploit its flexibility to push for simplification, implemented in a responsible and accountable manner, in order to achieve effective results, promote innovation breakthroughs and the involvement of the business community.
Amendment  7 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 1c
	The Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs)
	1. The EIT shall provide strategic orientation for the KICs and shall coordinate and monitor them with full respect for their autonomy and allowing room for bottom-up initiatives while ensuring transparency and accountability procedures. The EIT shall ensure that the KICs operate on a transparent basis and take into account the interests of all participants, both those already involved and newcomers. For additional KICs, allocated funds shall be provided on a competitive basis and taking into consideration the quality and potential of the projects.
	2. KICs are a key instrument for the EIT. Under Horizon 2020, and the EIT will develop the KIC concept further to support the development of European innovation culture in all member states. Through the KICs, the EIT helps to create multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary environments where open and inclusive innovation models are more likely to thrive. While always respecting the same principle of materializing the full integration of the knowledge triangle, and in line with objectives in Pillar 2 and 3 of Horizon 2020, a tailor-made approach towards the different KICs and their financial needs is necessary, as some become very big and have large financial needs, whereas other ones stay smaller and need less financing. KICs may also differ in duration, depending on the circumstances and the issues to be addressed.
	3. Critical mass is essential for the EIT to develop its full potential as a leading innovation institute. It shall be reflected in terms of support provided to the KICs, the intensity and coverage of its outreach, the capacity of dissemination and promotion of international activities and its ability to deliver simplified procedures. KIC coordination and cooperation, support and advice in administrative matters should be exercised by the EIT in order to develop a strategy to reduce administrative burden and create a best-practices guide that disseminates good practices and experiences of existing KICs to new KICs, accelerate innovation, combine sectorial and cross-sectoral innovation, ensure synergies and added-value creation from the numerous EIT partners and the cross-pollination of ideas within the EIT, incentivise cross-co-location work within each KIC and stimulate KICs to develop joint activities on cross-cutting issues.
	4. Currently the EIT, through the existing KICs and co-location centres, faces an issue of geographical concentration; which should be taken into consideration in the future, following the launch of future KICs and the expansion of the EIT's operations. A significant number of centres of excellence across the Member States often do not attain the critical mass for global competition individually. The same could happen with small KICs. Their integration in the EIT will have the effect of providing the support, background and critical mass needed for their success and to gain substantial size in order to be "world-class players" and to able to change the innovation landscape in the EU and to contribute significantly in their respective area towards tackling the societal challenges. SME participation and the involvement of smaller research organisations, as well as civil society organisations shall be ensured, drawing on the strengths of local communities that are already symbols of excellence, bearing in mind the distinctive features and the requirements of individual regions and facilitating the establishment and development of cultural districts in association with local industry.
	5. The EIT will select, in a first wave, up to four initial KICs out of five selected themes, respecting the following order of priorities:
	1. Raw materials and bio-based economy - sustainable exploration, extraction, processing, recycling, material development and substitution
	2. Innovation for healthy living and active ageing
	3. Urban mobility, smart and sustainable development
	4. Food4future - sustainable supply chain from resources to consumers
	5. Added-value manufacturing.
	The EIT may deviate from the above priority order by a duly justified decision and shall inform the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of its decision to that effect.
	The first wave of KICs will be launched in 2014. A second wave of KICs follows in 2018 For this second wave, the themes suggested above that were not considered for the first wave will have priority. If the EIT has enough resources for creating additional KICs, the EIT Board will have the autonomy to suggest, select and gradually launch new themes, provided that their scope falls within the societal challenges, that they meet the minimum conditions of establishment as laid down in Regulation (EC) No 294/2008 and that they have been subjected to a broad consultation process with a wide range of stakeholders representing all three parts of the knowledge triangle.
	Certain indicative thematic areas that have been suggested by the Commission and different platforms can be considered, such as: Smart secure societies, Marine - Sustainable use of the seas, Water, Woods and forests, Biomimetism, Sustainable construction and zero- energy buildings, Health innovation and people empowerment. This list is, however, purely indicative in respect of the thematic areas which will finally be chosen, taking into account the new and unforeseen challenges which may arise in the future.
	On the basis of these themes, the EIT will have the autonomy to organise the future KICs selection process. The success of future calls for KICs will depend largely on clear guidance as regards expectations and requirements, as well as a timeframe allowing KIC applicants to get organised both legally and financially before submitting a proposal. KICs will be selected against detailed criteria defined in the EIT Regulation, based on the overarching principles of excellence and innovation relevance. Any KIC selected will need to demonstrate how it will create maximum impact in the given area and prove the viability of its strategy.
	The selection is based on the quality, viability, and potential of the proposals, while the assessment of the evolution of research potentials and the possible emergence of new innovation dynamics should be regularly taken into account for considering future KICs.
	This will be done through the consultation of stakeholders and following a competitive and open application selection of new thematic areas and corresponding KICs, through a rigorous, transparent and competitive process that takes into consideration bottom-up approaches and the evolving societal challenges landscape in the EU, yet providing clarity and predictability for potential participants.
	6. The KICs shall be subjected to a mid-term review which will take into account the European added value of the KICs, and take appropriate measures in case of underperformance. If a KIC does not deliver on the criteria set up for the KICs, the EIT can interrupt its funding, after a certain explicit period of time defined in the agreement with the KICs.
	7. The EIT shall be a partner to the KICs until it decides the KICs sufficiently self- supportive after an indicative period of 7 to 15 years. When this period expires, and in the case the KIC decides to go on without EIT funding, or to transform itself into one or several companies to develop the business dealt with by the former KIC, the EIT may decide to be a full business partner to the new entity.
	8. Returns on EIT investment in KICs shall be measured in terms of tangible benefits for the European economy and society at large, such as the creation of new businesses, products and services in existing and future markets, better skilled entrepreneurial people, new and more attractive job opportunities and the attraction and retention of talent from across the Union and abroad.
Amendment  8 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 d (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 1d
	Educational programmes and activities
	1. The EIT is the single instrument within the Horizon 2020 framework that has a strong emphasis on education. The EIT should emerge as a world-class provider of post-graduate education, as it combines high quality training, mobility, entrepreneurial experiences in a setting where actual innovation is taking place, and introduces a disruptive educational paradigm for higher education. A key point of SIA is promoting and implementing the EIT's educational mission. The objective is to educate and train talented people with the skills, knowledge and mindset needed in a global society and in a knowledge economy. In that sense, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Scholarship Programme shall be developed as part of the EIT activities.
	2. The EIT shall help develop the necessary human resources for an innovation society, educating key actors such as students, researchers and entrepreneurs, and identifying framework conditions and best practice on policy, regulatory or standardisation issues in their relevant sector. The EIT shall implement different level training programmes for a new generation of world-class students – Master programmes, PhD programmes, summer schools, specific training programmes –, providing the long term commitment needed to deliver sustainable changes in higher education, notably through these new, trans- and interdisciplinary EIT- labelled degrees. The EIT shall seek national and international recognition of such EIT labelled qualifications, through peer evaluation. The EIT and the KICs shall be encouraged to develop educational synergies with EU and Member States policies, in order to support the future availability of the necessary human capital that is essential for fulfilling Europe's path towards scientific, technological and innovation leadership. The EIT may organize – by itself or in cooperation with other European or third country universities or research centres – programmes or courses on fundamental and key innovation enabling disciplines.
	3. In this context, and in order to expand the talent-base within the EU and to ensure the availability of sufficient numbers of skilled individuals that are necessary to actually deliver innovation, the EIT should participate in efforts to enhance the attractiveness of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education. KICs could develop coaching programmes for young Europeans by means of internships, school visits, grants for top high-school students and university students in STEM fields, funded management or business school and/or entrepreneurship classes for top science students over the summer, the EIT and the KICs may also cater for a wider range of innovative professional development activities, involving executive education, tailor-made training courses, modules for undergraduate courses or packages targeted to school education, expanding its educational activities to a greater variety of study modes, enhancing the impact of educational activities and reaching out to a wider audience. The attractiveness of research in Europe could be further promoted by providing research grants to top science students, provided they commit to an R&D project in Europe or they establish an innovative start-up in Europe.
	4. The programmes mentioned above may be fully integrated in a KIC activity, may result from different cooperation between different KICs, or be organized by the EIT itself or in cooperation with its KICs. The EIT shall incentivise the KICs to engage in cross- KIC work in areas which offer a strong potential for synergies, e.g. via joint professional development courses, joint research activities, masters or PhDs degrees or cross-KIC mobility options between academia and business.
	5. The EIT shall put in place a specific people scheme - Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) - to ensure that talent, such as students, researchers, teaching staff and entrepreneurs at all career levels, beyond the KICs and its co-location centres, will be connected to the EIT. Such a scheme shall not only provide top talents with the opportunity to benefit from the innovation environments created within the co-location centres, but shall also provide them with incentives to make full use of the knowledge and know-how acquired in areas beyond the KICs. Typically, the EIT Foundation could play a significant role in this area. As people are the actual carriers of innovation, provision could be made, where appropriate, to ensure the sufficient participation in EIT educational programmes of students coming from the periphery of the EU (e.g. through scholarships co-funded by Member States and the RIS). The EIT shall be encouraged to collaborate with Member States and regions to ensure that EIT graduates will find opportunities and the support needed in order to express their innovation and entrepreneurship potential within the EU.
	6. The EIT Governing Board will organize, on a regular basis, European or international conferences on relevant subjects under its scope of activities, transforming the EIT into a true European crossroad for researchers, professionals, teachers and students from all over Europe and beyond. It will also set up/customise a web based tool to provide a platform for knowledge sharing and networking around the EIT, which will provide students, teachers and researchers who are not involved in existing KICs with easy access to information about ongoing work and the results of completed research. This will include, in particular, the development of a repository of open courseware from the EIT's and KICs' educational and training activities which is accessible to all.
	7. The EIT shall encourage the setting up of an EIT alumni network fostering by this knowledge sharing, mentoring and networking.
Amendment  9 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 g (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 1g
	Union-wide and international cooperation
	1. The EIT, as an instrument for Union- wide cooperation between all stakeholders of the knowledge triangle, shall work in a co-operative and complementary basis – and not in competition – with the research and education institutions of all Member- States, namely associations of universities, business, clusters and research organisations. The EIT shall, in coordination with the Commission, help the KICs to engage with regional and local authorities, as they have an important role in bringing together businesses, specially SMEs, knowledge institutions, public authorities, thus serving as an intermediary between these various actors, the Member States and the Union.
	2. Regions and Member States which are the site for co-location centres will have opportunities to gain positive benefits through economies of agglomeration and the reaping of positive externalities. These opportunities will be fostered if a close cooperation is established between the KIC partners in the regions and the authorities and organisations involved in designing and delivering the Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3) as described in Annex IV in COM(2011) 615, 2011/0276 (COD), C7-0335/11. In contrast, regions which are excluded from these activities may experience risks of cumulative negative effects. This could reinforce existing inequalities, bringing positive benefits to regions which exhibit existing strengths in innovation capacity but adversely affecting those with existing weaknesses. These opportunities will also be fostered through Regional Innovation Schemes (RIS).
	3. In close cooperation with the KICs, the EIT shall develop a strong international strategy, identifying and liaising relevant interlocutors and potential partners from within and outside the Union. The EIT needs, in the long term, to cultivate a clear identity and a world-wide EIT brand name as being Europe's innovation and entrepreneurship engine and a world-class provider of education in this field. Forging strategic relations with key partners from around the globe, the EIT may be very attractive in itself and can add to the attractiveness of the partners within the KICs. The EIT can develop into the embodiment of the Union's innovation agenda, just as the ERC is the embodiment of European excellence and global leadership in science. Nurturing a strong global EIT brand may include actions to create a strong human and business network around the EIT community (students, alumni, educators, entrepreneurs, professionals etc) and foster a sense of identity and visibility. Such actions may include the organization of science and innovation conferences, annual events, competitions and awards, graduation ceremonies etc.
	4. The EIT shall set up a regular EIT Stakeholder Forum, to facilitate interaction and mutual learning with the wider innovation community from across the knowledge triangle, and including national and regional authorities.
	5. The EIT shall make systematic use of existing associations of universities, business and research organisations and cluster organisations as platforms for the knowledge exchange and dissemination of results.
	6. The EIT shall establish a mechanism to further facilitate synergies between the EIT, its KICs and other Union initiatives, such as an annual meeting between the EIT, the KICs and relevant services of the Commission.
	7. The EIT shall be used as a key instrument of the European Union for global cooperation in the fields of technology and innovation.
Amendment  10 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 h (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 1h
	EIT and other Union instruments
	1. The EIT and KICs, as the only EU instruments which complete the knowledge triangle, shall take full advantage of existing initiatives in the area, such as EU research, education, training and youth programmes, providing additional opportunities in innovation, entrepreneurship and industrial environment to Marie Skłodowska-Curie researchers, 'Erasmus for all' students and participants in other mobility initiatives within the European Research Area.
	2. Drawing on its characteristics, the EIT shall provide the nucleus for the pan-European innovation policy. The KICs, among others, are an essential and unique element in this policy. Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs), Public and Private Partnerships (PPPs), Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs), European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) and similar (future) platforms for promotion of large-scale industry-driven research are encouraged to coordinate with the EIT accordingly, or if they so decide, to join KICs as associated partners or in even more profound ways. Furthermore, also linkages to innovation activities within the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) can be made. This multiple cooperation platform for large-scale research should be grounded in the same line as SIA in terms of the promotion of a sustainable, redistributive and competitive development policy.
	3. The EIT shall reinforce interaction with the Union's Cohesion Policy by fostering strong synergies and complementarity with the structural funds, addressing the linkages between the local and global aspects of innovation. Co- location centres shall provide for cross- border collaboration and are well positioned to capitalise on various funding schemes from their respective regions. The co-location centres shall play a major role in strengthening the local- global connectivity.
Amendment  11 Proposal for a regulation Annex – part 1 – heading 1.1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In a rapidly changing world, Europe's pathway to the future rests on growth which is smart, sustainable and inclusive. To achieve this goal and to remain competitive in the global knowledge economy, the ‘knowledge triangle’ of research, education and innovation and the interaction between these three sides have been recognised as key driving forces. The European Union has acted accordingly and identified these fields as policy priorities in its Europe 2020 strategy. These priorities are notably implemented through the flagship initiatives ‘Innovation Union’ and ‘Youth on the Move’, which form the overarching policy framework for EU actions in these fields. They are complemented by the flagship initiatives on an ‘Integrated Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Era’ and on a ‘Resource-Efficient Europe’. The European Institute of Innovation and Technology will fully contribute to achieving the goals of these flagship initiatives.	In a rapidly changing world, Europe's pathway to the future rests on growth which is smart, sustainable and inclusive. To achieve this goal and to remain competitive in the global knowledge economy and society, the ‘knowledge triangle’ of research, education and innovation and the interaction between these three sides have been recognised as key driving forces. The European Union has acted accordingly and identified these fields as policy priorities in its Europe 2020 strategy. These priorities are notably implemented through the flagship initiatives ‘Innovation Union’ and ‘Youth on the Move’, which form the overarching policy framework for EU actions in these fields. They are complemented by the flagship initiatives on an ‘Integrated Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Era’ and on a ‘'Resource-Efficient Europe’. The European Institute of Innovation and Technology will fully contribute to achieving the goals of these flagship initiatives.
The reasons for putting research, education and innovation at centre stage are straightforward. In a context of increasing global competition and facing a demographic challenge at home, Europe's future economic growth and jobs will increasingly come from innovation breakthroughs in products, services and business models as well as from its ability to nurture, attract and retain talent. While there are individual success stories across Europe, EU Member States on average underperform in comparison with global innovation leaders. Moreover, the EU is facing increased competition for talent from new centres of excellence in emerging economies.	The reasons for putting research, education and innovation at centre stage are straightforward. In the context of the knowledge economy and increasing global competition and facing a demographic challenge at home, Europe's future economic growth and jobs will increasingly come from innovation breakthroughs in products, services and business models as well as from its ability to nurture, attract and retain talent, while allowing European citizens not only to benefit from these innovations but also to contribute, particularly by means of new technologies, to their emergence. While there are individual success stories across Europe, EU Member States on average underperform in comparison with global innovation leaders. Moreover, the EU is facing increased competition for talent from new centres of excellence in emerging economies, with the brain drain being a significant problem for the EU.
A genuine change in our innovation systems and paradigms is therefore necessary. Still too often, excellence in higher education, research and innovation, while clearly existing across the EU, remains fragmented. Europe needs to overcome this lack of strategic co-operation across boundaries – countries, sectors and disciplines. Moreover, Europe needs to embrace a true entrepreneurial culture, which is essential for capturing the value of research and innovation, for setting-up new ventures and actual market deployment of innovations in potential high-growth sectors. Europe needs to foster the role of higher education institutions as engines of innovation, as talented people need to be equipped with the right skills, knowledge and attitudes in order to drive innovation forward.	A genuine change in EU innovation systems and paradigms is therefore necessary, which requires the adoption of new principles and practices based, in particular, on open and inclusive research. Still too often, excellence in higher education, research and innovation, while clearly existing across the EU, remains fragmented. Europe needs to overcome this lack of strategic co-operation across boundaries – countries, sectors and disciplines. Moreover, Europe has a strong, open and true entrepreneurial culture, with large diversity of small and medium-size enterprises, which is essential to nurture and support to capturing the value of research and innovation, for setting-up new ventures and achieve actual market deployment of innovations in potential high-growth sectors. Europe needs to foster the role of higher education institutions as engines of innovation, as talented people need to be equipped with the right skills, knowledge and attitudes in order to drive innovation forward.
The EIT has been set up precisely to this end – to contribute to sustainable economic growth and competitiveness by reinforcing the innovation capacity of the Union and its Member States. By fully integrating the knowledge triangle of higher education, research and innovation, the Institute will strongly contribute to tackling societal challenges under Horizon 2020 and bring about systemic change in the way European innovation players collaborate.	The EIT has been set up precisely to this end – to contribute to sustainable economic growth and competitiveness by reinforcing and accelerating the innovation capacity of the Union and its Member States. By fully integrating the knowledge triangle of higher education, research and innovation, the Institute will strongly contribute to tackling the major societal challenges and bring about systemic change in the way European innovation players collaborate to promote open and inclusive models, thereby tackling the European paradox.
	The EIT is the single instrument within the Horizon 2020 framework that has a strong emphasis on education . The EIT should emerge as a world-class provider of post-graduate education, as it combines high quality training, mobility, entrepreneurial experiences in a setting where actual innovation is taking place, and introduces a disruptive educational paradigm for higher education.
To achieve this goal, the EIT combines strategic orientation at EIT level with a bottom up approach through its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). KICs are highly integrated partnerships, bringing together excellent universities, research centres, small and large companies and other innovation actors on a long-term basis around specific societal challenges. Each KIC is organized around a small number of interconnected co-location centres where partners work closely together on a daily basis and with an unprecedented degree of common strategic objectives. Co-location centres build on existing centres of excellence, developing them further into local innovation ecosystems and linking them together into a broader network of innovation nodes across Europe. Within the EIT framework , the individual KICs have been given a large degree of autonomy in defining their internal organisation, composition, agenda and working methods, allowing them to choose the approach that is best suited to meet their objectives. At strategic level, the EIT organizes the selection process of KICs, coordinates them with a flexible framework and disseminates their best governance and funding models.	To achieve this goal, the EIT combines strategic orientation at EIT level with a bottom up approach through its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). KICs are highly integrated partnerships, bringing together excellent universities, research centres, small and large companies and other innovation actors around specific societal challenges. Each KIC is organized around a small number of interconnected co-location centres where partners work closely together on a daily basis and with an unprecedented degree of common strategic objectives. Co-location centres build on existing centres of excellence, developing them further into local innovation ecosystems and linking them together into a broader network of innovation nodes across Europe. Within the EIT framework, the individual KICs have been given a large degree of autonomy in defining their internal organisation, composition, agenda and working methods, allowing them to choose the approach that is best suited to meet their objectives. At strategic level, the EIT organizes the selection process of KICs, coordinates them with a flexible framework, supports and advises them in administrative matters, stimulates collaboration between them and disseminates their best governance and funding models. Cross-KIC coordination and cooperation should be exercised by the EIT in order to ensure synergies and added-value creation from the numerous EIT partners and the cross-pollination of ideas within the EIT.
Through the KICs, the EIT helps to create environments where innovation is more likely to thrive and to generate breakthroughs in the way higher education, research and business collaborate. This approach helps addressing the increasingly complex societal challenges set out in Horizon 2020 in a holistic way, bringing together excellent people from different sectors, backgrounds and disciplines – who otherwise would not necessarily meet – to jointly find solutions to the challenge.	Through the KICs, the EIT tries to accelerate innovation and to help create multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary environments where innovation is more likely to thrive and to generate breakthroughs in the way higher education, research and business collaborate. This approach helps addressing the increasingly complex and interlinked societal challenges set out in Horizon 2020, combining sectorial and cross-sectoral innovation and bringing together excellent people from different backgrounds and disciplines – who otherwise would not necessarily meet – to jointly find solutions to the challenge.
Achievements	Achievements
The EIT has completed its initial phase, which was dedicated to launching its operations through the KICs and to put in place the EIT decision making and executive functions – Governing Board and headquarters. The EIT has also been successful in reaching its main objective - the full integration of the entire innovation chain, bringing together higher education institutions, research organisations and businesses via three initial Knowledge and Innovation Communities, established in 2010 in areas identified by Council and Parliament as essential to Europe's future development. These are sustainable energy (‘KIC InnoEnergy’), climate change adaptation and mitigation (‘ClimateKIC’) and future information and communication society (‘EIT ICT Labs’).	The EIT has completed its initial phase, which was dedicated to launching its operations through the KICs and to put in place the EIT decision making and executive functions – Governing Board and headquarters. The EIT has also been successful in reaching its main objective - the full integration of the entire innovation chain, bringing together higher education institutions, research organisations and businesses via three initial Knowledge and Innovation Communities, established in 2010 in areas identified by Council and Parliament as essential to Europe's future development. These are sustainable energy ('KIC InnoEnergy'), climate change adaptation and mitigation ('ClimateKIC') and future information and communication society ('EIT ICT Labs').
Moreover, the EIT is now consolidating itself as an innovation institution through the headquarters in Budapest. It has also set up the EIT Foundation, a legally independent organisation dedicated to promoting and supporting the work and activities of the EIT, and to enhancing the EIT's societal impact.	Moreover, the EIT is now consolidating itself as an innovation institution through the headquarters in Budapest. It has also set up the EIT Foundation, a legally independent organisation dedicated to promoting and supporting the work and activities of the EIT, and to enhancing the EIT's societal impact.
KICs on their way to world class integrated partnerships	KICs on their way to world class integrated partnerships
The current three KICs have succeeded in achieving critical mass in their respective areas, including a balanced participation from the different components of the knowledge triangle. The combined strength of partners in a KIC – both in number and in the weight they represent in their respective fields – gives them the potential to be world class.	The current three KICs have succeeded in achieving critical mass in their respective areas, including a balanced participation from the different components of the knowledge triangle. The combined strength of partners in a KIC – both in number and in the weight they represent in their respective fields – gives them the potential to be world class.
The KICs have followed differentiated approaches in building up their strategies and governance structures, reflecting different thematic fields. One KIC has been set up as a company while two others are non profit associations. All are structured around approximately 30 core partners and five to six co-location centres, which are usually flanked by a varying number of additional affiliate partners, including small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).	The KICs have followed differentiated approaches in building up their strategies and governance structures, reflecting different thematic fields. One KIC has been set up as a company while two others are non profit associations. All are structured around approximately 30 core partners and five to six co-location centres, which are usually flanked by a varying number of additional affiliate partners, including small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
The set-up of the KICs as single legal entities led by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides a clear departure from a traditional multi-beneficiaries approach. Moreover, all KICs follow business logic for the strategic planning of their activities, and all KICs have implemented the co-location concept: bringing diverse teams together in one physical place, acting as a clearing house for many KIC activities, and combining competences and skills developed in different areas of specialisation at pan-European level.	The set-up of the KICs as single legal entities led by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides a clear departure from a traditional multi-beneficiaries approach. Moreover, all KICs follow business logic for the strategic planning of their activities, and all KICs have implemented the co-location concept: bringing diverse teams together in one physical place, acting as a clearing house for many KIC activities, and combining competences and skills developed in different areas of specialisation at pan-European level. KICs should be able to mobilise investments and long term commitments from the private, public and tertiary sectors.
KICs activities span the entire innovation chain and include among others the setting up of EIT labelled Master and PhD programmes which combine excellent science with entrepreneurship education, business creation services, and mobility schemes. With the KICs' initial activities focused on talent and people, first results have been achieved on education and entrepreneurship, including the setting up of Masters and PhD programmes. Two KICs have joined forces and co-operate in a joint Master programme in Smart Grids.	KICs activities span the entire innovation chain and include among others the setting up of EIT labelled Master and PhD programmes which combine excellent science with entrepreneurship education, business creation services, and mobility schemes. With the KICs' initial activities focused on talent and people, first results have been achieved on education and entrepreneurship, including the setting up of Masters and PhD programmes. Two KICs have joined forces and co-operate in a joint Master programme in Smart Grids.
	Currently the EIT, through the existing KICs and co-location centres, faces an issue of geographical concentration; this should be taken into consideration in the future, following the launch of future KICs and the expansion of EIT's operations.
Amendment  12 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 1 – heading 1.2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
- Overcoming fragmentation via long-term integrated partnerships and achieving critical mass through its European dimension: Building on existing cooperation initiatives, the EIT brings the selected partnerships in the KICs to a more permanent and strategic level. KICs allow world-class partners to unite in new configurations, optimize existing resources, access new business opportunities via new value chains addressing higher risk, and larger scale challenges. Moreover, while there are a significant number of centres of excellence across EU Member States, they often do not attain the critical mass for global competition individually. The KICs' co-location centres offer strong local actors the opportunity to closely connect to other excellent partners across borders, thereby allowing them to act and be recognized globally.	- Overcoming fragmentation via long-term integrated partnerships and achieving critical mass through its European dimension: Building on existing cooperation initiatives, the EIT brings the selected partnerships in the KICs to a more permanent and strategic level. KICs allow world-class partners to unite in new configurations, optimize existing resources and develop open and inclusive innovation models, access new business opportunities via new value chains addressing higher risk, and larger scale challenges. Moreover, while there are a significant number of centres of excellence across EU Member States, they often do not attain the critical mass for global competition individually. The KICs' co-location centres offer strong local actors the opportunity to closely connect to other excellent partners across borders, thereby allowing them to act and be recognized globally.
Amendment  13 Proposal for a regulation Annex – part 1 – heading 1.2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
-Enhancing the impact of investments on education, research and innovation and testing new ways for innovation governance: The EIT acts as a catalyst, adding value to the existing research base, by accelerating the take-up and exploitation of technologies and research outcomes. Innovation activities contribute in turn to align and leverage research investments and to make education and training activities more responsive to business needs. To this end, the EIT has been equipped with a substantial degree of flexibility to test out new innovation models, allowing for true differentiation in the KICs' governance and funding models and quick adaptation to better cope with emerging opportunities.	-Enhancing the impact of investments on education, research and innovation and testing new ways for innovation governance: The EIT acts as an " innovation catalyst", adding value to the existing research base, by accelerating the take-up and exploitation of technologies and research outcomes and by transferring research results to all levels of education. Innovation activities contribute in turn to align and leverage research investments and to make education and training activities more responsive to business needs. To this end, the EIT has been equipped with a substantial degree of flexibility to test out new innovation models, allowing for true differentiation in the KICs' governance and funding models and quick adaptation to better cope with emerging opportunities. The EIT also has the potential to develop new financing models, such as innovation prizes, allowing to maximize the public returns from the financing of research, ensuring that innovation not only tackles the most urgent needs of society but also can bring benefit rapidly to European citizens.
Amendment  14 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 1 – heading 1.2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Nurturing talent across borders and fostering entrepreneurship through knowledge triangle integration: The EIT nurtures people-driven innovation and puts students, researchers, and entrepreneurs at the heart of its efforts. It provides new career paths between academia and the private sector, and innovative schemes for professional development. The EIT label attached to innovative KICs' Masters and PhD programmes will contribute to creating an internationally recognized brand of excellence helping to attract talent from Europe and abroad. Entrepreneurship is fostered through a new generation of world-class students, equipped with the knowledge and attitudes to turn ideas into new business opportunities.	Nurturing talent across borders and fostering entrepreneurship through knowledge triangle integration: The EIT nurtures people-driven innovation and puts students, researchers, and entrepreneurs at the heart of its efforts. It provides new career paths and mobility options betweenacademia and the private sector, and innovative schemes for professional development. The EIT label attached to innovative KICs' Masters and PhD programmes will contribute to creating an internationally recognized brand of excellence helping to attract talent from Europe and abroad, bearing in mind the distinctive features and the requirements of individual regions and facilitating the establishment and development of cultural districts in association with local industry. Entrepreneurship is fostered through a new generation of world-class students, equipped with the knowledge and attitudes to turn ideas into new business opportunities.
Amendment  15 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 1 – heading 1.2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
- Smart funding through leverage combined with a results- and business-oriented approach: The EIT provides up to 25% of the KICs budget and catalyzes 75% of financial resources from a wide range of public and private partners, creating a significant leverage effect by pooling large–scale investment and streamlining different sources of public and private towards jointly agreed strategies. Moreover, by focussing on both market and societal impact, the EIT follows a results-oriented approach. KICs operate according to a business logic, on the basis of annual business plans, including an ambitious portfolio of activities from education to business creation, with clear targets, deliverables and key performance indicators (KPIs) against which they are measured.	- Smart funding through leverage combined with a results- and business-oriented approach: The EIT provides up to 25% of the KICs budget and catalyzes 75% of financial resources from a wide range of public and private partners, creating a significant leverage effect by pooling large–scale investment and streamlining different sources of public and private towards jointly agreed strategies. With the significant 1-to-3 leveraging effect, the total budget allocated to the EIT of 3,3% of the total Horizon 2020 budget, manages to leverage an additional more than 10% of the Horizon 2020 budget, from public and private funds, towards achieving the EU's research and innovation agenda. Moreover, by focussing on both market and societal impact, the EIT follows a results-oriented approach. EIT should act as an investor, following an entrepreneurial logic, and its investments should be acting as leverage for other sources of private or public funding. KICs operate according to a business logic, on the basis of annual business plans, including an ambitious portfolio of activities from education to business creation, with clear targets, deliverables and key performance indicators (KPIs) against which they are measured.
Amendment  16 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 1 – heading 1.3 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The inter-relationships between research, innovation and education are increasingly being recognised within EU initiatives and programmes. There is great potential for mutually reinforcing actions at European, national and regional level. At EU level, the strategic framework provided by Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) – will further ensure these synergies are fully exploited.	The inter-relationships between research, innovation and education are increasingly being recognised within EU initiatives and programmes. There is great potential for mutually reinforcing actions at European, national and regional level. At EU level, the strategic framework provided by Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) – will further ensure these synergies are fully exploited. The EIT and its KICs have to complement the totality of EU research and innovation funding, rather than duplicate them.
Amendment 17 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 1.3 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EIT will strongly contribute to the objectives set out in Horizon 2020, in particular by addressing societal challenges in a complementary way to other initiatives in these areas. Within Horizon 2020 , the EIT will be part of the ‘tackling societal challenges’ objective but following the approach of seamless interaction across objectives, it will also contribute to ‘industrial leadership and competitive frameworks’ by stimulating results-driven research and fostering the creation of high growth innovative SMEs. Finally, it will contribute to the creation of an ‘excellent science base’ by fostering mobility across boundaries – of disciplines, sectors and countries – and by embedding entrepreneurship and a risk-taking culture in innovative post-graduates degrees. The EIT will thereby significantly contribute to promoting the framework conditions that are needed to realise the innovative potential of EU research and to promote the completion of the European Research Area (ERA).	The EIT will strongly contribute to the objectives set out in Horizon 2020, in particular by addressing societal challenges in a complementary way to other initiatives in these areas. Within Horizon 2020, the EIT will be part of the ‘tackling societal challenges’ objective but following the approach of seamless interaction across objectives, it will also contribute to ‘industrial leadership and competitive frameworks’ by stimulating results-driven research and fostering the creation of open and inclusive innovation models among high growth innovative SMEs. Finally, it will contribute to the creation of an ‘excellent science base’ by fostering mobility across boundaries – of disciplines, sectors and countries – and by embedding entrepreneurship and a risk-taking culture in innovative post-graduates degrees. The EIT must support cross-border and cross-sector cooperation and mobility in research and innovation between academia, research institutes and business. The EIT will create a joint innovation and knowledge sharing platform that will help support areas which are not directly participating in KICs and, in the longer term, help achieve the priorities of the Horizon 2020 framework programme. A separate priority needs to be established to define the specific scope within which the EIT will operate in the context of cooperation on research and innovation with third countries and international organisations, thus helping to disseminate good community practices. The EIT will thereby significantly contribute to promoting the framework conditions that are needed to realise the innovative potential of EU research and to promote the completion of the European Research Area (ERA). A coordination mechanism between the EIT and the other activities under Horizon 2020 shall be proposed by the European Commission in consultation with the EIT, to be implemented by the EIT.
Amendment  18 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 1 – heading 1.3 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Moreover, the EIT brings a fully fledged education dimension to the EU's research and innovation policy. Via innovative, entrepreneurial education it plays an important bridging role between the research and innovation framework and education policies and programmes and provides the long term commitment needed to deliver sustainable changes in higher education. Notably through new, trans and interdisciplinary EIT-labelled degrees the EIT is leading a collaborative effort towards education for innovation with clear spill over effects on the broader European agenda for the modernisation of higher education institutions thereby promoting the European Higher Education Area.	Moreover, the EIT brings a fully fledged education dimension to the EU's research and innovation policy, including through open access to research publications. Via innovative, entrepreneurial education it plays an important bridging role between the research and innovation framework and education policies and programmes and provides the long term commitment needed to deliver sustainable changes in higher education. Notably through new, trans and interdisciplinary EIT-labelled degrees the EIT is leading a collaborative effort towards education for innovation with clear spill over effects on the broader European agenda for the modernisation of higher education institutions thereby promoting the European Higher Education Area.
Amendment  19 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 1 – heading 1.3 – paragraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Moreover, there are opportunities for mutually reinforcing interaction with the Union's Cohesion Policy by addressing the linkages between the local and global aspects of innovation. Co-location centres provide for cross-border collaboration and are well positioned to capitalise on various funding schemes from their respective regions. The co-location centres play a major role in strengthening the local-global connectivity of the KIC as a whole, including through close co-operation with regional authorities, in particular those involved in designing and delivering the Regional Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3). Furthermore, linkages between KICs and local cluster organisations could be strengthened to increase the involvement of SMEs in the activities of the KICs. While opportunities for synergies differ depending on the thematic area of a KIC, a number of initiatives and programmes at EU level seem particularly prone to offering benefits from cooperation and coordination. As the very concept of the EIT/KICs rests on adding value to existing European excellence, the KICs – present and future – will by definition seek to explore these synergies to a maximum. KICs will add value to initiatives that may exist in the relevant areas, including Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs), European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).	Moreover, there are opportunities for mutually reinforcing interaction with the Union's Cohesion Policy by addressing the linkages between the local and global aspects of innovation. Co-location centres provide for cross-border collaboration and are well positioned to capitalise on various funding schemes from their respective regions. The co-location centres play a major role in strengthening the local-global connectivity of the KIC as a whole, including through close co-operation with regional authorities, in particular those involved in designing and delivering the Regional Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3).
	Regions and Member States which are the site for co-location centres will have opportunities to gain positive benefits through economies of agglomeration and the reaping of positive externalities. These opportunities will be fostered if a close cooperation is established between the KIC partners in the regions and the authorities and organisations involved in designing and delivering the Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3) as described in Annex IV in COM(2011) 615, 2011/0276 (COD), C7-0335/11 . In contrast, regions which are excluded from these activities may experience risks of cumulative negative effects. This could reinforce existing inequalities, bringing positive benefits to regions which exhibit existing strengths in innovation capacity but adversely affecting those with existing weaknesses. These risks could be avoided through the RIS Scheme, and if the regions which are not a site for co-location centres adopt Smart Specialisation (RIS3) including partnership with regions hosting existing and potential co-location centres, such as Regional Implementation and Innovation Communities (RICs).
	Furthermore, linkages between KICs, SMEs and local cluster organisations, such the Climate KIC´s existing Regional Innovation and Implementation Communities, could be strengthened to increase their involvement in the activities of the KICs. While opportunities for synergies differ depending on the thematic area of a KIC, a number of initiatives and programmes at EU level seem particularly prone to offering benefits from cooperation and coordination. As the very concept of the EIT / KICs rests on adding value to existing European excellence, the KICs and RICs will by definition seek to explore these synergies to a maximum. KICs will add value to initiatives that may exist in the relevant areas, including Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs), European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). Safeguards shall be created in order to avoid double funding (75% of funding derives from private, public and regional funding, including from other European programmes and Cohesion Policy). Any reduction in funding of other education-related programmes should be avoided.
Amendment 20 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 1– heading 1.3 – paragraph 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Joint Programming Initiatives, a key instrument for addressing fragmentation in research, should provide the nucleus of the pan-European KIC research base. In turn, KICs can speed up and foster the exploitation of excellent public research pooled together by the JPIs, thereby addressing fragmentation in innovation. The Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) and the newly established Public and Private Partnerships provide platforms for promotion of large-scale industry-driven research and enhance the development of major technologies. KICs can help catalysing these major research investments to boost technology transfer and commercialisation and to develop new ventures within existing business via entrepreneurial talent. Through its knowledge triangle approach, the EIT will complement investment of the European Research Council (ERC) on world-class frontier research by addressing the whole innovation chain from ideas to application and exploitation and provide additional opportunities in innovation and exposure to entrepreneurship to ‘Marie Curie’ researchers and ‘Erasmus for all’ students.	Joint Programming Initiatives, a key instrument for addressing fragmentation in research, should provide the nucleus of the pan-European KIC research base. In turn, KICs can speed up and foster the exploitation of excellent public research pooled together by the JPIs, thereby addressing fragmentation in innovation. The Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) and the newly established Public and Private Partnerships provide platforms for promotion of large-scale industry-driven research and enhance the development of major technologies. KICs can help to catalyse these major research investments to boost technology transfer and commercialisation and to develop new ventures within existing business via entrepreneurial talent. Through its knowledge triangle approach, the EIT will complement investment of the European Research Council (ERC) on world-class frontier research by addressing the whole innovation chain from ideas to application and exploitation and guarantee the development of the European Research Area, providing new opportunities for researchers in the context of Maria Skłodowska-Curie activities. The EIT will take advantage of Europe’s intellectual capital with a view to acquiring new skills in innovation and exposure to entrepreneurship thanks to the correlation with the ‘Erasmus for all’ programme.
Amendment  21 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 1 – heading 1.3 – paragraph 6
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The upcoming European Innovation Partnerships will provide overarching frameworks to facilitate alignment and synergies among supply and demand-driven research and innovation instruments and policies. The KICs can contribute to the EIPs through their distributed nature and on the ground experience, and in particular by developing the necessary human capital, educating key actors such as entrepreneurs and researchers, and identifying framework conditions and best practise on policy, regulatory or standardisation issues in their relevant sector.	The upcoming European Innovation Partnerships will provide overarching frameworks to facilitate alignment and synergies among supply and demand-driven research and innovation instruments and policies. The EIP can be the link between the societal challenges and the EIT, playing the role of agenda setter and looking into the need of establishing a KIC regarding certain themes. The KICs can contribute to the EIPs through their distributed nature and on the ground experience, and in particular by developing the necessary human capital, educating key actors such as entrepreneurs and researchers, and identifying framework conditions and best practise on policy, regulatory or standardisation issues in their relevant sector.
Amendment  22 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 1.3 – paragraph 7
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In practice, opportunities for synergies will materialise in different ways, from KIC to KIC and challenge to challenge. Today, linkages are being developed at KIC level with other initiatives, varying according to the specificities of each KIC and its thematic area.	In practice, opportunities for synergies will materialise in different ways, from KIC to KIC and challenge to challenge. Today, linkages are being developed at KIC level with other initiatives, varying according to the specificities of each KIC and its thematic area. In addition, the EIT should foster synergies and interaction of the KICs across the pillars in Horizon 2020 and with other initiatives, while taking due note of the risk of overlaps.
Amendment  23 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The process of setting up the initial KICs has involved a substantial ‘learning by doing’. It has shown that KICs are novel concepts and the challenge of getting legally organised as a KIC and forming contractual relationships with KICs and their partners was underestimated by all parties involved in the process. A lack of awareness of the suitability of different forms of legal entity did not help smoothing the set-up process. While the bottom-up approach, which gives substantial leeway to each KIC to organise their partnerships is to be maintained, further guidance should be given to identify suitable legal set-ups. Moreover, the challenge of bringing different academic and business cultures together into one legal entity should not be underestimated; hence the importance of sharing common values at both KIC and EIT level. Furthermore, KICs are large scale institutional innovations, and no two KICs are the same. This offers a rich array of innovation models, but also renders the overall coordination and monitoring of KICs more challenging.	The process of setting up the initial KICs has involved a substantial ‘learning by doing’. It has shown that KICs are novel concepts and the challenge of getting legally organised as a KIC and forming contractual relationships with KICs and their partners was underestimated by all parties involved in the process. A lack of awareness of the suitability of different forms of legal entity did not help smoothing the set-up process. While the bottom-up approach, which gives substantial leeway to each KIC to organise their partnerships is to be maintained, further guidance should be given to identify suitable legal set-ups. Moreover, the challenge of bringing different academic and business cultures together into one legal entity should not be underestimated; hence the importance of sharing common values at both KIC and EIT level. Furthermore, KICs are large scale institutional innovations, and no two KICs are the same. This offers a rich array of innovation models, but also renders the overall coordination and monitoring of KICs more challenging. Therefore a tailor-made approach towards the different KICs is necessary.
Amendment  24 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In the future, clearer guidance should be given upstream since the selection process to ensure that essential strategic features are shared by all KICs, while allowing for differentiated approaches in KICs organisation, delivery and funding approaches. Finally, the current total number of three KICs does not yet provide the critical mass for the EIT to develop its full potential as a leading innovation Institute. With only three KICs there are limited opportunities to achieve cross-KIC benefits of adjacent innovation opportunities as well as to reap economies of scale in administration and dissemination. It also means that the EIT is not of a sufficient scale to truly act as a European institution in its own right. In this respect additional KICs are required in order for the EIT to gain the critical mass for being more than simply the ‘sum of its parts’. If the EIT is to explore new innovation governance and management models through the KICs, a limited number of additional partnerships need to be set up in order to enlarge the sample on which the EIT experience is based upon.	In the future, clearer guidance should be given upstream since the selection process to ensure that essential strategic features are shared by all KICs, while allowing for differentiated approaches in KICs organisation, delivery and funding approaches. The EIT has to play a more active role in advising and supporting the KICs in administrative matters. For that purpose, the EIT has to develop a strategy to reduce administrative burdens and create a best-practices guide that disseminates good practices and experiences of existing KICs to new KICs. Finally, the current total number of three KICs does not yet provide the critical mass for the EIT to develop its full potential as a leading innovation Institute. With only three KICs there are limited opportunities to achieve cross-KIC benefits of adjacent innovation opportunities as well as to reap economies of scale in administration and dissemination. It also means that the EIT is not yet of a sufficient scale to truly act as a European institution in its own right.
	The EIT as a real institute
	The EIT must be more than simply the 'sum of its parts', which the KICs currently are. The EU needs an excellence label regarding innovation, to be internationally recognizable, and this can be achieved by giving EIT a broad and inclusive field of action.
	In this respect additional KICs are required in order for the EIT to gain critical mass. If the EIT is to explore new innovation governance and management models through the KICs, a limited number of additional partnerships need to be set up in order to enlarge the sample on which the EIT experience is based upon.
	EIT aims to consolidate and further develop its role as an 'investor' which nurtures and enables existing centres of excellence in research, business and higher education in Europe to come together and foster their long-term systematic collaborations.
	However, the EU can not afford to lose or to waste knowledge. In this regard, the EIT needs also to include universities networks, besides the ones already participating in the KICs, as well as Marie Curie grants for innovation, and work in close cooperation and articulation with JTIs, RICs, and other innovative forms of doing or promoting research that can emerge, including smaller KICs. Even though the object of research is not at the heart of the existing KICs, the EIT shall promote multi-disciplinary approaches to innovation, and support development of non-technological, organisational, systems innovation and public sector innovation as a necessary complement to the existing innovation activities, as well as to the possible future ones.
Amendment  25 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	The EIT needs, in the long term, to cultivate a clear identity and a world-wide EIT brand name as being Europe's innovation and entrepreneurship engine and a world-class provider of education in this field. The EIT can develop into the embodiment of the Union's innovation agenda, just as the ERC is the embodiment of European excellence and global leadership in science. Nurturing a strong EIT brand may include actions to create a strong human and business network around the EIT community (students, alumni, educators, entrepreneurs, professionals etc) and foster a sense of identity and visibility. Such actions may include the organization of science and innovation conferences, annual events, competitions and awards, graduation ceremonies etc.
Amendment  26 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Building on these lessons the EIT aims to consolidate and further develop its role as an ‘investor’ which nurtures and enables existing centres of excellence in research, business and higher education in Europe to come together and foster their long-term systematic collaborations through the KICs.	Building on these lessons the EIT aims to consolidate and further develop in nurturing and enabling existing centres of excellence in research, business and higher education in Europe to come together and foster their long-term systematic collaborations through the KICs. With this in mind, information campaigns, making use of all relevant means and avenues of communication, should be launched to ensure that both universities and students have sufficient access to information on the functioning and the scope of the EIT and the KICs.
Amendment  27 Proposal for a regulation Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – paragraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The ‘EIT investor’ approach stands for a focus on identifying best strategic opportunities and selecting a portfolio of world-class partnerships – the KICs – to deliver on these. As part of this approach, the EIT awards the annual grants to the KICs based on their past performance and proposed activities in their business plan. The assessment of the business plans will be supported by external, independent experts. In this perspective, the EIT should not only set out broad directions and visions, but needs to provide KICs with an appropriate level of support and monitor their performance. At the same time, KICs are given a substantial degree of leeway to define their internal strategies and organisation as well as to deliver their activities and mobilise the talent and resources needed.	The 'EIT investor' approach stands for a focus on identifying best strategic opportunities and selecting a portfolio of world-class partnerships – the KICs – to deliver on these. As part of this approach, the EIT awards the annual grants to the KICs based on their past performance and proposed activities in their business plan, following a clear, public and transparent procedure. The assessment of the business plans will be supported by external, independent experts. In this perspective, the EIT should not only set out broad directions and visions, but needs to provide KICs with an appropriate level of support and monitor their performance. At the same time, KICs are given a substantial degree of leeway to define their agenda, internal strategies and organisation as well as to deliver their activities and mobilise the talent and resources needed.
Amendment  28 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – paragraph 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Returns on EIT investment in KICs will be measured in terms of tangible benefits for the European economy and society at large, such as creation of new business, products and services in existing and future markets, better skilled entrepreneurial people, new and more attractive job opportunities and the attraction and retention of talent from across the EU and abroad.	Returns on EIT investment in KICs will be measured in terms of tangible benefits for the European economy and society at large, such as creation of new business, products and services in existing and future markets, better skilled entrepreneurial people, new and more attractive job opportunities, as well as by drawing on the strengths of local communities that are already symbols of excellence, and the attraction and retention of talent from across the EU and abroad. However, also qualitative performance indicators will be set out to assess the KICs.
Amendment  29 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – paragraph 7
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
An important element in this regard is also the development, together with the KICs, of a true EIT ‘corporate identity’ around a set of shared values. While all KICs and their individual partners do have their own corporate identities and values, they all share values that bring the EIT/KICs community together. They are: excellence across the knowledge triangle; skilled and entrepreneurial people; long-term collaboration across borders, disciplines and sectors; and the focus on societal and economic impact. Such an identity will also enhance the external visibility and reputation of the EIT and KICs.	An important element in this regard is also the development, together with the KICs, of a true EIT ‘corporate identity’ around a set of shared values. While all KICs and their individual partners do have their own corporate identities and values, they all share values that bring the EIT/KICs community together. They are: excellence across the knowledge triangle; opportunities for involvement of all Members States; highly-skilled and entrepreneurial people; long-term collaboration across borders, disciplines and sectors; and the focus on societal and economic impact. Such an identity will also enhance the external visibility and reputation of the EIT and KICs.
Amendment  30 Proposal for a regulation Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – subheading 2.1.1 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EIT will actively support the initial three KICs to enhance their potential and impact and their contribution to the objectives of Horizon 2020. Over time, the KICs will expand their initial portfolio of activities in order to seize new market or societal opportunities. To support these developments, the EIT will advise and define, in close co-operation with each individual KIC, tailor-made co-financing strategies, which at the same time underpin strategic activities from an EIT perspective.	The EIT will actively support the initial three KICs to enhance their potential and impact and their contribution to the objectives of Horizon 2020. Over time, the KICs will expand their initial portfolio of activities in order to seize new market or societal opportunities and adapt to a changing global environment. To support these developments, the EIT will advise and define, - in a clear, transparent and publicly accountable way – in close co-operation with each individual KIC, tailor-made co-financing strategies, which at the same time underpin strategic activities from an EIT perspective.
Amendment  31 Proposal for a regulation Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – subheading 2.1.1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Funding
	EU funding for Research and Innovation is of key significance and should be exploited for leverage. Leverage effect is one of the main goals of the EIT's use of Union funds, attracting private and public additional financing, promoting a multifund approach and strengthening the bridges that link EIT with the structural funds. The EIT and the KICs seek synergies with relevant Union initiatives, as well as with potential and emerging centres of excellence, communities or innovative regions within less innovation performing Member States.
Amendment  32 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – subheading 2.1.1 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	As people are the actual carriers of innovation, provision could be made, where appropriate, to ensure the sufficient participation in EIT educational programmes of students coming from the periphery of the EU (e.g. through scholarships co-funded by Member States and the Fellowship scheme). The EIT is encouraged to collaborate with Member States and regions to ensure that EIT graduates will find opportunities and the support needed in order to express their innovation and entrepreneurship potential within the EU.
Amendment  33 Proposal for a regulation Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – subheading 2.1.1 – paragraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
KICs not only build on their partners' existing excellent research base, but are also the frontrunners for promoting and implementing the EIT's educational mission. The objective is to educate and train talented people with the skills, knowledge and mindset needed in a global knowledge economy. To this end, the EIT actively promotes, inter alia, the EIT-labelled degrees by monitoring their quality and coherent implementation across KICs. In this endeavour they will make extensive use of peer and expert evaluations, and establish a dialogue with national and quality assurance bodies. This will enhance the national and international recognition of the EIT labelled qualifications and raise their attractiveness globally, while providing a platform for collaboration at international level. In the future, KICs will be encouraged to expand their educational activities beyond post-graduate education to a greater variety of study modes to cater for a wider range of innovative, professional development activities, involving executive education, tailor-made training courses and summer schools. To enhance the impact of KICs' educational activities and to reach out to a wider audience, KICs may envisage the design, on an experimental basis, of modules for undergraduate courses or packages targeted to school education.	KICs not only build on their partners' existing excellent research base, but are also the frontrunners for promoting and implementing the EIT's educational mission. The objective is to educate and train talented people with the skills, knowledge and mindset needed in a global knowledge economy and society. To this end, the EIT actively promotes, inter alia, the EIT-labelled degrees by monitoring their quality and coherent implementation across KICs. In this endeavour a series of quality criteria will be applied by KICs for EIT- labelled degrees, to ensure the upholding of high academic standards and the reputation of European universities. They will also make extensive use of peer and expert evaluations, and establish a dialogue with national and quality assurance bodies. This will enhance the national and international recognition and reputation of the EIT labelled qualifications and raise their attractiveness globally, while providing a platform for collaboration at international level. In the future, KICs will be encouraged to expand their educational activities beyond post-graduate education to a greater variety of study modes to cater for a wider range of innovative, professional development activities, involving executive education, tailor-made training courses (including professional training courses) and summer schools, as well as internships within the KICs and their partners. To enhance the impact of KICs' educational activities and to reach out to a wider audience, KICs may envisage the design, on an experimental basis, of distant and e-learning modules and degrees, as well as modules for undergraduate courses or packages targeted to school education.
Amendment  34 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – subheading 2.1.1 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	In this context, and in order to expand the talent-base within the EU and to ensure the availability of sufficient numbers of skilled individuals that are necessary to actually deliver innovation, the EIT should participate in efforts to enhance the attractiveness of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education. KICs could develop coaching programs for young Europeans by means of internships, school visits, grants for top high-school students and university students in STEM fields, funded management or business school and/or entrepreneurship classes for top science students over the summer.
Amendment  35 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – subheading 2.1.1 – paragraph 5 – point 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
· Incentivise KICs to develop joint activities on cross-cutting issues.	· Incentivise cross-co-location work within each KIC and stimulate KICs to develop joint activities on cross-cutting issues.
Amendment 36 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 2.1.1. – paragraph 5 – point 2 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	- Establish criteria for the EIT-labelled degrees, in order to guarantee their academic validity and high standards.
Amendment  37 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – subheading 2.1.1. – paragraph 5 – point 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
- Set up a system of peer evaluations for EIT labelled qualifications and engage in dialogue with national and international quality assurance bodies.	- Actively ensure consistency and equivalence across the EIT by setting up a system of peer reviews for EIT labelled qualifications and engage in dialogue with national and international quality assurance bodies.
Amendment 38 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – subheading 2.1.1. – paragraph 5 – point 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
- Encourage KICs to develop a greater variety of educational and training activities.	- Encourage KICs to develop a greater variety of educational and training activities, in particular, activities designed to give the KICs the opportunity to share their knowledge with institutions which may be interested in participating in future KICs, and to raise awareness about the existence of these educational programmes.
Amendment 39 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – subheading 2.1.1. – paragraph 5 – point 4 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	- Invite KICs to provide students with relevant information as pertains to the recognition of degrees obtained in another Member State.
Amendment 40 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – subheading 2.1.1. – paragraph 5 – point 4 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	- Identify common accreditation processes for diplomas and degrees on a European level.
Amendment  41 Proposal for a regulation Annex – part 2 – heading 2.1 – subheading 2.1.2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In order to further enhance impact and to incentivise innovation in new areas of societal challenges, the EIT will gradually expand its portfolio of KICs. By following an incremental development path in establishing new KICs, the EIT will ensure that lessons learned from previous rounds are duly taken into consideration, and that KICs are set up only in areas where there is a clear innovation potential and top-class excellence to build on. In the period 2014-2020, new KICs will therefore be set up in two waves, i.e. three new KICs each in 2014 and 2018, leading up to a portfolio of nine KICs in the period 2014-2020 (equalling the set-up of 40-50 co-location centres across the EU). A potential new selection process for KICs in 2018 shall strongly build on the results of a thorough external evaluation of the EIT and existing KICs, including an assessment of KICs' economic and societal impact and the contribution of the EIT to strengthening the innovation capacity of the EU and Member States, as well as on the results from the evaluations of Horizon 2020.	In order to further enhance impact and to incentivise innovation in new areas of societal challenges, the EIT will gradually expand its portfolio of KICs, as stipulated in article 1C, through an open tender process, in accordance with the priorities and objectives within the scope of "societal challenges" and "leadership in key industrial technologies". By following an incremental development path in establishing new KICs, the EIT will ensure that lessons learned from previous rounds are duly taken into consideration, and that KICs are set up only in areas where there is a clear innovation potential and top-class excellence to build on. The qualified proposals will be selected to start in 2014, and then, after the evaluation of Horizon 2020, the EIT and the KICS, there will be a new open tender process to select the new KICs to start in 2018. A potential new selection process for KICs in 2018 shall strongly build on the results of a thorough external evaluation of the EIT and existing KICs, including an assessment of KICs' economic and societal impact and the contribution of the EIT to strengthening the innovation capacity of the EU and Member States, as well as on the results from the evaluations of Horizon 2020.
New KICs will be set up in areas of large societal challenges which offer a true innovation potential. The EIT thereby fully contributes to the goals of the larger EU policy agenda and in particular to the objectives of Horizon 2020, which identifies a number of large societal challenges, and enabling and industrial technologies. The objective is to set up KICs in thematic areas which, due to their magnitude and complex nature, can only be addressed through a cross-disciplinary, cross-border, and cross-sectoral approach. The selection of the thematic fields therefore needs to be based on a careful analysis as to whether a KIC can bring true added value and have a positive impact on economy and society.	New KICs will be set up in areas of large societal challenges which offer a true innovation potential. The EIT thereby fully contributes to the goals of the larger EU policy agenda and in particular to the objectives of Horizon 2020, which identifies a number of large societal challenges, and enabling and industrial technologies. The objective is to set up KICs in thematic areas which, due to their magnitude and complex nature, can only be addressed through a cross-disciplinary, cross-border, and cross-sectoral approach. The selection of the thematic fields therefore needs to be based on a careful analysis as to whether a KIC can bring true added value and have a positive impact on economy and society. Special attention should be also paid to the role of the humanities in higher education, as they significantly contribute both to economic life and to the furtherance of European culture and heritage. In this regard, the humanities must not be overlooked or forgotten when selecting thematic areas for future KICs.
	Allocation of funds for new KICs shall be provided on a competitive basis and taking into consideration the quality and potential of the projects, while ensuring enough funding for each KIC to actually deliver innovation.
The European Commission has carried out this analysis through a process designed to objectively assess the potential of future KIC themes. One starting point was the draft SIA which the EIT Governing Board submitted to the Commission in June 2011. In parallel, a set of robust criteria was developed to allow for an objective assessment of the innovation potential offered by each future theme. The validity of these criteria was checked with the wider innovation community from across the knowledge triangle through an open public consultation. This process resulted in the following list of criteria.	The European Commission has carried out this analysis through a process designed to objectively assess the potential of future KIC themes. One starting point was the draft SIA which the EIT Governing Board submitted to the Commission in June 2011. In parallel, a set of robust criteria was developed to allow for an objective assessment of the innovation potential offered by each future theme. The validity of these criteria was checked with the wider innovation community from across the knowledge triangle through an open public consultation. This process resulted in the following list of criteria.
- Address major economic and societal challenges Europe faces, and contribute to the delivery of the Europe 2020 Agenda;	- Address major economic and societal challenges Europe faces, and contribute to the delivery of the Europe 2020 Agenda;
- Align and co-ordinate with relevant EU policies as well as with existing initiatives under Horizon 2020 and Erasmus for All.	- Align and co-ordinate with relevant EU policies as well as with existing initiatives under Horizon 2020 and Erasmus for All.
- Be able to mobilize investment and long-term commitment from the business sector; have an existing market for its products or be able to create new ones;	- Be able to mobilize investment and long-term commitment from the business sector; have an existing market for its products or be able to create new ones;
- Create sustainable and systemic impact, measured in terms of new educated entrepreneurial people, new technologies and new business ;	- Create sustainable and systemic impact, measured in terms of new educated entrepreneurial people, new technologies and new business and high-skilled jobs ;
- Bring together a critical mass of world-class research, education and innovation stakeholders, which would otherwise not unite;	- Bring together a critical mass of world-class research, education and innovation stakeholders, which would otherwise not unite;
- Require trans-disciplinary approaches and the development of new types of education across the boundaries of disciplines;	- Require trans-disciplinary approaches and encourage the universities to develop new types of education across discipline boundaries;
- Address major innovation gaps such as the European paradox, i.e. themes where Europe has a strong research base but a weak innovation performance.	- Address major innovation gaps such as the European paradox, i.e. themes where Europe has a strong research base but a weak innovation performance.
The assessment of the themes proposed in the EIT draft as well as by the wider stakeholder community clearly showed a certain degree of variation regarding potential impact the establishment of a KIC would offer. As a result, a number of themes were discarded entirely; others were redefined in order to better respond to the specificities of the European and global context in this area.	The assessment of the themes proposed in the EIT draft as well as by the wider stakeholder community clearly showed a certain degree of variation regarding potential impact the establishment of a KIC would offer. As a result, a number of themes were discarded entirely; others were redefined in order to better respond to the specificities of the European and global context in this area.
The following thematic areas have been identified as those where the establishment of a new KIC has greatest potential to add value to existing activities and bring about a real boost to innovation:
- Added-value manufacturing
- Food4future - sustainable supply chain from resources to consumers
- Innovation for healthy living and active ageing
- Raw materials – sustainable exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and substitution
- Smart secure societies
- Urban mobility
More details on the individual themes are provided in the factsheets at the end of the document
Based on these themes, the EIT will have the autonomy to organise the future KICs selection process. The success of future calls for KICs will depend largely on clear guidance as regards the expectations and requirements, as well as a timeframe allowing KIC applicants to get solidly organised both legally and financially before submitting a proposal. KICs will be selected against detailed criteria defined in the EIT Regulation, based on the overarching principles of excellence and innovation relevance. Any KIC selected will need to demonstrate how it will create maximum impact in the given area and prove the viability of its strategy.
In view of the two waves of KIC selections foreseen in 2014 and 2018, three themes have been identified for the first wave. Reflecting the need for a gradual approach in establishing new KICs, the selection of the first three themes has been based on the maturity of the field, the potential societal and economic impact, as well as the opportunities for synergies with other initiatives. They are:
- Innovation for healthy living and active ageing
- Raw materials – sustainable exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and substitution
- Food4future - sustainable supply chain from resources to consumers
For the second wave in 2018, the remaining themes (urban mobility, added-value manufacturing and smart secure societies) will be considered, while taking into account new and unforeseen challenges which may arise in the future
	The regular assessment of the evolution of research potentials and the possible emergence of new innovation dynamics should be taken into consideration for future KICs in sectors that are not yet considered but fulfil the given criteria.
The EIT will	The EIT will
- Timely prepare a selection procedure for a second wave of KICs in 2014 and – after the evaluation of Horizon 2020, including its specific programme and the EIT – for a third wave in 2018	- Timely prepare a selection procedure for a second wave of KICs in 2014 and – after the evaluation of Horizon 2020, including its specific programme and the EIT – for a third wave in 2018
	- Consult fully with all interested stakeholders, including - alongside universities, businesses, entrepreneurs and research centres - civil society, local government and relevant NGOs, before deciding upon the thematic areas to be covered by the third wave of KICs in 2018.
	- Make every effort to ensure that as many potential interested parties as possible are made aware of the future KIC selection procedures. Potential interested parties shall be provided with all the necessary information to allow them to properly consider what, if any, particular contribution they can make. In that regard, attention can be paid to those areas and regions which have not yet provided any participants in existing KICs.
	- Ensure that the social aspect is an overriding criterion within the KICs and visible in every societal challenge.
- Ensure that framework conditions of future KIC selection procedures are conducive to an optimal outcome, notably by providing clear guidance concerning requirements and processes, and by allowing sufficient time for proposers to organise the partnership.	- Ensure that framework conditions of future KIC selection procedures are conducive to an optimal outcome, notably by providing clear guidance concerning requirements and processes, and by allowing sufficient time for proposers to organise the partnership.
Amendment  42 Proposal for a regulation Annex – part 2 – heading 2.2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2.2. Enhancing EIT's impact	2.2. Enhancing EIT's impact
Fostering innovation across the Union	Fostering innovation across the Union
In the initial period, the EIT has mainly focused its efforts on establishing the KICs. While it is a clear goal for the EIT to strengthen existing centres of excellence, the EIT will need to ensure it also delivers benefits to areas of the Union which are not directly participating in KICs. It is therefore mission critical for the EIT to actively promote the dissemination of good practices for the integration of the knowledge triangle in order to develop a common innovation and knowledge sharing culture.	During its initial period, the EIT has mainly focused its efforts on establishing the KICs. While it is a clear goal for the EIT to strengthen existing - or encourage the creation of new - centres of excellence in a wide participation of Member States, the EIT will need to ensure it also delivers benefits to areas of the Union which are not directly participating in KICs. It is therefore mission critical for the EIT to actively promote the dissemination of good practices for the integration of the knowledge triangle in order to develop a common innovation and knowledge sharing culture.
	The EIT and the KICs shall function as model implementations of the knowledge triangle in the EU and should, eventually, emerge as service providers for innovation capacity building across the EU in designing and implementing innovation policies and 'smart specialization' strategies.
In the future, the EIT must work to make the KIC experience understandable and replicable and build it into a culture that can act as a role model in Europe and beyond. By identifying, analysing and sharing good practices, as well as new governance and funding models from the KICs, the EIT seeks to ensure that knowledge generated within the EIT and its KICs is disseminated and capitalised upon for the benefit of people and institutions, including those not directly participating in the KICs.	In the future, the EIT must work to make the KIC experience understandable and replicable and build it into a culture that can act as a role model in Europe and beyond. Under Horizon 2020, EIT will develop the KIC concept further to support the development of European innovation culture in all member states. By identifying, analysing and sharing good practices, as well as new governance and funding models from the KICs, the EIT seeks to ensure that knowledge generated within the EIT and its KICs is disseminated and capitalised upon for the benefit of the citizens - the general public, private entities and institutions, including those not directly participating in the KICs. Furthermore, it is essential for the EIT to enhance its visibility to Member States not yet involved in KICs, and principally those that are less experienced in these forms of joint ventures. The criterion of excellence as well as the subsidiarity principle shall always apply.
The EIT can play the decisive role in synthesising the diversity of approaches applied by the KICs and in making them transferable in areas where innovation capacity is weak, and which would otherwise not be able to benefit from the experience gained by the EIT. Such outreach will ensure that the benefits of the EIT experience promote the development of innovation capacity in these areas. This activity is able to generate strong returns in so far as it builds on the work of the KICs.	The EIT can play the decisive role in synthesising the diversity of approaches applied by the KICs and in making them transferable in thematic areas where innovation capacity is weak, and which would otherwise not be able to benefit from the experience gained by the EIT. Such outreach will ensure that the benefits of the EIT experience promote the development of innovation capacity in these areas. This activity is able to generate strong returns in so far as it builds on the work of the KICs. (In this regard, it is of great importance that the concept of innovation should be also applied to academic areas, which may produce ideas and concepts or new material evidence relating to the cultural past and present of Europe.)
	As a measure to support this process, the EIT will develop a Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS). RIS participants should have the ambition and potential to become full members of a KIC and to develop into ecosystems mirroring the main traits of co-location centres. RIS participants should be structured partnerships of business, educational and research institutions, and have a clear thematic alignment with existing KICs and regional innovation plans, such as Smart Specialization Strategies. The KICs will encourage RIS participants to gain expertise and facilitate interactions with the KICs enabling KICs to access the untapped potential of emerging centres of excellence. The identification of suitable candidates should be made through an open and transparent call procedure, managed by the individual KICs with the assistance of the EIT. Candidates are selected by the KIC based on their proposals and high potential for innovation, by means of demonstration facilities, test sites, technology parks, incubators, etc. The EIT Dissemination and Outreach budget could be used for allowing the participant to participate in specific projects, to learn best practices or to become first costumers of KIC enabled technologies which facilitate access to end users. In this fashion, they may also attract start-ups from the KICs as investment of risk capital. After the initial two years RIS participants can be funded through regional and national funding sources, Structural funds such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).Through this association scheme the EIT will enhance its pan-European impact and relevance with the objective that the EIT will develop at least two RIS participants during the period 2014-2020. The EIT will regularly report to the European Parliament and the Council on the performance of the RIS in its Annual Activity Report.
Main drivers of learning at EIT level may be: innovation-driven research for the creation of new businesses and new business models, management of IP portfolios and new approaches to IP sharing, entrepreneurship and new integrated forms of multi-disciplinary education; innovative governance and financial models based in the concept of open innovation or involving public authorities. This will help the EIT to be a role model and to act as a ‘game shifter’ in the European innovation landscape and to become an internationally recognised innovation institution.	Main drivers of learning at EIT level may be: innovation-driven research for the creation of new businesses and new business models, including the possibility for SMEs and public institutions to participate more actively in innovation, entrepreneurship and new integrated forms of multi-disciplinary education; innovative governance and financial models based on the concept of open innovation or involving public authorities, particularly for targeting research at the priority needs of society. This will help the EIT to be a role model and to act as a 'game shifter' in the European innovation landscape and to become an internationally recognised and acclaimed world-class innovation institution.
Fostering and attracting talent	Fostering and attracting talent
Talented people are at the heart of successful innovation. It is one of the EIT's foremost roles to give talented people the opportunity to use their potential to the full and to create environments where they can thrive. Through the KICs, the EIT is generating such environments, but needs to complement them with strategies for attracting and including top talent from beyond the KICs.	Talented people, when given the appropriate education and offered to work in inspiring conditions, are at the heart of successful research and open to innovation. It is one of the EIT's foremost roles to give talented people the opportunity to use their potential to the full and to create environments where they can thrive. Through the KICs, the EIT is generating such environments, but needs to complement them with strategies for attracting and including top talent from beyond the KICs.
The EIT will therefore put in place a specific people scheme to ensure that talent – students, researchers, teaching staff and entrepreneurs at all career levels – beyond the co-location centres will be fully connected to the initiative. Such a scheme will not only provide top talents from beyond the KICs with the opportunity to benefit from the innovation environments created within the co-location centres, but will also provide them with incentives to make full use of the knowledge and know-how acquired in areas beyond the KICs. Typically, the EIT Foundation could play a significant role in this area.	The EIT will therefore through the RIS, put in place a scheme to ensure that talent – students, researchers, teaching staff and entrepreneurs at all career levels – beyond the co-location centres will be fully connected to the initiative. Such a scheme will not only provide top talents from beyond the KICs with the opportunity to benefit from the innovation environments created within the co-location centres, but will also provide them with incentives to make full use of the knowledge and know-how acquired in areas beyond the KICs. Typically, the EIT Foundation could play a significant role in this area.
Moreover, the EIT has a clear role to play in attracting talent from outside the EU. By creating a strong brand and forging strategic relations with key partners from around the globe, the EIT can add to the attractiveness of the partners within the KICs. In close cooperation with the KICs, the EIT should develop a strong international strategy, identifying and liaising relevant interlocutors and potential partners. In this context the EIT and its KICs should take full advantage of existing EU initiatives in the area, such as the ‘Erasmus for all’ programme and the Marie Curie Actions. In addition, the EIT can foster knowledge sharing, mentoring and networking by encouraging the setting up of an EIT alumni network.	Moreover, the EIT has a clear role to play in international cooperation in the field of knowledge and innovation by creating a strong brand and forging strategic relations with key partners from around the globe, the EIT can add to the attractiveness of the partners within the KICs, or to any other of its activities or fields of action. In close cooperation with the KICs, the EIT should develop a strong international strategy, identifying and liaising relevant interlocutors and potential partners. In this context the EIT and its KICs should take full advantage of existing EU initiatives in the area, such as EU research, education, training and youth programmes, including the 'Erasmus for all' programme and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and other mobility initiatives within the European Research Area. In addition, the EIT can foster knowledge sharing, mentoring and networking by encouraging the setting up of an EIT alumni network, among others.
	The EIT and the KICs are encouraged to develop educational synergies with EU and Member States policies, in order to support the future availability of the necessary human capital that is essential for fulfilling Europe's path towards scientific, technological and innovation leadership. To this end, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education should be promoted, and entrepreneurial coaching, internships and grants for young Europeans and top high-school and university students should be created.
	In order to improve the delivery of the EIT outputs, the activities performed by the KICs should have a measurable impact on the creation of sustainable innovative start ups and spin-offs, notably by means of supporting the networking and entrepreneurial activities of the receivers of EIT degrees and trainings.
The EIT will complement its efforts to promote talented people and brilliant ideas by other measures, such as the organisation of competitions for ideas or awarding of prizes, either as an own initiative or in cooperation with leading global partners.	The EIT will complement its efforts to promote talented people and brilliant ideas by other measures, such as the organisation of competitions for ideas or awarding of prizes, either as an own initiative or in cooperation with leading global partners.
	The EIT and its KICs could use scientific results and their applications, deriving from Master or PhD studies, as well as those achieved under their aegis and they could be published accordingly, in order to contribute to international academic dialogue.
The EIT will	The EIT will
- In close cooperation with the KICs, establish a scheme (‘EIT fellows’) allowing high talent people from across the EU and beyond to get involved in the activities of KIC co-location centres for a limited period of time, thereby creating mutual benefits for the participant as well as for the KIC.	- In close cooperation with the KICs, establish a RIS scheme allowing a diverse cross-section of students, researchers, academics, teaching staff and entrepreneurs from all fields of study and business across the Union, who are not currently involved in existing KICs, high talent people from across the EU and beyond to get involved in the activities of KIC co-location centres for a period of time, thereby creating mutual benefits for the participant as well as for the KIC and helping to raise awareness of the activities of the KICs and the visibility of the EIT more generally.
	In close cooperation with the KICs, establish a scheme for association of so called affiliated co-location centres in countries which do not host any co-location centre. These will primarily support KIC innovation activities through their high potential for innovation and access to first customers and end users of KIC enabled technologies, by means of demonstration facilities, test sites, etc.
	- Provide a platform for fostering excellence, cooperation and common projects for universities throughout the Union.
- Set up/customise a web based tool to provide a platform for knowledge sharing and networking around the EIT.	- Set up/customise a web based tool to provide a platform for knowledge sharing and networking around the EIT, providing easy access to information about ongoing work and the results of completed research. This tool shall be used to encourage students, researchers, academics, teaching staff and entrepreneurs not currently involved in existing KICs to learn about, and from, current work being carried out by existing KICs and the plans for future waves of KICs.
- Build and support a functional and strong network of graduates from EIT/KIC educational and training activities (‘EIT alumni’).	- Build and support a functional and strong network of graduates from EIT/KIC educational and training activities ('EIT alumni').
- Make lessons learned and successes from KICs systematically accessible to the wider EU innovation community and beyond. This may include the development of a repository of open course ware from the EIT's and KICs' educational and training activities.	- Make lessons learned and successes from KICs systematically accessible to the wider EU innovation community and beyond. This may include the development of a repository of open course ware from the EIT's and KICs' educational and training activities which is accessible to all, namely to universities and higher education institutes throughout the Union.
	- Ensure strong participation of the private sector, especially SMEs in the knowledge triangle.
Amendment  43 Proposal for a regulation Annex – part 2 – heading 2.3 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The KICs will provide an ideal testing ground for new approaches to funding and management of innovation. Through KICs' experimentation and experience, the EIT will deliver a simplification agenda in key areas such as contractual agreements, simplified reporting, lumps sums and flat rates.	The KICs will provide an ideal testing ground for new approaches to funding and management of innovation. The establishment of innovation prizes associated with specific licensing arrangements can accelerate research in areas of key social importance with a view to obtaining precise scientific and technical answers at short notice. Through KICs' experimentation and experience, the EIT will deliver a simplification agenda in key areas such as contractual agreements, simplified reporting, lumps sums and flat rates in order to reduce the administrative burden for the KICs.
Amendment  44 Proposal for a regulation Annex – part 2 – heading 2.3 – paragraph 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The Commission has reinforced its efforts in supporting the EIT towards establishing a sound and solid results-oriented monitoring system. This monitoring system will ensure full accountability of the EIT and the KICs, quality of the deliverables, the contribution to Horizon 2020 priorities, and at the same time allow for sufficient flexibility in the KICs' business dynamics. It will allow the EIT to develop a solid capacity for gathering and analysing the input from the KICs, to measure the performance of the EIT against its own objectives and to benchmark EIT and KICs against best practices at European and global level. The system will be designed in a flexible manner and if needed adjusted to take into account the EIT's and KICs' evolving and growing portfolio of activities. Following the recommendation of the independent external evaluation and the overarching monitoring provisions under Horizon 2020, the Commission has proposed, in association with the EIT and the KICs, the establishment of a results-orientated performance monitoring system for the EIT, addressing four activity levels:	The Commission has reinforced its efforts in supporting the EIT towards establishing a sound and solid results-oriented monitoring system. This monitoring system will ensure full accountability of the EIT and the KICs, quality of the deliverables, the contribution to Horizon 2020 priorities, and at the same time allow for sufficient flexibility in the KICs' research and business dynamics and openness to new ideas and partners. It will allow the EIT to develop a solid capacity for gathering and analysing the input from the KICs, to measure the performance of the EIT against its own objectives and to benchmark EIT and KICs against best practices at European and global level. The system will be designed in a flexible manner and if needed adjusted to take into account the EIT's and KICs' evolving and growing portfolio of activities. Following the recommendation of the independent external evaluation and the overarching monitoring provisions under Horizon 2020, the Commission has proposed, in association with the EIT and the KICs, the establishment of a results-orientated performance monitoring system for the EIT, addressing four activity levels:
- Horizon 2020 level: to regularly monitor the EIT and KICs' contribution to achieving the objectives of Horizon 2020	- Horizon 2020 level: to regularly monitor the EIT and KICs' contribution to achieving the objectives of Horizon 2020
-EIT level: to assess the performance of the EIT as an efficient and effective EU body; this will be measured in terms of support provided to the KICs, the intensity and coverage of its outreach, dissemination and international activities and its ability to deliver simplified procedures.	- EIT level: to assess the performance of the EIT as an efficient and effective EU body; this will be measured in terms of support provided to the KICs, the intensity and coverage of its outreach, dissemination and international activities and its ability to deliver simplified procedures, as well as in terms of encouraging the creation of centres of excellence, as a means to expand research and innovation throughout the Union.
- Cross-KIC level:, to monitor the contribution of all KICs to achieving the EIT strategic objectives, as identified in a dedicated instrument such as an EIT Scoreboard.	- Cross-KIC level: to monitor the contribution of all KICs to achieving the EIT strategic objectives, as identified in a dedicated instrument such as an EIT Scoreboard, as well as in encouraging inter-disciplinary research, as a means to strengthen and sustain the creation of new fields of research and innovation.
- Individual KIC level: to monitor individual KIC performance based on individual targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) as laid down in the individual KIC business plans. KIC have different business models and markets and thus different industrial KPIs which are central for the successful management of the individual KIC.	- Individual KIC level: to monitor individual KIC performance based on individual targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) as laid down in the individual KIC business plans. KIC have different business models and markets and thus different industrial KPIs which are central for the successful management of the individual KIC. Furthermore, the creation of co-location centres, as a means to expand their activities and promote the idea of collaboration in local, regional, or national level, as a contribution to the EIT scopes shall be encouraged.
Amendment  45 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – heading 2.3 – paragraph 6 – point 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
- Establish, in cooperation with the Commission and the KICs, a comprehensive system to monitor: the EIT's contribution to Horizon 2020; the EIT's impact via its own and KIC activities; and KIC results. The EIT will report on all its monitoring activities in the annual activity report	- Establish, in cooperation with the Commission and the KICs, a comprehensive system to monitor: the EIT's contribution to Horizon 2020; the EIT's impact via its own and KIC activities; and KIC results. The EIT will report on all its monitoring activities in the its annual activity report to be sent to the European Parliament and to the Council
Amendment  46 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 3 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The governance model of the EIT has proven its overall value. However, experiences from the initial period show that further efforts can be made to enhance the effectiveness of the EIT's decision-making and implementing mechanisms. The relationship between the EIT Governing Board, responsible for strategic decisions, and the EIT headquarters, responsible for implementation, has to be more clearly defined and streamlined. The EIT headquarters will have to define the critical domains where the EIT should provide support to the KICs, striking an appropriate balance between supporting and monitoring functions. Finally, the Governing Board needs to better ensure that strategic decisions are properly informed by the experiences from the KICs and the wider innovation community.	The governance model of the EIT has proven its overall value. However, experiences from the initial period show that further efforts can be made to enhance the effectiveness of the EIT's decision-making and implementing mechanisms. The relationship between the EIT Governing Board, responsible for strategic decisions, and the EIT headquarters, responsible for implementation, has to be more clearly defined and streamlined. The EIT headquarters will have to define the critical domains where the EIT should provide support to the KICs, striking an appropriate balance between supporting and monitoring functions. Finally, the Governing Board needs to better ensure that strategic decisions are properly informed by the experiences from the KICs and the wider innovation community. The strategic goal for the EIT is to become more than the sum of its parts, therefore cross-KIC coordination and cooperation should be exercised by the EIT in order to ensure synergies and added-value creation from the KICs and the multitude of partners within the EIT ecosystem.
Amendment  47 Proposal for a regulation Annex – part 3 – heading 3.1 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Determining factors in this regard are size, composition and procedures of the Governing Board. The principle of independent members, combined with a limited number of elected members representing the KIC community, has proven its value and allows gathering of expertise from across the knowledge triangle. The initial model with 18 elected members plus, more recently, four additional KIC representatives has, however, shown its limitations. A Board scaled down in size will lead to more efficient decision-making and reduce administrative overheads. Finally, further efficiency can be gained by re-focusing the EIT Governing Board towards its core role of providing strategic guidance. Moreover, coherence with other EU initiatives will be further strengthened via reinforced consultation with the European Commission on the EIT Triennial Work Programme.The information on EIT and KICs from the EIT Triennal Work Programme will enable to assess and ensure complementarity with the other parts of Horizon 2020 and other Union Policies and instruments. All these changes have been incorporated in the modified EIT regulation accompanying the SIA.	Determining factors in this regard are size, composition and procedures of the Governing Board. The principle of independent members, combined with a limited number of elected members representing the KIC community, has proven its value and allows gathering of expertise from across the knowledge triangle. Within the Board there should be a good balance between members of the stakeholders in the innovation process, business, government and science. The initial model with 18 elected members plus, more recently, four additional KIC representatives has, however, shown its limitations. A Board scaled down in size will lead to more efficient decision-making and reduce administrative overheads. Finally, further efficiency can be gained by re-focusing the EIT Governing Board towards its core role of providing strategic guidance. For this purpose a Committee of academic experts providing valuable assistance and consultancy to the Governing Board could be more than useful on issues related mostly to the academic strategy and the educational practices of the KICs' whose role will be to provide oversight on the content of the programmes, their quality criteria and their social and cultural aspects. Moreover, coherence with other EU initiatives will be further strengthened via reinforced consultation with the European Commission on the EIT Triennial Work Programme.The information on EIT and KICs from the EIT Triennal Work Programme will enable to assess and ensure complementarity with the other parts of Horizon 2020 and other Union Policies and instruments. All these changes have been incorporated in the modified EIT regulation accompanying the SIA.
Amendment  48 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 3 – heading 3.1 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The decisions of the EIT Governing Board are implemented by the EIT headquarters under the leadership of the Director who is accountable for the EIT’s actions. In doing so, the headquarters mirror the results-oriented nature of the EIT and its KICs and are the driving force behind simplification of procedures. At the same time, the EIT headquarters develop the capacity to systematically digest the learning from the KICs and make these findings available for the benefit of the wider innovation community. Over time, the EIT headquarters will become a resourceful repository of good practice and a real knowledge partner for policy makers.	The decisions of the EIT Governing Board are implemented by the EIT headquarters under the leadership of the Director who is accountable to the Commission, Parliament and the Council for the EIT’s actions. In doing so, the headquarters mirror the results-oriented nature of the EIT and its KICs and are the driving force behind simplification of procedures. At the same time, the EIT headquarters develop the capacity to systematically digest the learning from the KICs and make these findings available for the benefit of the wider innovation community. Over time, the EIT headquarters will become a resourceful repository of good practice and a real knowledge partner for policy makers.
Amendment  49 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 3 – heading 3.2 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Interactions between the EIT and the KICs not only provide the framework for KICs to operate successfully, but are also at the core of the mutual learning process enabling the EIT to play its role as a test bed for new innovation models. In order to provide KICs with appropriate framework conditions, clear and coherent guidance must be given by the EIT at all stages of the process without at the same time being overly prescriptive. Interactions between EIT headquarters and the KICs need to be systematic and trust-based in order to achieve maximum efficiency. Both the contractual relations between the EIT and the KICs as well as the organisational arrangements of the EIT headquarters should contribute thereto.	Interactions between the EIT and the KICs not only provide the framework for KICs to operate successfully, but are also at the core of the mutual learning process enabling the EIT to play its role as a test bed for new innovation models. In order to provide KICs with appropriate framework conditions, clear and coherent guidance must be given by the EIT at all stages of the process without at the same time being overly prescriptive. This guidance could in particular cover management of KICs and cooperation with their partners. Interactions between EIT headquarters and the KICs need to be systematic, and regular as well as clear, transparent and trust-based in order to achieve maximum efficiency. Both the contractual relations between the EIT and the KICs as well as the organisational arrangements of the EIT headquarters should contribute thereto.
Amendment  50 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 3 – heading 3.2 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Moving away from a merely administrator role, the EIT headquarters will optimise their operational functions to steer the KICs to maximum performance and make good results widely available. There are efficiency gains to be achieved from providing a number of centralised services and functions, rather than at individual KIC level. While all KICs work on specific themes, a number of elements are of a cross-cutting nature and it is precisely there where the EIT can provide tangible added value. Such knowledge provider functions can relate notably to the EIT headquarters becoming an information broker and resourceful interlocutor, e.g. in fostering cross-KIC exchange and mutual learning, facilitating relations with the EU institutions and other key organisations, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), or on specific cross-cutting issues, such as counselling on IP, technology and knowledge transfer, benchmarking against international best practices, or undertaking anticipation and foresight studies to identify future directions for the EIT and the KICs. The EIT and KICs should decide together where these tasks can be most effectively dealt with. In this regard, it will be of crucial importance for the EIT and the KICs to establish viable mechanisms for systematic collaboration around cross-cutting issues.	Moving away from a merely administrator role, the EIT headquarters will optimise their operational functions to steer the KICs to maximum performance and make good results widely available. There are efficiency gains to be achieved from providing a number of centralised services and functions, rather than at individual KIC level. While all KICs work on specific themes, a number of elements and challenges are of a cross-cutting nature and it is precisely there where the EIT can provide tangible added value. Such knowledge provider functions can relate notably to the EIT headquarters becoming an information broker and resourceful interlocutor, e.g. in fostering cross colocation and cross-KIC exchange and mutual learning, promoting the exchange of knowledge between the KICs and university networks, RICs, smaller KICs, and other research activities conducted with EIT funding, facilitating relations with the EU institutions and other key organisations, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), or on specific cross-cutting issues, such as counselling on IP, technology and knowledge transfer, benchmarking against international best practices, or undertaking anticipation and foresight studies to identify future directions for the EIT and the KICs. The EIT and KICs should decide together where these tasks can be most effectively dealt with. In this regard, it will be of crucial importance for the EIT and the KICs to establish viable mechanisms for systematic collaboration around cross-cutting issues.
Amendment  51 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 3 – heading 3.2 – paragraph 3 – point 2a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Provide guidance for management of KICs and cooperation with their partners.
Amendment  52 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 3 – heading 3.3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	The EIT will also develop a communication campaign for universities, local authorities and national parliaments with a view to providing the best possible information to stakeholders in the innovation chain, in the mutual interest of all parties. That communication campaign will highlight European Union action through the EIT.
Amendment  53 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 3 – heading 3.3 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Moreover, active consultation with other EU institutions, in particular with relevant services of the Commission, from early on in the process will help to maximise synergies and mutual learning with other EU initiatives.	Moreover, active consultation with other EU institutions from early on in the process will help to maximise synergies and mutual learning with other EU initiatives. The EIT will engage into a regular dialogue with the European Parliament and with the relevant services of the Commission.
Amendment  54 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 4 – heading 4.1 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EIT designed an original funding model which builds on joint strengths and resources of existing excellent organisations; EIT funding acts as a catalyst to leverage and pool together supplementary financial resources from a wide range of public and private partners. On this basis, the EIT provides on average up to 25% of the total KIC funding, while the remaining minimum 75% should come from non-EIT sources. This includes KIC partners' own revenues and resources, but also public funding at national, regional and EU level, in particular the – current and future – Structural Funds and the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. In the latter case the KICs (or some of their partners) apply for funding in accordance with the respective rules of the programmes and on an equal footing with other applicants. The contribution from KIC partners is not a classic grant ‘co-financing’ requirement, but a pre-requisite for a minimum level of involvement of existing organisations and their financial commitment to the KIC. This bottom-up approach guarantees strong commitment from KIC partners, incentivizes investment and stimulates structural and organizational change among KIC partners and beyond. The experience of the initial KICs shows that industry is financially committed to the delivery of the KIC business plans and that the share of the KIC budget from industrial partners amounts between 20%-30% of the total KIC annual budget. Furthermore, KICs have managed to align and pool additional streams of national funding, which would not have been available otherwise (by way of illustration, the German Government has decided to entrust the management of the ‘Software Campus’ education initiative to ICT Labs, with a budget of 50 million € over a 5-year period, coming from both public and private sources).	The EIT designed an original funding model which builds on joint strengths and resources of existing excellent organisations; EIT funding acts as a catalyst to leverage and pool together supplementary financial resources from a wide range of public and private partners. On this basis, the EIT provides on average up to 25% of the total KIC funding, while the remaining minimum 75% should come from non-EIT sources. This includes KIC partners' own revenues and resources, but also public funding at national, regional and EU level, in particular the – current and future – Structural Funds and the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. In the latter case the KICs (or some of their partners) apply for funding in accordance with the respective rules of the programmes and on an equal footing with other applicants. The contribution from KIC partners is not a classic grant ‘co-financing’ requirement, but a pre-requisite for a minimum level of involvement of existing organisations and their financial commitment to the KIC. This bottom-up approach guarantees strong commitment from KIC partners, incentivizes investment and stimulates structural and organizational change among KIC partners and beyond. However a top-down construction should not be excluded, especially in research initiatives that are already based on such a construction. The experience of the initial KICs shows that industry is financially committed to the delivery of the KIC business plans and that the share of the KIC budget from industrial partners amounts between 20%-30% of the total KIC annual budget. Furthermore, KICs have managed to align and pool additional streams of national funding, which would not have been available otherwise (by way of illustration, the German Government has decided to entrust the management of the ‘Software Campus’ education initiative to ICT Labs, with a budget of 50 million € over a 5-year period, coming from both public and private sources).
Justification
Strategic top-down constructions should not be excluded in the case of research initiatives with the unifying aim to develop 21st century non-animal testing methodologies and especially in research initiatives that are already based on such a construction.
Amendment  55 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 4 – heading 4.1 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
KICs go through various development phases with different characteristics of their total budgets before reaching cruising speed. The absorption capacity of a KIC is relatively limited at the very beginning, but develops substantially over the following years.	KICs go through various development phases with different characteristics of their total budgets before reaching cruising speed. The absorption capacity of a KIC is relatively limited at the very beginning, but develops substantially over the following years. However, business sectors can be very different from one another and ask for a different approach. Some KICs become very big and have large financial needs, whereas other ones stay small and need less financing. The EIT should therefore apply a tailor-made approach towards the KICs and their specific funding needs.
Amendment  56 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 4 – heading 4.2 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EIT's budget needs in the period 2014-2020 are 3,1 billion euro and are based on three main components: the necessary expenditure for consolidation of the existing three KICs, gradual development towards new KICs in 2014 and 2018 respectively, and dissemination and outreach activities and administrative expenditure.	The EIT's budget for the period 2014-2020 is 3,1 billion EUR and is based on three main components: the necessary expenditure for consolidation of the existing three KICs, gradual development towards new KICs in 2014 and 2018 respectively, dissemination and outreach activities and administrative expenditure.
Amendment  57 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 4 – heading 4.2 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Therefore, the projected EIT budget for the KICs in the period 2014-2020 equals to 2,9 billion euro (93,13% of the EIT total budget for the period 2014/2020). Through the EIT's strong leverage effect, the KICs are expected to mobilise a further 8,890 billion euro of other public and private sources.	The projected EIT budget for the KICs in the period 2014-2020 equals to 2,9 billion euro (93,13% of the EIT total budget for the period 2014/2020). Through the EIT's strong leverage effect, the KICs are expected to mobilise a further 8,890 billion euro of other public and private sources.
(In reference to Amendment 31; PE489.613v01-00)
Amendment  58 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 4 – heading 4.2 – paragraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EIT will also engage in a number of dissemination and outreach activities, such as the EIT fellowship programme which will significantly enhance the impact of its operations across Europe. Moreover, a number of cross-cutting supporting and monitoring services will provide added value and efficiency gains for KIC activities. In implementing and developing these activities, the EIT will need to follow a strategy aimed at a high efficiency ratio, i.e. a maximum of impact to be achieved through light-touch mechanisms. Around 141,76 million (4,4%) of the EIT budget is needed to implement these activities.	The EIT will also engage in a number of dissemination and outreach activities, such as the EIT fellowship programme which will significantly enhance the impact of its operations across Europe. Moreover, a number of cross-cutting supporting and monitoring services will provide added value and efficiency gains for KIC activities. In implementing and developing these activities, the EIT will need to follow a strategy aimed at a high efficiency ratio, i.e. a maximum of impact to be achieved through light-touch mechanisms. 141,76 million (4,4%) of the EIT budget is needed to implement these activities.
(In reference to Amendment 32; PE489.613v01-00)
Justification
The budget for the EIT´s core activities would be insufficient if an excessive part of EIT budget were to be allocated to dissemination, outreach and administrative expenditures.
Amendment  59 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 4 – heading 4.2 – paragraph 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
If the EIT is to pioneer new models of open innovation and simplification, this should be reflected in its approach to administration. The EIT headquarters needs to be a lean organisation, which follows a strategic approach towards tapping into expertise whenever needed, but without creating unnecessarily heavy and permanent structures. The costs of administrative expenditure, covering necessary staff, administrative, infrastructure and operational expenses, will over time not exceed 2,4% of the EIT budget. Part of the administrative expenditure is covered by the host country Hungary through provision of free of charge office space until the end of 2030, as well as an annual contribution of 1.5 million euro to the staff cost until the end of 2015. On this basis, administrative expenditure will therefore be approximately 77 million euro for 2014-2020.	The EIT is to pioneer new models of open innovation and simplification. This should be reflected in its approach to administration. The EIT headquarters needs to be a lean organisation, which follows a strategic approach towards tapping into expertise whenever needed, but without creating unnecessarily heavy and permanent structures. The costs of administrative expenditure, covering necessary staff, administrative, infrastructure and operational expenses, will over time not exceed 2,4% of the EIT budget. Part of the administrative expenditure is covered by the host country Hungary through provision of free of charge office space until the end of 2030, as well as an annual contribution of 1.5 million euro to the staff cost until the end of 2015. On this basis, administrative expenditure will therefore be approximately 77 million euro for 2014-2020.
(In reference to amendment 33, PE489.613v01-00)
Justification
The agreement between the EIT and the Hungarian Government was signed in 2010, REF number: 2010/CLXVI.Due to this agreement part of the administrative expenditure is covered by the host country Hungary through provision of free of charge office space until the end of 2030, as well as an annual contribution of 1.5 million euro to the staff cost until the end of 2015.
Amendment  60 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 1 – part 2 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
A KIC on added-value manufacturing will help meeting Horizon 2020 priorities in terms of advanced manufacturing and processing, and its specific objective of ‘transforming today's industrial forms of production towards more knowledge intensive, sustainable, low-carbon, trans-sectoral manufacturing and processing technologies, to realise innovative products, processes and services’.	A KIC on added-value manufacturing will help meeting Horizon 2020 priorities in terms of advanced manufacturing and processing, and its specific objective of ‘transforming today's industrial forms of production towards more knowledge intensive, sustainable, low-emission, trans-sectoral manufacturing and processing technologies, to realise innovative products, processes and services’.
(This amendment applies throughout the text. Adopting it will necessitate corresponding changes throughout.)
Justification
The concept of low-emission refers to the reduction of all pollutants into the air, coming from different sectors, not only to carbon dioxide or methane. Thus, it is fully justified to change the wording from low-carbon to low-emission, which is the real purpose of the action proposed in the document. Research should seek ways to eliminate all greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
Amendment  61 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 1 – part 2 – paragraph 2 – point -1 (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Eco-design
Amendment  62 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 2 – part 3 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EU is fully engaged in this field. A KIC would contribute to address Horizon 2020 societal challenge ‘Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and the Bio-Economy’. It would in particular co-operate with the proposed European Innovation Partnership (EIP) ‘Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability’. Whilst the latter will put emphasis on building bridges between cutting-edge research and practical innovation, a KIC would in particular create complementarity in educating key actors, such as entrepreneurs and consumers. Coordination is also needed, with the Joint Programming Initiative ‘Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change’, which will pool national research efforts to integrate adaptation, mitigation and food security in the agriculture, forestry and land use sectors. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund will promoting environmental and social sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture, thus highlighting the need for technical developments coupled with new entrepreneurial skills in these fields, in line with the evolution of consumers' behaviour, providing possibilities for synergies. Likewise, coordination will also be possible with the recently launched JPI ‘Healthy Food for a Healthy Life’ and ‘Connecting Climate Research in Europe’, and with European Technology Platforms in relating areas (in particular, the Food for Life Platform) or numerous FP 7 projects. Similarly, it would also liaise with the CIP (Competitiveness and Innovation Programme) eco-innovation market replication projects, where food and drink is one of the priority areas. Such experience will continue with Horizon 2020 namely in the context of the Climate and Resource Efficiency societal challenge.	The EU is fully engaged in this field. A KIC would contribute to address Horizon 2020 societal challenge ‘Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture, productive seas and oceans and the Bio-Economy’. It would in particular co-operate with the proposed European Innovation Partnership (EIP) ‘Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability’. Whilst the latter will put emphasis on building bridges between cutting-edge research and practical innovation, a KIC would in particular create complementarity in educating key actors, such as entrepreneurs and consumers. Coordination is also needed, with the Joint Programming Initiative ‘Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change’, which will pool national research efforts to integrate adaptation, mitigation and food security in the agriculture, forestry and land use sectors. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund will promoting environmental and social sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture, thus highlighting the need for technical developments coupled with new entrepreneurial skills in these fields, in line with the evolution of consumers' behaviour, providing possibilities for synergies. Likewise, coordination will also be possible with the recently launched JPI ‘Healthy Food for a Healthy Life’ and ‘Connecting Climate Research in Europe’, and with European Technology Platforms in relating areas (in particular, the Food for Life Platform) or numerous FP 7 projects. Similarly, it would also liaise with the CIP (Competitiveness and Innovation Programme) eco-innovation market replication projects, where food and drink is one of the priority areas. Such experience will continue with Horizon 2020 namely in the context of the Climate and Resource Efficiency societal challenge.
Amendment 63 Proposal for a decision Annex – factsheet 2 – part 4 – paragraph 1 – point 7 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	- It promotes international development cooperation on improving food production and raising the level and quality of the food and nutrition sector.
Amendment  64 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 3 – part 1 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The response to these challenges has been defined in Horizon 2020 as aiming ‘to provide better health, quality of life and general wellbeing for all by supporting research and innovation activities. These activities will focus on the maintenance and promotion of health throughout our lifetimes, and on disease prevention; on improving our ability to cure, treat and manage disease and disability; supporting active ageing; and on contributing to the achievement of a sustainable and efficient care sector.’	The response to these challenges has been defined in Horizon 2020 as aiming ‘to provide better health, quality of life and general wellbeing for all by supporting research and innovation activities. These activities will focus on the maintenance and promotion of health throughout our lifetimes, and on disease prevention; on improving our ability to cure, treat and manage disease and disability; supporting active ageing; and on contributing to the achievement of a sustainable and efficient care sector.’ In addition, special importance should be given to local services and to the adaptation of cities and their facilities for an ageing population.
Amendment  65 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 3 – part 2 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Ageing population should be the objective of many projects and policies such as the development and improvement of local services and urban adaptation.
Amendment  66 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 4 – part 1 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Modern society is totally dependent upon access to raw materials. Access to affordable materials is essential for the effective functioning of the EU economy. However, the triptych of decreasing finite natural resources, an ever increasing human population, and rapidly increasing levels of consumption in the developing world are putting increasing demands on the planets' raw materials and natural resources. These factors are some of those responsible for the predicted increase in natural resource consumption during the next decades.	Modern society is totally dependent upon access to raw materials. Access to materials is essential for the effective functioning of the EU economy. However, the triptych of decreasing finite natural resources, an ever increasing human population, and rapidly increasing levels of consumption in the developing world are putting increasing demands on the planets' raw materials and natural resources. These factors are some of those responsible for the predicted increase in natural resource consumption during the next decades.
Amendment  67 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 4 – part 1 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
As highlighted by the Resource-Efficiency Roadmap and Horizon 2020, we should aim to ensure accessibility and availability of raw materials that is needed for the European economy and for the satisfaction of our well being, whilst achieving a resource efficient economy that meets the needs of a growing population within the ecological limits of a finite planet.	As highlighted by the Resource-Efficiency Roadmap and Horizon 2020, we should aim to ensure accessibility, availability and sustainable use of raw materials that is needed for the European economy and for the satisfaction of our well being, whilst achieving a resource efficient economy that meets the needs of a growing population within the ecological limits of a finite planet.
Amendment  68 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 4 – part 2 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Aligning with other EU activities, a KIC in this area should concentrate on fostering a knowledge hub and centre of expertise on academic, technical and practical education and research in sustainable surface, subsurface and deep-sea mining, material management, recycling technologies, material substitution and geopolitical trade in raw materials. This would act as a broker and clearing house for European centres of excellence on these related topics and manage a research programme of strategic importance to EU industry. For this reason and in order to maximise the impact of the actions and avoid any duplication with EU activities, including the EIP on Raw Materials, the KIC will provide the necessary complement in the areas of human capital (i.e. training, education) for the technology innovative pilot actions (e.g. demonstration plants) for land and marine exploration, extraction and processing, collection and recycling. At the same time it could include targets around becoming a technology pioneer by creating pilot schemes and demonstrators of innovative processes and solutions, involving for example the use of economically attractive and sustainable alternative materials of strategic importance to the EU. It can consequently trigger the expansion of existing markets and creation of new ones, namely in the areas of sustainable extraction and processing, materials management, recycling technologies, and materials substitution. It will be necessary to assess impacts and develop innovative, cost-effective adaptation and risk prevention measures for particularly sensitive habitats, such as the Arctic.	Aligning with other EU activities, a KIC in this area should concentrate on fostering a knowledge hub and centre of expertise on academic, technical and practical education and research in sustainable surface, subsurface, deep-sea, urban, and landfill mining, material management, recycling technologies, material substitution and open trade as well as global governance in raw materials. This would act as a broker and clearing house for European centres of excellence on these related topics and manage a research programme of strategic importance to EU industry. For this reason and in order to maximise the impact of the actions and avoid any duplication with EU activities, including the EIP on Raw Materials, the KIC will provide the necessary complement in the areas of human capital (i.e. training, education) for the technology innovative pilot actions (e.g. demonstration plants) for land and marine exploration, extraction and processing, resource efficient use, collection, recycling and substitution. At the same time it could include targets around becoming a technology pioneer by creating pilot schemes and demonstrators of innovative processes and solutions, involving for example the use of economically attractive and sustainable alternative materials of strategic importance to the EU. It can consequently trigger the expansion of existing markets and creation of new ones, namely in the areas of sustainable extraction and processing, resource efficient materials management, recycling technologies, and materials substitution. It will be necessary to assess impacts and develop innovative, cost-effective adaptation and risk prevention measures for particularly sensitive habitats, such as the Arctic.
Amendment  69 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 4 – part 3 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EU has identified this priority field as one of the grand challenges. A KIC would contribute to Horizon 2020, namely to the societal challenge related to the supply of raw materials and resource efficiency. It would contribute to the proposed EIP on Raw Materials. The EIP on Raw Materials will provide overarching frameworks to facilitate alignment and synergies among existing supply and demand-driven research and innovation instruments and policies in the field. This will cover technology-focused activities, but also the identification of framework conditions and best practise on policy, regulatory or standardisation issues having an impact on innovation in a given sector or challenge. A KIC in this area would create complementarity in educating key actors, but also in providing a unique structured network of practitioners. It would provide a solid basis for supporting other innovation-related actions which will be carried out in the framework of the EIP, and for the success of which human capital is an absolute necessity. It will also be well placed to support the EIP in the identification of framework conditions and best practise on policy, regulatory or standardisation issues having an impact on the sector. A KIC would also strongly build on and capitalise the results of the numerous research projects of the 7th Framework Programme addressing the topic, in particular those funded in the framework of the nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials & new production technologies, and environment themes.	The EU has identified this priority field as one of the grand challenges. A KIC would contribute to Horizon 2020, namely to the societal challenge related to the sustainable supply of raw materials and resource efficiency. It would contribute to the proposed EIP on Raw Materials. The EIP on Raw Materials will provide overarching frameworks to facilitate alignment and synergies among existing supply and demand-driven research and innovation instruments and policies in the field. This will cover technology-focused activities, but also the identification of framework conditions and best practise on policy, regulatory or standardisation issues having an impact on innovation in a given sector or challenge. A KIC in this area would create complementarity in educating key actors, but also in providing a unique structured network of practitioners. It would provide a solid basis for supporting other innovation-related actions which will be carried out in the framework of the EIP, and for the success of which human capital is an absolute necessity. It will also be well placed to support the EIP in the identification of framework conditions and best practise on policy, regulatory or standardisation issues having an impact on the sector. A KIC would also strongly build on and capitalise the results of the numerous research projects of the 7th Framework Programme addressing the topic, in particular those funded in the framework of the nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials & new production technologies, and environment themes.
Amendment 70 Proposal for a decision Annex – factsheet 4 – part 3 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Similarly, it would also liaise with the CIP (Competitiveness and Innovation Programme) eco-innovation market replication projects, where material recycling is one of the priority areas. Such experience will continue with Horizon 2020, namely in the context of the climate action, resource efficiency, and sustainable supply of raw materials societal challenges.	Similarly, it would also liaise with the CIP (Competitiveness and Innovation Programme) eco-innovation market replication projects, where material recycling is one of the priority areas. Such experience will continue with Horizon 2020, namely in the context of societal challenges in the form of climate action, resource efficiency, and the sustainable supply of raw materials, encouraging the use of materials for cultural heritage that will better stand up to the effects of time.
Amendment  71 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 4 – part 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	In addition synergies with the European Rare Earth Competency Network set-up for the critical raw materials called rare earths shall be sought. International co-operation in the field of raw materials, such as the EU-Japan-US R&D trilateral on critical raw materials, is also of great importance, as is the work of the International Resource Panel and should be considered in this KIC.
Amendment  72 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 4 – part 3 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
A KIC in this area would be complementary to these activities since it would focus on transdisciplinary activities within the knowledge triangle with a strong focus on innovative products and services and entrepreneurial education.	A KIC in this area would seek complementarities and synergies with those activities and should focus on trans-disciplinary activities within the knowledge triangle with a strong focus on innovative products and services and entrepreneurial education.
Amendment  73 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 4 – part 4 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
· It addresses a major economic and societal relevant challenge Europe is facing (the need to develop innovative solutions for the cost-effective, low carbon and environmentally friendly exploration, extraction, processing and recycling of raw materials), and contribute to the delivery of the Europe 2020 agenda and its objectives on climate and energy, employment, innovation and education.	· It addresses a major economic and societal relevant challenge Europe is facing (the need to develop innovative solutions for the cost-effective, low carbon and environmentally friendly exploration, extraction, processing, use, re-use and recycling of raw materials), and contribute to the delivery of the Europe 2020 agenda and its objectives on climate and energy, employment, innovation and education.
Amendment  74 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 4 – part 4 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
· It is able to mobilise investment from the businesses sector and offers possibilities for various emerging products and services – namely, in the areas of sustainable extraction and processing, materials management, recycling technologies, and materials substitution.	· It is able to mobilise investment from the businesses sector and offers possibilities for various emerging products and services – namely, in the areas of sustainable extraction and processing, materials management, recycling technologies and urban mining, and materials substitution.
Amendment  75 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 6 – title
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Urban Mobility	Urban Mobility, smart and sustainable development.
Amendment  76 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 6 – part 1 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The theme of smart, green and integrated transport has been identified as one of the major societal challenges which will be addressed within the framework of Horizon 2020. The 2011 Transport White Paper further reinforces the importance of taking action in this domain during the next decade. Urban mobility is a particularly challenging task. It addresses a number of topics such as transport (including new mobility concepts, transport organisation, logistics, transport systems safety and security), environmental issues (reduction of greenhouse gases, air pollution and noise) urban planning (new concepts for bringing work and living closer together), and has an important impact both at the economic and social levels (new business creation, employment, social inclusion, housing and location strategies). The overarching aim is to improve the quality of life of European citizens who – in increasing numbers – live in large urban conglomerations where much of Europe's economic performance is generated.13	The theme of smart, green and integrated transport has been identified as one of the major societal challenges which will be addressed within the framework of Horizon 2020. The 2011 Transport White Paper further reinforces the importance of taking action in this domain during the next decade. Urban mobility is a particularly challenging task. It should be addressed through a truly integrated and holistic approach, taking explicitly into account the interaction with the other topics in a spatial context. It addresses a number of topics such as transport (including new mobility concepts, transport organisation, logistics, transport systems safety and security), environmental issues (reduction of greenhouse gases, air pollution and noise) urban planning, urban and natural landscape (new concepts for bringing work and living closer together), cultural heritage and has an important impact both at the economic and social levels (new business creation, employment, social inclusion, housing and location strategies). The overarching aim is to improve the quality of life of European citizens who – in increasing numbers – live in large urban conglomerations where much of Europe's economic performance is generated.13
Amendment  77 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 6 – part 1 – paragraph 1 – paragraph 1 (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Since cities and urban mobility are within a complex system made of different variables, this KIC must integrate with territory, demography, social inclusion, economic dynamics, trade and with the adaptation , restoration and preservation of built resources and historical resources. The knowledge triangle will be coherent only if this is respected.
Amendment  78 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 6 – part 2 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The key objective of a KIC on urban mobility will be to ensure a greener, more inclusive, safer and smarter urban mobility system.	The key objective of a KIC on urban mobility and smart and sustainable development will be to ensure a greener, more inclusive, safer and smarter urban mobility system.
Amendment  79 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 6 – part 2 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
As already outlined above, the theme is highly relevant from a societal and public policy point of view. It also is highly relevant from a socio-economic perspective since it involves important economic sectors in GDP and employment terms, such as the automotive or the construction sectors. Urban mobility is, in addition, linked with environmental protection strategies and fully embedded in policies of social inclusion, location, housing and urban design.	As already outlined above, the theme is highly relevant from a societal and public policy point of view. It also is highly relevant from a socio-economic perspective since it involves important economic sectors in GDP and employment terms, such as the automotive or the construction sectors. Urban mobility is, in addition, linked with environmental protection strategies and fully embedded in policies of social inclusion, location, housing, urban design and revitalization of historical centres.
Amendment  80 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 6 – part 2 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
A KIC on urban mobility is both in line with the priorities defined in Horizon 2020 and with Europe 2020 strategy objectives of achieving a smarter, more sustainable, low carbon and inclusive urban development. A KIC in this thematic area could contribute to each of Europe 2020 strategy objectives by, for example, the promotion of eco-efficient solutions, intelligent ICT schemes for traffic management, and provision of more efficient and affordable transport services.	A KIC on urban mobility and smart and sustainable development is both in line with the priorities defined in Horizon 2020 and with Europe 2020 strategy objectives of achieving a smarter, more sustainable, low carbon and inclusive urban development. A KIC in this thematic area could contribute to each of Europe 2020 strategy objectives by, for example, the promotion of eco-efficient solutions, intelligent ICT schemes for traffic management, and provision of more efficient and affordable transport services.
Amendment  81 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 6 – part 2 – paragraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In fact, since urban mobility is by nature systemic, a KIC on this area could offer many possibilities for innovation along the innovation chain, such as the development of multi-modal transport systems, and smarter and more sustainable transport solutions.	Urban mobility and accessibility are by nature systemic. Complexity of cities, coherence of the knowledge triangle, carrying out projects on the field requires an integral approach. A KIC on this board area could offer many possibilities for innovation along the innovation chain, such as the development of multi-modal transport systems, smarter and more sustainable transport solutions.
Amendment  82 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 6 – part 2 – paragraph 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
A KIC on urban mobility draws on a solid technological and industrial base and offers a potential for new products and services, in particular in the fields of sustainable planning and eco-industries.	A KIC on urban mobility and smart and sustainable development draws on a solid technological and industrial base and offers a potential for new products and services, in particular in the fields of sustainable planning and eco-industries.
Amendment  83 Proposal for a decision Annex – Factsheet 6 – part 2 – paragraph 8
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The KIC on Urban Mobility will focus on those activities of the innovation triangle which can benefit from additional EU support specifically via the EIT. In reality, the major added value of a KIC in this area will be its role in integrating the three strands of the knowledge triangle and in bringing systemic change in the way the innovation players work together. Likewise, KIC focus on people-driven innovation, which puts students, researchers and entrepreneurs at the heart of KIC efforts, will be fundamental to address the challenges outlined above. Consequently, there will be a strong emphasis on education/training, entrepreneurship and deployment of results, e.g. developing skills and knowledge of urban transport professionals in local and regional administrations (life-long learning / staff exchange programmes / professional training), proposing specific higher education programmes in Urban Mobility (summer schools/exchange schemes), taking innovative transport concepts successfully to the market (support for spin-offs and start-ups from universities and research institutions, etc.). Moreover, the concept of co-location could be strengthened within a KIC focussing on this theme, since naturally this thematic area has a strong local and regional dimension.	The KIC on Urban Mobility and smart and Sustainable Development will focus on those activities of the innovation triangle which can benefit from additional EU support specifically via the EIT.
	All the accessibility and mobility projects need to take into account the territory dimension, the economic dynamics, the demographic and population impact, the preservation of the urban landscape and the capacity of attraction of economic and cultural resources.
	In reality, the major added value of a KIC in this area will be its role in integrating the three strands of the knowledge triangle and in bringing systemic change in the way the innovation players work together. Likewise, KIC focus on people-driven innovation, which puts students, researchers and entrepreneurs at the heart of KIC efforts, will be fundamental to address the challenges outlined above. Consequently, there will be a strong emphasis on education/training, entrepreneurship and deployment of results, e.g. developing skills and knowledge of urban transport professionals in local and regional administrations (life-long learning / staff exchange programmes / professional training), proposing specific higher education programmes in Urban Mobility (summer schools/exchange schemes), taking innovative transport concepts successfully to the market (support for spin-offs and start-ups from universities and research institutions, etc.). Moreover, the concept of co-location could be strengthened within a KIC focussing on this theme, since naturally this thematic area has a strong local and regional dimension.

• [1]  OJ C 181, 21.6.2012, p. 122.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

There is a large consensus on the importance of EIT as a key instrument for technology and innovation policy of EU and on its strategy and functioning. That allows your rapporteur, on this short explanatory statement, to skip all those matters where there is no need to change substantially the Commission proposal and focus on the aspects that, in our opinion, should be the object of some changes in order to better achieve the important goals of the EIT.

EIT as a European Institute and a global brand of excellence

EIT is not a programme, EIT is not a network: EIT is an Institute. Surely, it works in the framework of a programme, surely it builds up technology and innovation networks with many different partners, but it is an Institute with an important role to play, which is not the role of a mere administrator, coordinator or facilitator of its KICs. As an Institute, it should be addressed in a very specific way, different from other sections of H2020. Being not only a direct instrument for innovation, but also an instrument for education, EIT brings a fully-fledged education dimension to the EU's research and innovation policy. This is one of the specificities of EIT in the whole EU policy framework: it's the only instrument that fulfils the knowledge triangle..

We aim at making EIT become a big innovation partner in Europe and beyond, but also a major centre of scientific and technologic research and interchange, of dissemination of good practices and knowledge sharing culture.

EIT can reinforce its role in this field hosting and organizing (or co-organizing with its KICs) big conferences, seminars, technology exhibitions as well as specific training actions, modules for undergraduate courses or packages targeted to school education, summer courses, EIT fellowship programme, adding to the EIT labelled Master and PhD programmes that already exist and that should be further developed.

Although being an educational, technological and innovation Institute, EIT cannot be seen (or behave) as a competitor to our Universities and Research Centres, public or private, but as an important tool they all have for developing a better cooperation, permanent exchange of views and experiences and develop different kind of common projects: common research projects, common innovation projects and common educational projects. This way, EIT will better help EU to face the problem mentioned in the Commission proposal that “(s)till too often, excellence in higher education, research and innovation, while clearly existing across the EU, remains fragmented.”

We must also recognize that EIT lacks visibility and recognition in Europe and, even more, at a global scale. The new strategic agenda should tackle this problem and aim at creating an internationally recognized brand of excellence, helping to attract talent from Europe and abroad and to forge strategic relations with key partners from around the globe.

To achieve that goal, different things are needed. Certainly, an ambitious agenda for the above-mentioned activities will help solve the problem; good and effective communication is also needed; but we believe a major step forward in what regards the future premises of the Institute will be a key element in this Strategic Agenda.

New headquarters for EIT

It is undisputed in the business world that the headquarters of a company are an instrument of utmost importance for its institutional communication and brand setting. We think it is time to face this question regarding EIT, if we want to build it as a global brand of excellence, as seems to be a consensual target.

To be seen by the world as a global player in its field, absolutely committed to excellence, EIT must itself have excellent premises. This will reflect the importance EU as a whole pays to its technology and innovation policy.

In our opinion, the EP’s Strasbourg buildings are absolutely appropriate to host the EIT. And we think that moving EIT headquarters to our Strasbourg buildings constitutes a positive change not only for EIT, but also for the Parliament and for the EU, both in political and in economical terms. And that this would also be a very positive solution for the city of Strasbourg. Let’s see why.

Locating EIT in EP’s Strasbourg buildings would raise immediate attention from Europe and from the world and would put EIT project on the focus of world media. It would be seen by European citizens and business and by our global partners as a major symbol of the new vision EU is adopting in the next seven-year period, reinforcing its focus and commitment to a stronger innovation policy.

From the political point of view, it would correspond to the position of the majority of MEPs, recently confirmed twice in roll-call votes, to have a single seat. But it would also bring an answer to the wish many MEPs feel of not leaving a black hole behind their decision.

From the point of view of public opinion feelings towards the EU and its institutions, mainly during these days of crisis and cuts in public expenditure, this decision could do nothing but generate sympathy.

From the economic point of view, and considering the general budget of EU in its global numbers, as we must do, this solution could only bring a reduction in the total costs. No extra money is needed to adopt this solution, quite on the contrary.

For the city of Strasbourg, this would be a very positive solution. The prestige of the city is unaffected; it is even enhanced, as it would become the European Capital of Knowledge and Innovation, not only because of the location of EIT, but because, due to the characteristics of the buildings, EU could also locate in the same premises other European academic or research related projects and institutions. For the good management of city life, it is much better to have a permanent presence of people living and working there, than having a peak of thousands of commuters three days per month. Anyway, many big events, with lots of participants, would regularly be organized in Strasbourg by the EIT.

For EIT and its present, but mainly future activities, Strasbourg premises seem absolutely ideal. They have full potential to be a cheap, easy and quick solution to install EIT headquarters, but also for EIT to host big conferences, seminars, training actions and courses, as well as technology or science exhibitions, with plenty of big and small meeting rooms (or classrooms), offices, bars and restaurants, even several hundreds of rooms with full bathing facilities where participants in these events, coming from all over the world, could be accommodated for free.

Strasbourg building would also host the EIT Foundation, EIT Stakeholder Forum, EIT Alumni Association and other initiatives, start-ups, Universities networks.

Some new KICs co-location centers could be located there too, where partners would have excellent conditions to work closely together on a daily basis (this should not be detrimental to the main policy guideline for a distribution of localization of KICs that helps strengthening the local-global connectivity and co-operation with different national and regional authorities and universities, local clusters and SMEs).

We know EP cannot decide this change by itself. But it can state its position and ask the Commission to study its feasibility. That’s what we propose.

Allocation of resources

In order to accomplish the tasks needed to make EIT a global brand of excellence, we need a real budget for EIT that goes far beyond the mere sum of KICs' budget. In the Commission proposal, we have 4,4% for dissemination and outreach activities and 2% for administrative expenditure. This allocation of resources is coherent with the present vision of a "KICs only" (or almost "KICs only") EIT. But perhaps the vision of EIT as a "KICs only" project is not the more adequate for the important mission and role EIT can play in EU, as described above and as suggested in the Commission proposal.

However, to build EIT upon a different and more ambitious vision, we don't really need more money for EIT: a simple change in the distribution of the resources foreseen by the Commission may be enough. Allocating 10 to 15% of the global budget to the own activities of EIT, keeping 2% for administrative expenditure and the rest for KICs is a possible solution, taking in consideration what follows on the number and size of KICs.

About the number and size of KICs

The model and size of KICs used in the process of setting up the initial three KICs, requiring them to have a critical mass from the very moment of its creation, was probably the adequate form of launching the project. In the technology and innovation world, being able to attain a critical mass is really critical.

Similar requirement may be kept for some of the new KICs. But a slightly different approach is perhaps possible now: if EIT exists as such and has a good dimension, can't it be counted by itself, summed up with the network of existing KICs at any given moment, as a critical mass provider or a critical mass background, comforting the creation of smaller KICs or other EIT regional cooperation projects? In some cases, to tackle specific challenges, smaller KICs may prove to be a better solution. In this case, keeping a dogmatic approach on the size of KICs (one size fits all approach) could be a barrier to finding the best answer.

We should be acting according to what happens sometimes in the business world, where the solution of creating a small company affiliated to a big group may present both the simplicity and flexibility of small organizations and the prestige, stability and market guarantees of the big group, in a virtuous and dialectical combination.

KICs are now to be developed in number, in thematic variety and on regional coverage. We should underline that, bigger or smaller, KICs should always be highly integrated partnerships, bringing together universities, research centers, companies, including SMEs, and other innovation actors around specific societal challenges.

For the period 2014-2020, the Commission has already identified six thematic areas where the establishment of a new KIC may have great potential to add value to existing activities and bring about a real boost to innovation:

-Added-value manufacturing

-Food4future - sustainable supply chain from resources to consumers

-Innovation for healthy living and active ageing

-Raw materials – sustainable exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and substitution

-Smart secure societies

-Urban mobility

We think it is too early to approve and close this list and that a bottom-up approach should be further developed in which other areas could also be the object of applications worth considering, such as the case of the Sustainable use of the seas, Water and Marine KIC. This list is not closed yet, nor the decision on the number, size and time framework for the new KICs to be launched. The EIT will have the autonomy to organise, according to the Regulation, the future KICs selection process, in an open, transparent and competitive way, taking in consideration the priorities defined in Horizon 2020.

The EIT Governing Board should have the autonomy to organize, in a public and transparent way, according to the procedure defined in the EIT Regulation, the future KICs selection process, based on general themes fitting in the grand societal challenges. The call for applications should be more open than fixing in advance three fields of activity in each wave, as suggested by the Commission. Could be more, or could be less.

A more flexible approach on the size (and on the funding needs) of KICs can lead to a solution where more than three new KICs can be envisaged for the second and/or for third wave.

Anyway, the Governing Board will keep the EU institutions, namely the Parliament, fully informed about this process and will take into consideration their opinions on the subject.

On the long-term economic relations with the KICs

In the first phase of KICs’ life, the EIT provides up to 25% of the KICs budget. Returns on EIT investment in KICs can be measured in terms of benefits for the society and the economy, such as better education opportunities, creation of new business and new jobs, of new products and services.

Over time, seizing market or societal opportunities, KICs may become independent from EIT funding, when the initial project reaches a natural end. But perhaps this does not mean that EIT should put an end to its economic relation to that KIC or to the institution or company it will become when the 7- or 15-year programme ends. EIT should consider being a long-term business partner to the project it has helped to create and also a beneficiary of the revenues it may generate, and not only the ones resulting from direct and indirect exploitation of IP results.

Keeping this partnership may be of strategic importance from the technologic point of view, but also from the economic one. These revenues would help EIT budget to finance new KICs or help develop other education projects.

OPINION of the Committee on Culture and Education (20.9.2012)

for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): the contribution of the EIT to a more innovative Europe
(COM(2011)0822 – C7-0462/2011 – 2011/0387(COD))

Rapporteur (*): Chrysoula Paliadeli

(*)       Associated committee – Rule 50 of the Rules of Procedure

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

The Commission's proposal for the Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is a policy document outlining the priorities for the EIT over the period 2014-2020.

The draftswoman welcomes the proposal and supports the commitment to strong involvement of the higher education institutions in further development of the EIT.

The draftswoman points out the following: 

· The one-year timeframe for implementation of the Master programme in the three active Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) is too short a period for conducting a proper assessment, thereby leaving little effective room for objective judgment.

· In the SIA it seems that among the three foundational facets: knowledge, research and innovation, higher education is somehow left behind. Within what is often referred to as the "knowledge triangle" however, it probably constitutes the base of this triangle. Therefore, KICs are encouraged to ensure that their Masters' and PhD programmes are properly funded.

· In the SIA the social studies and the humanities are not emphasized according to their actual added value. It is therefore essential that their current and future role in research and education be properly emphasized, and that their contribution to the creation of new and innovative fields of research based on interdisciplinary concepts is acknowledged.

The draftswoman wants to ensure that:

1.  Universities shall be made more aware of the existence and role of the EIT so that a greater number of them can seek to become involved in the KICs.

2.  More top students will be attracted to the post-graduate programs of the KIC's. The EIT institute will be made more visible to students. EIT should act as a main pool of talented young people who will help ensure smart, sustainable and inclusive economic growth for Europe's future. With this in mind, information campaigns, which make use of all means and levels of communication, should be launched to ensure that both universities and students have sufficient information on the EIT and the KICs.

3.  Safeguards will be created in order to avoid double funding (75% of funding derives from private, public and regional funding, including other European programmes and Cohesion Policy). Any reduction in funding of other education-related programmes should be avoided.

4.  Complementarity of the EIT with existing education and research programmes will be assured.

5.  The academic validity of the degrees and diplomas granted under the EIT label will be safeguarded. The EIT label should be a label of higher quality and, therefore, high quality criteria should apply for all EIT label degrees (that is, pursuant to the Bologna process, entrepreneurship, allowing for close sectoral mobility between academia and industries) in order to protect the worldwide reputation of the European Universities and the EIT.

6.  Dissemination of best practices via the EIT to countries not yet involved in existing KICs will be promoted.

7.  The Member States, which are not yet part of the KICs, have an equal chance to get involved, always applying the criterion of excellence as well as the subsidiarity principle.

8.  The Governing Board of the EIT will be assisted by a Committee of academic experts, whose role will be to provide oversight on the content of the programmes, their quality criteria and their social and cultural aspects.

9.  The two new thematic cycles proposed by the Commission for 2014 and 2018- which, unfortunately, demonstrate a unilateral future concept for research and innovation- should be reconsidered.

10.  The social aspect will be an overriding criterion within the KICs and more visible in every societal challenge.

11.  The EIT shall identify common accreditation processes for diplomas and degrees on a European level.

Draftswoman's conclusions

1. University students who have demonstrated excellence will have the opportunity to undertake their postgraduate and doctoral research in more than one of the KICs` universities. Thus they will benefit from the cooperation between universities, research centers and businesses.

2.  Universities participating in the KICs are encouraged to develop curricula which- alongside knowledge, research and entrepreneurship - will provide training of high quality, as a means to achieving innovation.

3.  Universities shall continue to uphold academic freedom with respect to knowledge and research and, in seeking to find synergies with business interests, shall take care to protect their individual curricula.

4.  Special attention should also be paid to the role of the humanities in higher education, as they significantly contribute both to economic life and to the furtherance of European culture and heritage. In that regard, humanities must not be overlooked when selecting thematic areas for future KICs. 

The EIT offers a paradigm shift in the knowledge triangle, among both universities and industry, on the leadership, teacher and “life-long learner” side, and can as such be an important element towards development of a highly skilled European work-force for the future.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Culture and Education calls on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following amendments in its report:

Amendment 1 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 1.1 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The reasons for putting research, education and innovation at centre stage are straightforward. In a context of increasing global competition and facing a demographic challenge at home, Europe's future economic growth and jobs will increasingly come from innovation breakthroughs in products, services and business models as well as from its ability to nurture, attract and retain talent. While there are individual success stories across Europe, EU Member States on average underperform in comparison with global innovation leaders. Moreover, the EU is facing increased competition for talent from new centres of excellence in emerging economies.	The reasons for putting research, education and innovation at centre stage are straightforward. In the context of the knowledge economy and increasing global competition and facing a demographic challenge at home, Europe's future economic growth and jobs will increasingly come from innovation breakthroughs in products, services and business models as well as from its ability to nurture, attract and retain talent, while allowing European citizens not only to benefit from these innovations but also to contribute, particularly by means of new technologies, to their emergence. While there are individual success stories across Europe, Member States on average underperform in comparison with global innovation leaders. Moreover, the Union is facing increased competition for talent from new centres of excellence in emerging economies.
Amendment 2 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 1.1 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
A genuine change in our innovation systems and paradigms is therefore necessary. Still too often, excellence in higher education, research and innovation, while clearly existing across the EU, remains fragmented. Europe needs to overcome this lack of strategic co-operation across boundaries – countries, sectors and disciplines. Moreover, Europe needs to embrace a true entrepreneurial culture, which is essential for capturing the value of research and innovation, for setting-up new ventures and actual market deployment of innovations in potential high-growth sectors. Europe needs to foster the role of higher education institutions as engines of innovation, as talented people need to be equipped with the right skills, knowledge and attitudes in order to drive innovation forward.	A genuine change in our innovation systems and paradigms is therefore necessary, which requires the adoption of new principles and practices based, in particular, on open and inclusive research and on the development of tools for managing intellectual property rights which promote transparency and exchange, and the development of new financing tools to ensure that research efforts are targeted, effectively and as a matter of priority, at issues of major public interest. Still too often, excellence in higher education, research and innovation, while clearly existing across the EU, remains fragmented. Europe needs to overcome this lack of strategic co-operation across boundaries – countries, sectors and disciplines. Moreover, Europe needs to embrace a true entrepreneurial culture, which is essential for capturing the value of research and innovation, for setting-up new ventures and actual market deployment of innovations in potential high-growth sectors. Europe needs to foster the role of higher education institutions as engines of innovation, as talented people need to be equipped with the right skills, knowledge and attitudes in order to drive innovation forward.
Amendment 3 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 1.1 – paragraph 6
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Through the KICs, the EIT helps to create environments where innovation is more likely to thrive and to generate breakthroughs in the way higher education, research and business collaborate. This approach helps addressing the increasingly complex societal challenges set out in Horizon 2020 in a holistic way, bringing together excellent people from different sectors, backgrounds and disciplines – who otherwise would not necessarily meet – to jointly find solutions to the challenge.	Through the KICs, the EIT helps to create environments where innovation is more likely to thrive and to generate breakthroughs in the way higher education, research and business collaborate. In addition, the EIT contributes to youth employment. This approach helps addressing the increasingly complex societal challenges set out in Horizon 2020 in a holistic way, bringing together excellent people from different sectors, backgrounds and disciplines – who otherwise would not necessarily meet – to jointly find solutions to the challenge.
Amendment 4 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 1.2 – paragraph 1 – bullet point 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Ÿ Enhancing the impact of investments on education, research and innovation and testing new ways for innovation governance: The EIT acts as a catalyst, adding value to the existing research base, by accelerating the take-up and exploitation of technologies and research outcomes. Innovation activities contribute in turn to align and leverage research investments and to make education and training activities more responsive to business needs. To this end, the EIT has been equipped with a substantial degree of flexibility to test out new innovation models, allowing for true differentiation in the KICs' governance and funding models and quick adaptation to better cope with emerging opportunities.	Ÿ Enhancing the impact of investments on education, research and innovation and testing new ways for innovation governance: The EIT acts as a catalyst, adding value to the existing research base, by accelerating the take-up and exploitation of technologies and research outcomes. Innovation activities contribute in turn to align and leverage research investments and to make education and training activities more responsive to business needs. To this end, the EIT has been equipped with a substantial degree of flexibility to test out new innovation models, allowing for true differentiation in the KICs' governance and funding models and quick adaptation to better cope with emerging opportunities. The EIT also has the potential to develop new financing models, such as innovation prizes, allowing it to maximise the public returns of the financing of research, ensuring that innovation not only tackles the most urgent needs of society but also can benefit rapidly to European citizens.
Amendment 5 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 1.3 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EIT will strongly contribute to the objectives set out in Horizon 2020, in particular by addressing societal challenges in a complementary way to other initiatives in these areas. Within Horizon 2020 , the EIT will be part of the ‘tackling societal challenges’ objective but following the approach of seamless interaction across objectives, it will also contribute to ‘industrial leadership and competitive frameworks’ by stimulating results-driven research and fostering the creation of high growth innovative SMEs. Finally, it will contribute to the creation of an ‘excellent science base’ by fostering mobility across boundaries – of disciplines, sectors and countries – and by embedding entrepreneurship and a risk-taking culture in innovative post-graduates degrees. The EIT will thereby significantly contribute to promoting the framework conditions that are needed to realise the innovative potential of EU research and to promote the completion of the European Research Area (ERA).	The EIT will strongly contribute to the objectives set out in Horizon 2020, in particular by addressing societal challenges in a complementary way to other initiatives in these areas. Within Horizon 2020, the EIT will be part of the ‘tackling societal challenges’ objective but following the approach of seamless interaction across objectives, it will also contribute to ‘industrial leadership and competitive frameworks’ by stimulating results-driven research and fostering the creation of high growth innovative SMEs. Finally, it will contribute to the creation of an ‘excellent science base’ by fostering mobility across boundaries – of disciplines, sectors and countries – and by embedding entrepreneurship and a risk-taking culture in innovative post-graduates degrees. The EIT must support cross-border and cross-sector cooperation and mobility in research and innovation between academia, research institutes and business. The EIT will create a joint innovation and knowledge sharing platform that will help support areas which are not directly participating in KICs and, in the longer term, help achieve the priorities of the Horizon 2020 framework programme. A separate priority needs to be established to define the specific scope within which the EIT will operate in the context of cooperation on research and innovation with third countries and international organisations, thus helping to disseminate good community practices. The EIT will thereby significantly contribute to promoting the framework conditions that are needed to realise the innovative potential of EU research and to promote the completion of the European Research Area (ERA).
Amendment 6 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 1.3 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Moreover, the EIT brings a fully fledged education dimension to the EU's research and innovation policy. Via innovative, entrepreneurial education it plays an important bridging role between the research and innovation framework and education policies and programmes and provides the long term commitment needed to deliver sustainable changes in higher education. Notably through new, trans and interdisciplinary EIT-labelled degrees the EIT is leading a collaborative effort towards education for innovation with clear spill over effects on the broader European agenda for the modernisation of higher education institutions thereby promoting the European Higher Education Area.	Moreover, the EIT brings a full-fledged education component to the EU's research and innovation policy as the only instrument within Horizon 2020 framework which has strong emphasis on the educational aspect, including through open access to research publications. Hence, the EIT should ensure that the KICs' Masters and PhD programmes are properly funded. Via innovative, entrepreneurial education it plays an important bridging role between the research and innovation framework and education policies and programmes and provides the long term commitment needed to deliver new ways to adapt higher education to the unfolding requirements of the respective societies. Particular attention needs to be paid to ensuring that universities and other higher education institutions are adequately funded. This will ensure that there is a level playing field for institutions aspiring to attain the highest European standard. At the same time, support will be maintained for research and education centres that are already recognised as centres of excellence. Notably through new, trans and interdisciplinary EIT-labelled degrees the EIT is leading a collaborative effort towards education for innovation with clear spill over effects on the broader European agenda for the modernisation of higher education systems, while upholding, at the same time, the humanistic tradition of European higher education, thereby promoting the European Higher Education Area.
Amendment 7 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 1.3 – paragraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Moreover, there are opportunities for mutually reinforcing interaction with the Union's Cohesion Policy by addressing the linkages between the local and global aspects of innovation. Co-location centres provide for cross-border collaboration and are well positioned to capitalise on various funding schemes from their respective regions. The co-location centres play a major role in strengthening the local-global connectivity of the KIC as a whole, including through close co-operation with regional authorities, in particular those involved in designing and delivering the Regional Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3). Furthermore, linkages between KICs and local cluster organisations could be strengthened to increase the involvement of SMEs in the activities of the KICs. While opportunities for synergies differ depending on the thematic area of a KIC, a number of initiatives and programmes at EU level seem particularly prone to offering benefits from cooperation and coordination. As the very concept of the EIT/KICs rests on adding value to existing European excellence, the KICs – present and future – will by definition seek to explore these synergies to a maximum. KICs will add value to initiatives that may exist in the relevant areas, including Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs), European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).	Moreover, there are opportunities for mutually reinforcing interaction with the Union's Cohesion Policy by addressing the linkages between the local and global aspects of innovation. Co-location centres provide for cross-regional and cross-border collaboration and are well positioned to capitalise on various funding schemes from their respective regions. The co-location centres play a major role in strengthening the local-global connectivity of the KIC as a whole, including through close co-operation with regional authorities, in particular those involved in designing and delivering the Regional Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3). Furthermore, linkages between KICs and local cluster organisations could be strengthened to increase the involvement of SMEs in the activities of the KICs. While opportunities for synergies differ depending on the thematic area of a KIC, a number of initiatives and programmes at EU level seem particularly prone to offering benefits from cooperation and coordination. As the very concept of the EIT/KICs rests on adding value to existing European excellence, the KICs – present and future – will by definition seek to explore these synergies to a maximum. KICs will add value to initiatives that may exist in the relevant areas, including Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs), European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). Safeguards shall be created in order to avoid double funding (75% of funding derives from private, public and regional funding, including from other European programmes and Cohesion Policy). Any reduction in funding of other education-related programmes should be avoided.
Amendment 8 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 1.3 – paragraph 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Joint Programming Initiatives, a key instrument for addressing fragmentation in research, should provide the nucleus of the pan-European KIC research base. In turn, KICs can speed up and foster the exploitation of excellent public research pooled together by the JPIs, thereby addressing fragmentation in innovation. The Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) and the newly established Public and Private Partnerships provide platforms for promotion of large-scale industry-driven research and enhance the development of major technologies. KICs can help catalysing these major research investments to boost technology transfer and commercialisation and to develop new ventures within existing business via entrepreneurial talent. Through its knowledge triangle approach, the EIT will complement investment of the European Research Council (ERC) on world-class frontier research by addressing the whole innovation chain from ideas to application and exploitation and provide additional opportunities in innovation and exposure to entrepreneurship to ‘Marie Curie’ researchers and ‘Erasmus for all’ students.	Joint Programming Initiatives, a key instrument for addressing fragmentation in research, should provide the nucleus of the pan-European KIC research base. In turn, KICs can speed up and foster the exploitation of excellent public research pooled together by the JPIs, thereby addressing fragmentation in innovation. The Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) and the newly established Public and Private Partnerships provide platforms for promotion of large-scale industry-driven research and enhance the development of major technologies. KICs can help to catalyse these major research investments to boost technology transfer and commercialisation and to develop new ventures within existing business via entrepreneurial talent. Through its knowledge triangle approach, the EIT will complement investment of the European Research Council (ERC) on world-class frontier research by addressing the whole innovation chain from ideas to application and exploitation and guarantee the development of the European Research Area, providing new opportunities for researchers in the context of Maria Skłodowska-Curie activities. The EIT will take advantage of Europe’s intellectual capital with a view to acquiring new skills in innovation and exposure to entrepreneurship thanks to the correlation with the ‘Erasmus for all’ programme.
Amendment 9 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Building on these lessons the EIT aims to consolidate and further develop its role as an 'investor' which nurtures and enables existing centres of excellence in research, business and higher education in Europe to come together and foster their long-term systematic collaborations through the KICs.	Building on these lessons the EIT aims to consolidate and further develop its role as an 'investor' which nurtures and enables existing centres of excellence in research, business and higher education in Europe to come together and foster their long-term systematic collaborations through the KICs. With this in mind, information campaigns, making use of all relevant means and avenues of communication, should be launched to ensure that both universities and students have sufficient access to information on the functioning and the scope of the EIT and the KICs.
Amendment  10 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.1. – paragraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
KICs not only build on their partners' existing excellent research base, but are also the frontrunners for promoting and implementing the EIT's educational mission. The objective is to educate and train talented people with the skills, knowledge and mindset needed in a global knowledge economy. To this end, the EIT actively promotes, inter alia, the EIT-labelled degrees by monitoring their quality and coherent implementation across KICs. In this endeavour they will make extensive use of peer and expert evaluations, and establish a dialogue with national and quality assurance bodies. This will enhance the national and international recognition of the EIT labelled qualifications and raise their attractiveness globally, while providing a platform for collaboration at international level. In the future, KICs will be encouraged to expand their educational activities beyond post-graduate education to a greater variety of study modes to cater for a wider range of innovative, professional development activities, involving executive education, tailor-made training courses and summer schools. To enhance the impact of KICs' educational activities and to reach out to a wider audience, KICs may envisage the design, on an experimental basis, of modules for undergraduate courses or packages targeted to school education.	KICs not only build on their partners' existing excellent research base, but are also the frontrunners for promoting and implementing the EIT's educational mission. The objective is to educate and train talented people with the skills, knowledge and mindset needed in a global knowledge economy. To this end, the EIT actively promotes, inter alia, the EIT-labelled degrees by monitoring their quality and coherent implementation across KICs. In this endeavour a series of quality criteria shall be applied by KICs for EIT-labelled degrees (that is, pursuant to the Bologna process, entrepreneurship, allowing for close sectoral mobility between academia and industries), so that high academic standards be upheld, and ultimately that European universities' reputation and prestige be ensured. In addition, they will make extensive use of peer and expert evaluations, and establish a dialogue with national and quality assurance bodies. This will enhance the national and international recognition of the EIT labelled qualifications and raise their attractiveness globally, while providing a platform for collaboration at international level. In the future, KICs will be encouraged to expand their educational activities beyond post-graduate education to a greater variety of study modes to cater for a wider range of innovative, professional development activities, involving executive education, tailor-made training courses and summer schools. Universities shall continue to uphold academic freedom with respect to knowledge and research and, in seeking to establish synergies with business interests, shall take care to protect their individual curricula.
Amendment 11 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.1. – paragraph 5 – bullet point 2 a (new) (inside the box)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Ÿ Establish criteria for the EIT-labelled degrees, in order to guarantee their academic validity and high standards.
Amendment  12 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.1. – paragraph 5 – bullet point 3 (inside the box)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Ÿ Set up a system of peer evaluations for EIT labelled qualifications and engage in dialogue with national and international quality assurance bodies.	Ÿ Actively ensure consistency and equivalence across the EIT by setting up a system of peer reviews for EIT labelled qualifications and engage in dialogue with national and international quality assurance bodies.
Amendment 13 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.1. – paragraph 5 – bullet point 4 (inside the box)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Ÿ Encourage KICs to develop a greater variety of educational and training activities.	Ÿ Encourage KICs to develop a greater variety of educational and training activities, in particular, activities designed to give the KICs the opportunity to share their knowledge with institutions which may be interested in participating in future KICs, and to raise awareness about the existence of these educational programmes.
Amendment 14 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.1. – paragraph 5 – bullet point 4 a (new) (inside the box)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Ÿ Invite KICs to provide students with relevant information as pertains to the recognition of degrees obtained in another Member State.
Amendment 15 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.1. – paragraph 5 – bullet point 4 b (new) (inside the box)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Ÿ Identify common accreditation processes for diplomas and degrees on a European level.
Amendment 16 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.2. – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In order to further enhance impact and to incentivise innovation in new areas of societal challenges, the EIT will gradually expand its portfolio of KICs. By following an incremental development path in establishing new KICs, the EIT will ensure that lessons learned from previous rounds are duly taken into consideration, and that KICs are set up only in areas where there is a clear innovation potential and top-class excellence to build on. In the period 2014-2020, new KICs will therefore be set up in two waves, i.e. three new KICs each in 2014 and 2018, leading up to a portfolio of nine KICs in the period 2014-2020 (equalling the set-up of 40-50 co-location centres across the EU). A potential new selection process for KICs in 2018 shall strongly build on the results of a thorough external evaluation of the EIT and existing KICs, including an assessment of KICs' economic and societal impact and the contribution of the EIT to strengthening the innovation capacity of the EU and Member States, as well as on the results from the evaluations of Horizon 2020.	In order to further enhance impact and to incentivise innovation in new areas of societal challenges, the EIT will gradually expand its portfolio of KICs. By following an incremental development path in establishing new KICs, the EIT will ensure that lessons learned from previous rounds are duly taken into consideration, and that KICs are set up only in thematic areas where there is a clear innovation potential and significant social impact, as well as top-class excellence to build on. In the period 2014-2020, new KICs will therefore be set up in two waves, i.e. three new KICs each in 2014 and 2018, leading up to a portfolio of nine KICs in the period 2014-2020 (equalling the set-up of 40-50 co-location centres across the EU). A potential new selection process for KICs in 2018 shall strongly build on the results of a thorough external evaluation of the EIT and existing KICs, including an assessment of KICs' economic and societal impact and the contribution of the EIT to strengthening the innovation capacity of the EU and Member States, as well as on the results from the evaluations of Horizon 2020.
Amendment 17 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.2. – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
New KICs will be set up in areas of large societal challenges which offer a true innovation potential. The EIT thereby fully contributes to the goals of the larger EU policy agenda and in particular to the objectives of Horizon 2020, which identifies a number of large societal challenges, and enabling and industrial technologies. The objective is to set up KICs in thematic areas which, due to their magnitude and complex nature, can only be addressed through a cross-disciplinary, cross-border, and cross-sectoral approach. The selection of the thematic fields therefore needs to be based on a careful analysis as to whether a KIC can bring true added value and have a positive impact on economy and society.	New KICs will be set up in thematic areas of large societal challenges which offer a true innovation potential. The EIT thereby fully contributes to the goals of the larger EU policy agenda and in particular to the objectives of Horizon 2020, which identifies a number of large societal challenges. The objective is to set up KICs in thematic areas which, due to their magnitude and complex nature, can only be addressed through a cross-disciplinary, cross-border, and cross-sectoral approach. The selection of the thematic fields therefore needs to be based on a careful analysis as to whether a KIC can bring true added value and have a positive impact on economy and society. Allocation of funds for new KICs shall be provided on a competitive basis and taking into consideration the quality and potential of the projects, while ensuring enough funding for each KIC to actually deliver innovation.
Amendment 18 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.2. – paragraph 3 – bullet point 6
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Ÿ Require trans-disciplinary approaches and the development of new types of education across the boundaries of disciplines;	Ÿ Require trans-disciplinary approaches and encourage the universities to develop new types of education across discipline boundaries;
Amendment 19 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.2 – paragraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The assessment of the themes proposed in the EIT draft as well as by the wider stakeholder community clearly showed a certain degree of variation regarding potential impact the establishment of a KIC would offer. As a result, a number of themes were discarded entirely; others were redefined in order to better respond to the specificities of the European and global context in this area.	The assessment of the themes proposed in the EIT draft as well as by the wider stakeholder community clearly showed a certain degree of variation regarding potential impact the establishment of a KIC would offer. As a result, a number of themes were discarded entirely; others were redefined in order to better respond to the specificities of the European and global context in this area. The regular assessment of the evolution of research potentials and the possible emergence of new innovation dynamics should be taken into consideration for future KICs in sectors that are not yet considered but fulfil the given criteria (as for instance in the maritime field).
Amendment 20 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.2. – paragraph 5 - introductory wording
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The following thematic areas have been identified as those where the establishment of a new KIC has greatest potential to add value to existing activities and bring about a real boost to innovation:	The following thematic areas have been identified as areas where the establishment of a new KIC may bring added value to existing activities and result in a real boost to innovation. This list is, however, purely indicative in respect of the thematic areas which will finally be chosen for future KICs:
Amendment 21 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.2. – paragraph 9
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
For the second wave in 2018, the remaining themes (urban mobility, added-value manufacturing and smart secure societies) will be considered, while taking into account new and unforeseen challenges which may arise in the future.	For the second wave in 2018, the remaining themes from the above list (urban mobility, added-value manufacturing and smart secure societies) may be considered, together with other themes, which take into account the new and unforeseen challenges which may arise in the future.
Amendment 22 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.2. – paragraph 9 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Special attention should be also paid to the role of the humanities in higher education, as they significantly contribute both to economic life and to the furtherance of European culture and heritage. In this regard, the humanities must not be overlooked or forgotten when selecting thematic areas for future KICs.
Amendment 23 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.2. – paragraph 10 – bullet point 1 a (new) (inside the box)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Ÿ Consult fully with all interested stakeholders, including - alongside universities, businesses, entrepreneurs and research centres - civil society, local government and relevant NGOs, before deciding upon the thematic areas to be covered by the third wave of KICs in 2018.
Amendment 24 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.2. – paragraph 10 – bullet point 1 b (new) (inside the box)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Ÿ Make every effort to ensure that as many potential interested parties as possible are made aware of the future KIC selection procedures. Potential interested parties shall be provided with all the necessary information to allow them to properly consider what, if any, particular contribution they can make. In that regard, particular attention shall be paid to those areas and regions which have not yet provided any participants in existing KICs.
Amendment 25 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.1.2. – paragraph 10 – bullet point 2 a (new) (inside the box)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Ÿ Ensure that the social aspect is an overriding criterion within the KICs and visible in every societal challenge.
Amendment 26 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.2. – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In the initial period, the EIT has mainly focused its efforts on establishing the KICs. While it is a clear goal for the EIT to strengthen existing centres of excellence, the EIT will need to ensure it also delivers benefits to areas of the Union which are not directly participating in KICs. It is therefore mission critical for the EIT to actively promote the dissemination of good practices for the integration of the knowledge triangle in order to develop a common innovation and knowledge sharing culture.	During its initial period, the EIT mainly focused its efforts on establishing the KICs. While it is a clear goal for the EIT to strengthen existing - or encourage the creation of new - centres of excellence, the EIT will need to ensure it also delivers benefits to areas of the Union which are not directly participating in KICs. Furthermore, it is essential for the EIT to enhance its visibility to Member States not yet involved in KICs, and principally those that are less experienced in these forms of joint ventures. The criterion of excellence as well as the subsidiarity principle shall always apply. It is therefore mission critical for the EIT to actively promote the dissemination of good practices, such as open research and the open publication of results, for the integration of the knowledge triangle, in order to develop a common innovation and knowledge sharing culture.
Amendment 27 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.2 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In the future, the EIT must work to make the KIC experience understandable and replicable and build it into a culture that can act as a role model in Europe and beyond. By identifying, analysing and sharing good practices, as well as new governance and funding models from the KICs, the EIT seeks to ensure that knowledge generated within the EIT and its KICs is disseminated and capitalised upon for the benefit of people and institutions, including those not directly participating in the KICs.	In the future, the EIT must work to make the KIC experience understandable and replicable and build it into a culture that can act as a role model in Europe and beyond. By identifying, analysing and sharing good practices, as well as new governance and funding models from the KICs, the EIT seeks to ensure that knowledge generated within the EIT and its KICs is disseminated and capitalised upon for the benefit of the citizens, private entities and institutions, including those not directly participating in the KICs.
Amendment 28 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.2. – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EIT can play the decisive role in synthesising the diversity of approaches applied by the KICs and in making them transferable in areas where innovation capacity is weak, and which would otherwise not be able to benefit from the experience gained by the EIT. Such outreach will ensure that the benefits of the EIT experience promote the development of innovation capacity in these areas. This activity is able to generate strong returns in so far as it builds on the work of the KICs.	The EIT can play the decisive role in synthesising the diversity of approaches applied by the KICs and in making them transferable in thematic areas where innovation capacity is weak, and which would otherwise not be able to benefit from the experience gained by the EIT. Such outreach will ensure that the benefits of the EIT experience promote the development of innovation capacity in these areas. This activity is able to generate strong returns in so far as it builds on the work of the KICs. In this regard it is of great importance that the concept of innovation should be also applied to academic areas, which may produce ideas and concepts or new material evidence relating to the cultural past and present of Europe.
Amendment 29 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.2. – paragraph 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Talented people are at the heart of successful innovation. It is one of the EIT's foremost roles to give talented people the opportunity to use their potential to the full and to create environments where they can thrive. Through the KICs, the EIT is generating such environments, but needs to complement them with strategies for attracting and including top talent from beyond the KICs.	Talented people when given the appropriate education and offered to work in inspiring conditions are at the heart of successful research and open to innovation. It is one of the EIT's foremost roles to give talented people the opportunity to use their potential to the full and to create environments where they can thrive. Through the KICs, the EIT is generating such environments, but needs to complement them with strategies for attracting and including top talent from beyond the KICs.
Amendment 30 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.2. – paragraph 7
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Moreover, the EIT has a clear role to play in attracting talent from outside the EU. By creating a strong brand and forging strategic relations with key partners from around the globe, the EIT can add to the attractiveness of the partners within the KICs. In close cooperation with the KICs, the EIT should develop a strong international strategy, identifying and liaising relevant interlocutors and potential partners. In this context the EIT and its KICs should take full advantage of existing EU initiatives in the area, such as the 'Erasmus for all' programme and the Marie Curie Actions. In addition, the EIT can foster knowledge sharing, mentoring and networking by encouraging the setting up of an EIT alumni network.	Moreover, the EIT has a clear role to play in attracting talent from outside the EU. By creating a strong brand and forging strategic relations with key partners from around the globe, the EIT can add to the attractiveness of the partners within the KICs. In close cooperation with the KICs, the EIT should develop a strong international strategy, identifying and liaising with relevant interlocutors and potential partners. In this context the EIT and its KICs should take full advantage of existing EU initiatives in the area, such as the 'Erasmus for all' programme and the Marie Curie Actions. Complementarity of the EIT with all other existing education and research programmes (European Research Council, Joint Research Centres, European Innovation Partnerships, Knowledge Alliances, etc.) shall be ensured. In addition, the EIT can foster knowledge sharing, mentoring and networking by encouraging the setting up of an EIT alumni network. It could also contribute to this task by supporting research areas relating to European culture, which has always attracted the interest of the world.
Amendment 31 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.2. – paragraph 8 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	The EIT and its KICs should ensure that scientific results and their applications, deriving from Master or PhD studies, as well as those achieved under their aegis, should be published accordingly, in order to contribute to international academic dialogue.
Amendment 32 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.2. – paragraph 9 – bullet point 1 (inside the box)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Ÿ In close cooperation with the KICs, establish a scheme ('EIT fellows') allowing high talent people from across the EU and beyond to get involved in the activities of KIC co-location centres for a limited period of time, thereby creating mutual benefits for the participant as well as for the KIC.	Ÿ In close cooperation with the KICs, establish a scheme ('EIT fellows') allowing a diverse cross-section of students, researchers, academics, teaching staff and entrepreneurs from all fields of study and business across the Union, who are not currently involved in existing KICs, high talented people from across the Union and beyond, to get involved in the activities of KIC co-location centres for a limited period of time, thereby creating mutual benefits for the participant as well as for the KIC and helping to raise awareness of the activities of the KICs and the visibility of the EIT more generally.
Amendment 33 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.2 – paragraph 9 – bullet point 1 a (new) (inside the box)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Ÿ Provide a platform for fostering excellence, cooperation and common projects for universities throughout the Union.
Amendment 34 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.2. – paragraph 9 – bullet point 2 (inside the box)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Ÿ Set up/customise a web based tool to provide a platform for knowledge sharing and networking around the EIT.	Ÿ Set up/customise a web-based tool to provide a platform for knowledge sharing and networking around the EIT. This tool shall be used to encourage students, researchers, academics, teaching staff and entrepreneurs not currently involved in existing KICs to learn about, and from, current work being carried out by existing KICs and the plans for future waves of KICs.
Amendment 35 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.2 – paragraph 9 – bullet point 2 a (new) (inside the box)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Ÿ Develop tools to facilitate the identification of intellectual property rights involved in a field or in the context of research, as well as their acquisition, assignment or transmission as appropriate and depending on the needs of stakeholders.
Amendment 36 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.2. – paragraph 9 – bullet point 4 (inside the box)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Ÿ Make lessons learned and successes from KICs systematically accessible to the wider EU innovation community and beyond. This may include the development of a repository of open course ware from the EIT's and KICs' educational and training activities.	Ÿ Make lessons learned and successes from KICs systematically accessible to the wider EU innovation community and beyond. This shall include the development of a repository of open course ware from the EIT's and KIC's educational and training activities, which shall be made available to universities and higher education institutes throughout the Union.
Amendment 37 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.3. – paragraph 5 - introductory wording
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The Commission has reinforced its efforts in supporting the EIT towards establishing a sound and solid results-oriented monitoring system. This monitoring system will ensure full accountability of the EIT and the KICs, quality of the deliverables, the contribution to Horizon 2020 priorities, and at the same time allow for sufficient flexibility in the KICs' business dynamics. It will allow the EIT to develop a solid capacity for gathering and analysing the input from the KICs, to measure the performance of the EIT against its own objectives and to benchmark EIT and KICs against best practices at European and global level. The system will be designed in a flexible manner and if needed adjusted to take into account the EIT's and KICs' evolving and growing portfolio of activities. Following the recommendation of the independent external evaluation and the overarching monitoring provisions under Horizon 2020, the Commission has proposed, in association with the EIT and the KICs, the establishment of a results-orientated performance monitoring system for the EIT, addressing four activity levels:	The Commission has reinforced its efforts in supporting the EIT towards establishing a sound and solid results-oriented monitoring system. This monitoring system will ensure full accountability of the EIT and the KICs, quality of the deliverables, the contribution to Horizon 2020 priorities, and at the same time allow for sufficient flexibility in the KICs' research and business dynamics. It will allow the EIT to develop a solid capacity for gathering and analysing the input from the KICs, to measure the performance of the EIT against its own objectives and to benchmark EIT and KICs against best practices at European and global level. The system will be designed in a flexible manner and if needed adjusted to take into account the EIT's and KICs' evolving and growing portfolio of activities. Following the recommendation of the independent external evaluation and the overarching monitoring provisions under Horizon 2020, the Commission has proposed, in association with the EIT and the KICs, the establishment of a results-orientated performance monitoring system for the EIT, addressing four activity levels:
Amendment 38 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.3. – paragraph 5 – bullet point 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Ÿ EIT level: to assess the performance of the EIT as an efficient and effective EU body; this will be measured in terms of support provided to the KICs, the intensity and coverage of its outreach, dissemination and international activities and its ability to deliver simplified procedures.	Ÿ EIT level: to assess the performance of the EIT as an efficient and effective EU body; this will be measured in terms of support provided to the KICs, the intensity and coverage of its outreach, dissemination and international activities and its ability to deliver simplified procedures as well as in terms of encouraging the creation of centres of excellence, as a means to expand research and innovation throughout the Union.
Amendment 39 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.3. – paragraph 5 – bullet point 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Ÿ Cross-KIC level: to monitor the contribution of all KICs to achieving the EIT strategic objectives, as identified in a dedicated instrument such as an EIT Scoreboard.	Ÿ Cross-KIC level: to monitor the contribution of all KICs in achieving the EIT strategic objectives, as identified in a dedicated instrument such as an EIT Scoreboard, as well as in encouraging inter-disciplinary research, as a means to strengthen and sustain the creation of new fields of research and innovation.
Amendment 40 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 2.3. – paragraph 5 – bullet point 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Ÿ Individual KIC level: to monitor individual KIC performance based on individual targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) as laid down in the individual KIC business plans. KIC have different business models and markets and thus different industrial KPIs which are central for the successful management of the individual KIC.	Ÿ Individual KIC level: to monitor individual KIC performance based on individual targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) as laid down in the individual KIC business plans. KIC have different business models and markets and thus different industrial KPIs which are central for the successful management of the individual KIC. Furthermore, the creation of co-location centres, as a means to expand their activities and promote the idea of collaboration in local, regional, or national level, as a contribution to the EIT scopes shall be encouraged.
Amendment 41 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 3.1. – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Determining factors in this regard are size, composition and procedures of the Governing Board. The principle of independent members, combined with a limited number of elected members representing the KIC community, has proven its value and allows gathering of expertise from across the knowledge triangle. The initial model with 18 elected members plus, more recently, four additional KIC representatives has, however, shown its limitations. A Board scaled down in size will lead to more efficient decision-making and reduce administrative overheads. Finally, further efficiency can be gained by re-focusing the EIT Governing Board towards its core role of providing strategic guidance. Moreover, coherence with other EU initiatives will be further strengthened via reinforced consultation with the European Commission on the EIT Triennial Work Programme. The information on EIT and KICs from the EIT Triennial Work Programme will enable to assess and ensure complementarity with the other parts of Horizon 2020 and other Union Policies and instruments. All these changes have been incorporated in the modified EIT regulation accompanying the SIA.	Determining factors in this regard are size, composition and procedures of the Governing Board. The principle of independent members, combined with a limited number of elected members representing the KIC community, has proven its value and allows gathering of expertise from across the knowledge triangle. The initial model with 18 elected members plus, more recently, four additional KIC representatives has, however, shown its limitations. A Board scaled down in size will lead to more efficient decision-making and reduce administrative overheads. Finally, further efficiency can be gained by re-focusing the EIT Governing Board towards its core role of providing strategic guidance. For this purpose a Committee of academic experts providing valuable assistance and consultancy to the Governing Board could be more than useful on issues related mostly to the academic strategy and the educational practices of the KICs' whose role will be to provide oversight on the content of the programmes, their quality criteria and their social and cultural aspects. Moreover, coherence with other EU initiatives will be further strengthened via reinforced consultation with the European Commission on the EIT Triennial Work Programme. The information on EIT and KICs from the EIT Triennial Work Programme will enable to assess and ensure complementarity with the other parts of Horizon 2020 and other Union Policies and instruments. All these changes have been incorporated in the modified EIT regulation accompanying the SIA.
Amendment 42 Proposal for a decision Annex – point 3.2 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Moving away from a merely administrator role, the EIT headquarters will optimise their operational functions to steer the KICs to maximum performance and make good results widely available. There are efficiency gains to be achieved from providing a number of centralised services and functions, rather than at individual KIC level. While all KICs work on specific themes, a number of elements are of a cross-cutting nature and it is precisely there where the EIT can provide tangible added value. Such knowledge provider functions can relate notably to the EIT headquarters becoming an information broker and resourceful interlocutor, e.g. in fostering cross-KIC exchange and mutual learning, facilitating relations with the EU institutions and other key organisations, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), or on specific cross-cutting issues, such as counselling on IP, technology and knowledge transfer, benchmarking against international best practices, or undertaking anticipation and foresight studies to identify future directions for the EIT and the KICs. The EIT and KICs should decide together where these tasks can be most effectively dealt with. In this regard, it will be of crucial importance for the EIT and the KICs to establish viable mechanisms for systematic collaboration around cross-cutting issues.	Moving away from a merely administrator role, the EIT headquarters will optimise their operational functions to steer the KICs to maximum performance and make good results widely available. There are efficiency gains to be achieved from providing a number of centralised services and functions, rather than at individual KIC level. While all KICs work on specific themes, a number of elements are of a cross-cutting nature and it is precisely there where the EIT can provide tangible added value. Such knowledge provider functions can relate notably to the EIT headquarters becoming an information broker and resourceful interlocutor, e.g. in fostering cross-KIC exchange, transparency, information provision (in the field of intellectual property rights in particular), and developing mutual learning, facilitating relations with the EU institutions and other key organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD). It can thus focus on specific cross-cutting issues, such as counselling on open research, collaborative research, IP and competition law, and technology and knowledge transfer, benchmarking against international best practices, or undertaking anticipation and foresight studies to identify future directions for the EIT and the KICs. The EIT and KICs should decide together where these tasks can be most effectively dealt with. In this regard, it will be of crucial importance for the EIT and the KICs to establish viable mechanisms for systematic collaboration around cross-cutting issues.
Amendment 43 Proposal for a decision Annex – factsheet 2 – part 4 – paragraph 1 – bullet point 7 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Ÿ It promotes international development cooperation on improving food production and raising the level and quality of the food and nutrition sector.
Amendment 44 Proposal for a decision Annex – factsheet 4 – part 3 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Similarly, it would also liaise with the CIP (Competitiveness and Innovation Programme) eco-innovation market replication projects, where material recycling is one of the priority areas. Such experience will continue with Horizon 2020, namely in the context of the climate action, resource efficiency, and sustainable supply of raw materials societal challenges.	Similarly, it would also liaise with the CIP (Competitiveness and Innovation Programme) eco-innovation market replication projects, where material recycling is one of the priority areas. Such experience will continue with Horizon 2020, namely in the context of societal challenges in the form of climate action, resource efficiency, and the sustainable supply of raw materials, encouraging the use of materials for cultural heritage that will better stand up to the effects of time.

PROCEDURE

Title	Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): the contribution of the EIT to a more innovative Europe
References	COM(2011)0822 – C7-0462/2011 – 2011/0387(COD)
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	ITRE 13.12.2011
Opinion by        Date announced in plenary	CULT 13.12.2011
Associated committee(s) - date announced in plenary	20.4.2012
Rapporteur        Date appointed	Chrysoula Paliadeli 2.2.2012
Discussed in committee	25.4.2012	19.6.2012
Date adopted	19.9.2012
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	25 2 0
Members present for the final vote	Zoltán Bagó, Malika Benarab-Attou, Lothar Bisky, Piotr Borys, Jean-Marie Cavada, Silvia Costa, Cătălin Sorin Ivan, Petra Kammerevert, Morten Løkkegaard, Emilio Menéndez del Valle, Marek Henryk Migalski, Katarína Neveďalová, Doris Pack, Chrysoula Paliadeli, Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid, Marietje Schaake, Marco Scurria, Emil Stoyanov, Hannu Takkula, László Tőkés, Marie-Christine Vergiat
Substitute(s) present for the final vote	François Alfonsi, Heinz K. Becker, Nadja Hirsch, Iosif Matula, Mitro Repo, Kay Swinburne

OPINION of the Committee on Legal Affairs (13.7.2012)

for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): the contribution of the EIT to a more innovative Europe
(COM(2011)0822 – C7‑0462/2011 – 2011/0387(COD))

Rapporteur: Alajos Mészáros

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

The European Institute of Technology and Innovation (EIT) has been set up by Regulation (EC) 294/2008 with the aim of reinforcing Europe's innovation capacity. It represents the first EU attempt to integrate higher education, research and innovation, into the so called "knowledge triangle". This integration takes place primarily via the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), which bring together organisations on a long-term basis around societal challenges. The EIT became operational in 2010 and its seat is in Budapest.

There is an overall political will to promote further the existence of EIT, and your rapporteur therefore highly welcomes the proposal for Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA).

Coordination mechanisms between EU initiatives

It must be stressed from the outset, however, that a coordination mechanism between the EIT and the other activities under Horizon 2020 should be implemented. EIT should promote interaction of the KICs across the pillars in Horizon 2020 and with other initiatives, while taking due note of the risk of overlaps.

Extending the priorities of SIA

Your rapporteur welcomes thematic areas of the Strategic Innovation Agenda but suggests that the list of priorities contained therein could be extended even beyond sustainable supply chain from resources to consumers, innovation for healthy living and active ageing, sustainable exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and substitution of raw materials, smart secure societies and urban mobility. When identifying new priority areas, the EIT should engage into a regular dialogue with the EU institutions.

Widening of participation across all Member States and fostering synergies of EIT structures for the benefit of, in particular, SMEs

The EIT as an elite institute with new concept of organising research, higher education and business has to strengthen the participation of the private sector, in particular SMEs in the knowledge triangle. This will promote better translation of the research results into new innovative products and services. KICs should support regions in "smart specialization" and "stairway to excellence" process activities that will give the opportunity to involve actors from all regions of Europe.

Management of Intellectual Property Rights

Finally, your rapporteur wishes to see EIT developing new innovative intellectual property rights policy and practices that can answer to the needs and interests of the involved stakeholders across Europe, in particular SMEs.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Legal Affairs calls on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following amendments in its report:

Amendment  1 Proposal for a decision Recital 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The SIA should define long-term priory fields for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology ("the EIT") and include an assessment of its economic impact and capacity to generate best innovation added-value. The SIA should take into account the results of the monitoring and evaluation of the EIT.	The SIA should define long-term priory fields for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology ("the EIT") promoting excellence and wide participation across the EU, and include an assessment of its economic impact and capacity to generate best innovation added-value. The SIA should take into account the results of the monitoring and evaluation of the EIT.
Amendment  2 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 1.1 – subparagraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In a rapidly changing world, Europe's pathway to the future rests on growth which is smart, sustainable and inclusive. To achieve this goal and to remain competitive in the global knowledge economy, the 'knowledge triangle' of research, education and innovation and the interaction between these three sides have been recognised as key driving forces. The European Union has acted accordingly and identified these fields as policy priorities in its Europe 2020 strategy. These priorities are notably implemented through the flagship initiatives 'Innovation Union' and 'Youth on the Move', which form the overarching policy framework for EU actions in these fields. They are complemented by the flagship initiatives on an 'Integrated Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Era' and on a 'Resource-Efficient Europe'. The European Institute of Innovation and Technology will fully contribute to achieving the goals of these flagship initiatives.	In a rapidly changing world, Europe's pathway to the future rests on growth which is smart, sustainable and inclusive. To achieve this goal and to remain competitive in the global knowledge economy, the 'knowledge triangle' of research, education and innovation and the interaction between these three sides have been recognised as key driving forces. The European Union has acted accordingly and identified these fields as policy priorities in its Europe 2020 strategy. These priorities are notably implemented through the flagship initiatives 'Innovation Union' and 'Youth on the Move', which form the overarching policy framework for EU actions in these fields. They are complemented by the flagship initiatives on an 'Integrated Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Era', on a 'Digital Agenda for Europe', on a 'Resource-Efficient Europe' and on an 'Agenda for new skills and jobs'. The European Institute of Innovation and Technology will fully contribute to achieving the goals of these flagship initiatives.
Amendment  3 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 1.1 – subparagraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EIT has been set up precisely to this end – to contribute to sustainable economic growth and competitiveness by reinforcing the innovation capacity of the Union and its Member States. By fully integrating the knowledge triangle of higher education, research and innovation, the Institute will strongly contribute to tackling societal challenges under Horizon 2020 and bring about systemic change in the way European innovation players collaborate.	The EIT has been set up precisely to this end – to contribute to sustainable economic growth and competitiveness by reinforcing the innovation and entrepreneurial capacity of the Union and its Member States and boost its potential to convert outputs from research and innovation into high value products and services. By fully integrating the knowledge triangle of higher education, research and innovation, the Institute will strongly contribute to tackling societal challenges under Horizon 2020 and bring about systemic change in the way European innovation players collaborate in open and inclusive innovation models.
Amendment  4 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 1.1 – subparagraph 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
To achieve this goal, the EIT combines strategic orientation at EIT level with a bottom up approach through its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). KICs are highly integrated partnerships, bringing together excellent universities, research centres, small and large companies and other innovation actors on a long-term basis around specific societal challenges. Each KIC is organized around a small number of interconnected co-location centres where partners work closely together on a daily basis and with an unprecedented degree of common strategic objectives. Co-location centres build on existing centres of excellence, developing them further into local innovation ecosystems and linking them together into a broader network of innovation nodes across Europe. Within the EIT framework, the individual KICs have been given a large degree of autonomy in defining their internal organisation, composition, agenda and working methods, allowing them to choose the approach that is best suited to meet their objectives. At strategic level, the EIT organizes the selection process of KICs, coordinates them with a flexible framework and disseminates their best governance and funding models.	To achieve this goal, the EIT combines strategic orientation at EIT level with a bottom up approach through its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). KICs are highly integrated Europe-wide partnerships, bringing together excellent universities, research centres, small and large companies and other innovation actors on a long-term basis around specific societal challenges. Each KIC is organized around a small number of interconnected co-location centres where partners work closely together on a daily basis and with an unprecedented degree of common strategic objectives. Co-location centres build on existing centres of excellence, developing them further into local innovation ecosystems and linking them together into a broader network of innovation nodes across Europe. Within the EIT framework, the individual KICs have been given a large degree of autonomy in defining their internal organisation, composition, agenda and working methods, allowing them to choose the approach that is best suited to meet their objectives. The EIT should act as a role model across Europe for effective and light-touch governance. At strategic level, the EIT organizes the selection process of KICs, according to the thematic areas approved by the European Parliament and the Council, and coordinates them with a flexible framework and disseminates their best governance and funding models.
Amendment  5 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 1.1 – subparagraph 11
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The set-up of the KICs as single legal entities led by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides a clear departure from a traditional multi-beneficiaries approach. Moreover, all KICs follow business logic for the strategic planning of their activities, and all KICs have implemented the co-location concept: bringing diverse teams together in one physical place, acting as a clearing house for many KIC activities, and combining competences and skills developed in different areas of specialisation at pan-European level.	The set-up of the KICs as single legal entities led by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides a clear departure from a traditional multi-beneficiaries approach. Moreover, all KICs follow business logic for the strategic planning of their activities, and all KICs have implemented the co-location concept: bringing diverse teams together in one physical place, acting as a clearing house for many KIC activities, and combining competences and skills developed in different areas of specialisation at pan-European level. KICs should be able to mobilise investments and long term commitments from the business sector.
Amendment  6 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 1.3 – subparagraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The EIT will strongly contribute to the objectives set out in Horizon 2020, in particular by addressing societal challenges in a complementary way to other initiatives in these areas. Within Horizon 2020, the EIT will be part of the "tackling societal challenges" objective but following the approach of seamless interaction across objectives, it will also contribute to "industrial leadership and competitive frameworks" by stimulating results-driven research and fostering the creation of high growth innovative SMEs. Finally, it will contribute to the creation of an "excellent science base" by fostering mobility across boundaries – of disciplines, sectors and countries – and by embedding entrepreneurship and a risk-taking culture in innovative post-graduates degrees. The EIT will thereby significantly contribute to promoting the framework conditions that are needed to realise the innovative potential of EU research and to promote the completion of the European Research Area (ERA).	The EIT will strongly contribute to the objectives set out in Horizon 2020, in particular by addressing societal challenges in a complementary way to other initiatives in these areas. Within Horizon 2020, the EIT will be part of the "tackling societal challenges" objective but following the approach of seamless interaction across objectives, it will also contribute to "industrial leadership and competitive frameworks" by stimulating results-driven research and fostering the creation of open and inclusive innovation models among high growth innovative SMEs. Finally, it will contribute to the creation of an "excellent science base" by fostering mobility across boundaries – of disciplines, sectors and countries – and by embedding entrepreneurship and a risk-taking culture in innovative post-graduates degrees. The EIT will thereby significantly contribute to promoting the framework conditions that are needed to realise the innovative potential of EU research and to promote the completion of the European Research Area (ERA). A coordination mechanism between the EIT and the other activities under Horizon 2020 shall be proposed by the European Commission in consultation with the EIT, to be implemented by the EIT.
Amendment  7 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 1.3 – subparagraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Moreover, there are opportunities for mutually reinforcing interaction with the Union's Cohesion Policy by addressing the linkages between the local and global aspects of innovation. Co-location centres provide for cross-border collaboration and are well positioned to capitalise on various funding schemes from their respective regions. The co-location centres play a major role in strengthening the local-global connectivity of the KIC as a whole, including through close co-operation with regional authorities, in particular those involved in designing and delivering the Regional Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3). Furthermore, linkages between KICs and local cluster organisations could be strengthened to increase the involvement of SMEs in the activities of the KICs. While opportunities for synergies differ depending on the thematic area of a KIC, a number of initiatives and programmes at EU level seem particularly prone to offering benefits from cooperation and coordination. As the very concept of the EIT/KICs rests on adding value to existing European excellence, the KICs – present and future – will by definition seek to explore these synergies to a maximum. KICs will add value to initiatives that may exist in the relevant areas, including Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs), European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).	Moreover, there are opportunities for mutually reinforcing interaction with the Union's Cohesion Policy by addressing the linkages between the local and global aspects of innovation. One of the key roles of the EIT KICs is to support regions in "smart specialization" and "stairway to excellence" process activities that will give the opportunity to actors from all regions of Europe to benefit from and participate in the EIT. Co-location centres provide for cross-border collaboration and are well positioned to capitalise on various funding schemes from their respective regions. The co-location centres play a major role in strengthening the local-global connectivity of the KIC as a whole, including through close co-operation with regional authorities, in particular those involved in designing and delivering the Regional Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3). Furthermore, linkages between KICs and local cluster organisations could be strengthened to increase the involvement of SMEs in the activities of the KICs. The emerging concepts of Regional Innovation and Implementation Communities (RICs) from the KICs provide a model which can effectively contribute to connectivity and linkages to the cohesion policy and its funding instruments. While opportunities for synergies differ depending on the thematic area of a KIC, a number of initiatives and programmes at EU level seem particularly prone to offering benefits from cooperation and coordination. As the very concept of the EIT/KICs rests on adding value to existing European excellence, the KICs – present and future – will by definition seek to explore these synergies to a maximum. KICs will add value to initiatives that may exist in the relevant areas, including Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs), European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).
Amendment  8 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 1.3 – subparagraph 7
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In practice, opportunities for synergies will materialise in different ways, from KIC to KIC and challenge to challenge. Today, linkages are being developed at KIC level with other initiatives, varying according to the specificities of each KIC and its thematic area.	In practice, opportunities for synergies will materialise in different ways, from KIC to KIC and challenge to challenge. Today, linkages are being developed at KIC level with other initiatives, varying according to the specificities of each KIC and its thematic area. In addition, the EIT should foster synergies and interaction of the KICs across the pillars in Horizon 2020 and with other initiatives, while taking due note of the risk of overlaps.
Amendment  9 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 2.1 – subparagraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The 'EIT investor' approach stands for a focus on identifying best strategic opportunities and selecting a portfolio of world-class partnerships – the KICs – to deliver on these. As part of this approach, the EIT awards the annual grants to the KICs based on their past performance and proposed activities in their business plan. The assessment of the business plans will be supported by external, independent experts. In this perspective, the EIT should not only set out broad directions and visions, but needs to provide KICs with an appropriate level of support and monitor their performance. At the same time, KICs are given a substantial degree of leeway to define their internal strategies and organisation as well as to deliver their activities and mobilise the talent and resources needed.	The 'EIT investor' approach stands for a focus on identifying best strategic opportunities and selecting a portfolio of world-class partnerships – the KICs – to deliver on these. As part of this approach, the EIT awards the annual grants to the KICs based on their past performance and proposed activities in their business plan in a clear and transparent procedure. The assessment of the business plans will be supported by external, independent experts. In this perspective, the EIT should not only set out broad directions and visions, but needs to provide KICs with an appropriate level of support and monitor and report about their performance without being excessively detailed and without causing any additional administrative burdens. At the same time, KICs are given a substantial degree of leeway to define their internal strategies and organisation as well as to deliver their activities and mobilise the talent and resources needed.
Amendment  10 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 2.1 – subparagraph 7
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
An important element in this regard is also the development, together with the KICs, of a true EIT 'corporate identity' around a set of shared values. While all KICs and their individual partners do have their own corporate identities and values, they all share values that bring the EIT/KICs community together. They are: excellence across the knowledge triangle; skilled and entrepreneurial people; long-term collaboration across borders, disciplines and sectors; and the focus on societal and economic impact. Such an identity will also enhance the external visibility and reputation of the EIT and KICs.	An important element in this regard is also the development, together with the KICs, of a true EIT 'corporate identity' around a set of shared values. While all KICs and their individual partners do have their own corporate identities and values, they all share values that bring the EIT/KICs community together. They are: excellence across the knowledge triangle; opportunities for involvement of all Members States; skilled and entrepreneurial people; long-term collaboration across borders, disciplines and sectors; and the focus on societal and economic impact. Such an identity will also enhance the external visibility and reputation of the EIT and KICs.
Amendment  11 Proposal for a decision Annex – sub-heading 2.1.1 – subparagraph 5 – indent 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Encourage KICs to develop a greater variety of educational and training activities.	Encourage KICs to develop a greater variety and provide advice about educational and training activities across the whole EU.
Amendment  12 Proposal for a decision Annex – sub-heading 2.1.2 – subparagraph 5 – introductory wording
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The following thematic areas have been identified as those where the establishment of a new KIC has greatest potential to add value to existing activities and bring about a real boost to innovation:	The following indicative thematic areas have been identified as those where the establishment of a new KIC has greatest potential to add value to existing activities and bring about a real boost to innovation:
Amendment  13 Proposal for a decision Annex – Heading 2.2 – Subparagraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In the initial period, the EIT has mainly focused its efforts on establishing the KICs. While it is a clear goal for the EIT to strengthen existing centres of excellence, the EIT will need to ensure it also delivers benefits to areas of the Union which are not directly participating in KICs. It is therefore mission critical for the EIT to actively promote the dissemination of good practices for the integration of the knowledge triangle in order to develop a common innovation and knowledge sharing culture.	In the initial period, the EIT has mainly focused its efforts on establishing the KICs. It must be a clear goal for the EIT to strengthen existing centres of excellence by encouraging a wide participation of Member States. The EIT will need to ensure that it also delivers benefits to areas of the Union which are not directly participating in KICs. It is therefore mission critical for the EIT to actively promote the dissemination of good practices for the integration of the knowledge triangle in order to develop a common innovation and knowledge sharing culture.
Amendment  14 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 2.2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	The EIT will have a role in supporting the development of innovative IPR policy and practices that can answer to the needs and interests of the involved stakeholders across Europe, in particular SMEs. This will promote better translation of the research results into new innovative products and services.
Amendment  15 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 2.2 – subparagraph 9 – indent 4 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Have a leading role for the development of innovative IPR policy and practices that can answer to the needs and interests of the involved stakeholders across Europe, in particular SMEs.
Amendment  16 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 2.2 – subparagraph 9 – indent 4b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Ensure strong participation of the private sector, especially SMEs in the knowledge triangle.
Amendment  17 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 2.3 – subparagraph 5 – introductory wording
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The Commission has reinforced its efforts in supporting the EIT towards establishing a sound and solid results-oriented monitoring system. This monitoring system will ensure full accountability of the EIT and the KICs, quality of the deliverables, the contribution to Horizon 2020 priorities, and at the same time allow for sufficient flexibility in the KICs' business dynamics. It will allow the EIT to develop a solid capacity for gathering and analysing the input from the KICs, to measure the performance of the EIT against its own objectives and to benchmark EIT and KICs against best practices at European and global level. The system will be designed in a flexible manner and if needed adjusted to take into account the EIT's and KICs' evolving and growing portfolio of activities. Following the recommendation of the independent external evaluation and the overarching monitoring provisions under Horizon 2020, the Commission has proposed, in association with the EIT and the KICs, the establishment of a results-orientated performance monitoring system for the EIT, addressing four activity levels:	The Commission has reinforced its efforts in supporting the EIT towards establishing a sound and solid results-oriented monitoring system. This monitoring system will ensure full accountability of the EIT and the KICs, quality of the deliverables, the contribution to Horizon 2020 priorities, and at the same time allow for sufficient flexibility in the KICs' business dynamics and openness to new ideas and partners. It will allow the EIT to develop a solid capacity for gathering and analysing the input from the KICs, to measure the performance of the EIT against its own objectives and to benchmark EIT and KICs against best practices at European and global level. The system will be designed in a flexible manner and if needed adjusted to take into account the EIT's and KICs' evolving and growing portfolio of activities. Following the recommendation of the independent external evaluation and the overarching monitoring provisions under Horizon 2020, the Commission has proposed, in association with the EIT and the KICs, the establishment of a results-orientated performance monitoring system for the EIT, addressing four activity levels:
Amendment  18 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 3.2 – subparagraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Interactions between the EIT and the KICs not only provide the framework for KICs to operate successfully, but are also at the core of the mutual learning process enabling the EIT to play its role as a test bed for new innovation models. In order to provide KICs with appropriate framework conditions, clear and coherent guidance must be given by the EIT at all stages of the process without at the same time being overly prescriptive. Interactions between EIT headquarters and the KICs need to be systematic and trust-based in order to achieve maximum efficiency. Both the contractual relations between the EIT and the KICs as well as the organisational arrangements of the EIT headquarters should contribute thereto.	Interactions between the EIT and the KICs not only provide the framework for KICs to operate successfully, but are also at the core of the mutual learning process enabling the EIT to play its role as a test bed for new innovation models. In order to provide KICs with appropriate framework conditions, clear and coherent guidance must be given by the EIT at all stages of the process without at the same time being overly prescriptive. This guidance could in particular cover management of KICs and cooperation with their partners. Interactions between EIT headquarters and the KICs need to be systematic, and regular as well as clear, transparent and trust-based in order to achieve maximum efficiency. Both the contractual relations between the EIT and the KICs as well as the organisational arrangements of the EIT headquarters should contribute thereto.
Amendment  19 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 3.2 – subparagraph 3 – indent 2a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Provide guidance for management of KICs and cooperation with their partners.
Amendment  20 Proposal for a decision Annex – heading 3.3 – subparagraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Moreover, active consultation with other EU institutions, in particular with relevant services of the Commission, from early on in the process will help to maximise synergies and mutual learning with other EU initiatives.	Moreover, active consultation with other EU institutions from early on in the process will help to maximise synergies and mutual learning with other EU initiatives. The EIT will engage into a regular dialogue with the European Parliament and with the relevant services of the Commission.
Amendment  21 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 1 – point 1.1 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The reasons for putting research, education and innovation at centre stage are straightforward. In a context of increasing global competition and facing a demographic challenge at home, Europe's future economic growth and jobs will increasingly come from innovation breakthroughs in products, services and business models as well as from its ability to nurture, attract and retain talent. While there are individual success stories across Europe, EU Member States on average underperform in comparison with global innovation leaders. Moreover, the EU is facing increased competition for talent from new centres of excellence in emerging economies.	The reasons for putting research, education and innovation at centre stage are straightforward. In a context of increasing global competition and facing a demographic challenge at home, Europe's future economic growth and jobs will increasingly come from innovation breakthroughs in products, services and business models as well as from its ability to nurture, attract and retain talent, and the ability for citizens to use, adopt and apply these innovations. While there are individual success stories across Europe, EU Member States on average underperform in comparison with global innovation leaders. Moreover, the EU is facing increased competition for talent from new centres of excellence in emerging economies.
Amendment  22 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 1 – point 1.1 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
A genuine change in our innovation systems and paradigms is therefore necessary. Still too often, excellence in higher education, research and innovation, while clearly existing across the EU, remains fragmented. Europe needs to overcome this lack of strategic co-operation across boundaries – countries, sectors and disciplines. Moreover, Europe needs to embrace a true entrepreneurial culture, which is essential for capturing the value of research and innovation, for setting-up new ventures and actual market deployment of innovations in potential high-growth sectors. Europe needs to foster the role of higher education institutions as engines of innovation, as talented people need to be equipped with the right skills, knowledge and attitudes in order to drive innovation forward.	A genuine change in our innovation systems and paradigms is therefore necessary. Still too often, excellence in higher education, research and innovation, while clearly existing across the EU, remains fragmented. Europe needs to overcome this lack of strategic co-operation across boundaries – countries, sectors and disciplines. Moreover, Europe has a strong, open and true entrepreneurial culture, with a considerable diversity of small and medium-sized enterprises, which is essential to nurture and help to capture the value of research and innovation, to set up new ventures and to achieve actual market deployment of innovations in potential high-growth sectors. Europe needs to foster the role of higher education institutions as engines of innovation, as talented people need to be equipped with the right skills, knowledge and attitudes in order to drive innovation forward.
Amendment  23 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 1 – point 1.1 – paragraph 11
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The set-up of the KICs as single legal entities led by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides a clear departure from a traditional multi-beneficiaries approach. Moreover, all KICs follow business logic for the strategic planning of their activities, and all KICs have implemented the co-location concept: bringing diverse teams together in one physical place, acting as a clearing house for many KIC activities, and combining competences and skills developed in different areas of specialisation at pan-European level.	The set-up of the KICs as single legal entities led by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides a clear departure from a traditional multi-beneficiaries approach. Moreover, all KICs follow business logic for the strategic planning of their activities, and all KICs have implemented the co-location concept: bringing diverse teams together in one physical place, acting as a clearing house for many KIC activities, and combining competences and skills developed in different areas of specialisation at pan-European level. KICs should be able to mobilise investments and long term commitments from the private, public and third sectors.
Amendment  24 Proposal for a decision Annex – part 2 – point 2.2 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In the future, the EIT must work to make the KIC experience understandable and replicable and build it into a culture that can act as a role model in Europe and beyond. By identifying, analysing and sharing good practices, as well as new governance and funding models from the KICs, the EIT seeks to ensure that knowledge generated within the EIT and its KICs is disseminated and capitalised upon for the benefit of people and institutions, including those not directly participating in the KICs.	In the future, the EIT must work to make the KIC experience understandable and replicable and build it into a culture that can act as a role model in Europe and beyond. By identifying, analysing and sharing good practices, as well as new governance and funding models from the KICs, the EIT seeks to ensure that knowledge generated within the EIT and its KICs is disseminated and capitalised upon for the benefit of the general public, private entities and the institutions, including those not directly participating in the KICs.

PROCEDURE

Title	Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): the contribution of the EIT to a more innovative Europe
References	COM(2011)0822 – C7-0462/2011 – 2011/0387(COD)
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	ITRE 13.12.2011
Opinion by        Date announced in plenary	JURI 13.12.2011
Rapporteur        Date appointed	Alajos Mészáros 19.12.2011
Discussed in committee	30.5.2012	19.6.2012
Date adopted	10.7.2012
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	21 0 2
Members present for the final vote	Luigi Berlinguer, Sebastian Valentin Bodu, Françoise Castex, Christian Engström, Marielle Gallo, Giuseppe Gargani, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Sajjad Karim, Klaus-Heiner Lehne, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Antonio Masip Hidalgo, Jiří Maštálka, Alajos Mészáros, Bernhard Rapkay, Evelyn Regner, Francesco Enrico Speroni, Rebecca Taylor, Alexandra Thein, Cecilia Wikström, Tadeusz Zwiefka
Substitute(s) present for the final vote	Piotr Borys, Luis de Grandes Pascual, Eva Lichtenberger, Dagmar Roth-Behrendt, József Szájer, Axel Voss

PROCEDURE

Title	Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): the contribution of the EIT to a more innovative Europe
References	COM(2011)0822 – C7-0462/2011 – 2011/0387(COD)
Date submitted to Parliament	30.11.2011
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	ITRE 13.12.2011
Committee(s) asked for opinion(s)        Date announced in plenary	BUDG 13.12.2011	EMPL 13.12.2011	ENVI 13.12.2011	AGRI 13.12.2011
	CULT 13.12.2011	JURI 13.12.2011
Not delivering opinions        Date of decision	BUDG 28.8.2012	EMPL 16.2.2012	ENVI 20.12.2011	AGRI 20.12.2011
Associated committee(s)        Date announced in plenary	CULT 20.4.2012
Rapporteur(s)        Date appointed	Marisa Matias 20.1.2012
Discussed in committee	23.1.2012	18.6.2012	17.9.2012	8.10.2012
Date adopted	28.11.2012
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	46 0 1
Members present for the final vote	Amelia Andersdotter, Zigmantas Balčytis, Ivo Belet, Jan Březina, Maria Da Graça Carvalho, Giles Chichester, Pilar del Castillo Vera, Dimitrios Droutsas, Christian Ehler, Vicky Ford, Gaston Franco, Adam Gierek, Norbert Glante, András Gyürk, Fiona Hall, Kent Johansson, Romana Jordan, Krišjānis Kariņš, Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, Philippe Lamberts, Bogdan Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, Marisa Matias, Judith A. Merkies, Angelika Niebler, Aldo Patriciello, Herbert Reul, Teresa Riera Madurell, Jens Rohde, Paul Rübig, Amalia Sartori, Salvador Sedó i Alabart, Konrad Szymański, Britta Thomsen, Patrizia Toia, Evžen Tošenovský, Catherine Trautmann, Ioannis A. Tsoukalas, Marita Ulvskog, Alejo Vidal-Quadras
Substitute(s) present for the final vote	Yves Cochet, Cristina Gutiérrez-Cortines, Satu Hassi, Jolanta Emilia Hibner, Seán Kelly, Vladimír Remek, Peter Skinner, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău
Date tabled	17.1.2013