EU Research Commissioner Carlos Moedas is setting up a 12 member expert panel to drum up ideas for the new European Innovation Council (EIC) and help shepherd the council from concept phase to execution.
Interested experts can apply via the Commission’s website before October 28, with the panel due to start work before the end of 2016.
“EU support for innovation must be open to start ups and innovators with the potential to scale up, and reflect their needs. That is why I am setting up this high level group, and invite our leading innovators to put their names forward,” Moedas said.
The Commission wants to create better mechanisms for flushing out and supporting disruptive innovation, providing a single portal for accessing all relevant EU funding programmes. Applicants to the EIC will be assessed and mentored by teams of serial entrepreneurs, start-ups, business angels and venture capitalists.
The new Council is expected to trial next year, with a full-fledged version expected to be established in 2021, the start of the next EU budget cycle.
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