Members of the European Parliament meet the EIT Community to discover groundbreaking innovations for sustainable Europe

Last week, a delegation of MEPs from the Industry Committee met with representatives of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), in Hungary and Austria, from Monday to Wednesday.

The delegation, led by Maria da Graça Carvalho (EPP, PT), discussed how the EIT contributes to the fabric of European innovation. Discussions focused on the work and functioning of the EIT, including its governance structure and funding models. Members were also interested in the impact that the Institute is having on European innovation ecosystems and citizens’ lives, in particular in the societal, digital, manufacturing and climate dimensions. The delegation took place in the context of the new legislative proposal for the EIT legislative package (2021-2027) under the Horizon Europe, research and innovation framework programme.

The European Parliament has always been a strong supporter of the EIT. Our task, as co-legislators, is now to ensure that the EIT can continue its work and step up its ambitions while strengthening transparency, openness and geographical balance.

Maria da Graça Carvalho, Member of the European Parliament

During its three-day visit to Budapest and Vienna, the delegation met with Dirk Jan van Der Berg, Chair of the EIT Governing Board, Martin Kern, Director of the EIT, as well as Andreas Klossek, Interim CEO, COO, Managing Director of EIT RawMaterials, together with CEOs from the various EIT Innovation Communities, innovators, partners and students. The delegation concluded with a visit to the Austrian Institute of Technology.

The delegation was composed of members András Gyürk (EPP, HU) Edina Tóth (EPP, HU), Maria Manuel Marques Leitão (S&D, PT), Ivo Hristov (S&D, BG), Susana Solís Pérez (RENEW, ES), Ivars Ijabs (RENEW, LV), Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel (GREENS/ALE, DE,) and Andrea Caroppo (IT, ID).