45 Amendments of Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA related to 2019/0151(COD)
Amendment 107 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The EIT, primarily through its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (‘KICs’), should aim at strengthening innovation ecosystems that tackle global challenges. It should primarily have the objective of contributing to the development of the Union’s and the Member States’ talent, entrepreneurial and innovation capacity, at the highest standardss well as improving the Union’s position in the global innovation landscape. In order to achieve this objective, the EIT should facilitate and enhance networking and cooperation and create synergies between different innovation communities in Europe.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The strategic priority fields and financial needs for the EIT for a period of seven years , covering the respective Multiannual Financial Framework (‘MFF’), should be laid down in a Strategic Innovation Agenda ( ‘SIA’). The SIA should ensure alignment with the Union fHorizon Europe - the Framework pProgramme supporting rfor Research and iInnovation (‘Horizon Europe’) and foster synergies with other relevant Union programmes of the MFF as well as with other Union initiatives, policies and instruments, in particular with those supporting education and regional development. Given the importance of the SIA for the Union innovation policy and the resulting political significance of its socio-economic impact for the Union, the SIA should be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of a Commission proposal based on a contribution provided by the EIT.
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In line with the Union framework programme supporting research and innovationHorizon Europe, the activities of the EIT should address strategic long-term challenges for innovation in Europe, particularly in trans- and/or inter-disciplinary areas including those already identified at European level. In so doing, the EIT should promote periodic dialogue with civil society.
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The EIT should give priority to the transfer of its higher education, research and innovation and entrepreneurial activities to the business context and their commercial application, as well as to supporting the creation of start-ups, spin- offs and small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs).
Amendment 125 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The EIT should primarily operate through excellence-driven and autonomous large-scale European Partnerships of higher education institutions, research organisations, companies and other stakeholders in the form of sustainable and long-term self-supporting strategic networks in the innovation process. Those partnerships should be selected by the Governing Board of the EIT on the basis of a transparent and excellence-based process , in accordance with the criteria of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovationHorizon Europe for the selection of European Partnerships, and designated as KICs.
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Taking into account the specificity of KICs, it is necessary to provide for special minimum conditions to form a KIC, derogating from the rules for participation and dissemination of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovationHorizon Europe. Similarly, specific rules on ownership, access rights, exploitation and dissemination may be necessary for KIC added-value activities.
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The Governing Board should also steer the activities of the EIT and coordinate the reporting, monitoring and evaluation of the activities of the KICs in line with the provisions of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation Horizon Europe. Membership of the Governing Board should balance experience from the business and the higher education and/or research worlds as well as from the innovation sector.
Amendment 135 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to contribute to the competitiveness and to reinforce the international attractiveness of the European economy and its innovation and entrepreneurial capacity, the EIT and the KICs should be able to attract partner organisations, researchers and students from all over the world, including by encouraging their mobility, as well as to cooperate with third-country organisations, while ensuring a gender-balanced approach.
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) There is a need to support higher education as an integral, but often missing, component of a comprehensive innovation strategy. The framework partnership agreements or grant agreements between the EIT and KICs should provide that the degrees and diplomas awarded through the KICs should be awarded by participating higher education institutions, which should be encouraged to label them also as EIT degrees and diplomas. In addition, the EIT should strengthen and widen the scope of the EIT- labelled degrees and diplomas in order to increase their recognition and outside the EIT Community. Through its activities and work, the EIT should help promote mobility for students, researchers and staff, as well as provide opportunities for lifelong learning, mentoring and coaching . All those activities should be carried out without prejudice to Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council13 . _________________ 13Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 22). Directive as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1430/2007 (OJ L 320, 6.12.2007, p. 3).
Amendment 143 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) It is expected that industry, the finance and service sectors will contribute significantly to the budget of the KICs. The KICs should aim at maximising the share of contributions from the private sector and actively work from early on towards achieving financial sustainability . The KICs and their partner organisations should publicise the fact that their activities are undertaken in the context of the EIT and that they receive a financial contribution from the general budget of the Union. Furthermore, transparency of the funding should be increased by providing publicly available information on which projects are funded and on allocation of the funding.
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 a (new)
Recital 16 a (new)
(16 a) While innovation and close-to- market activities of the KICs should be financially sustainable at the earliest possible date and in any event within 15 years of their establishment, the higher education, training and horizontally- structured activities of KICs should have the possibility to continue receiving financial support from the EIT under strict conditions. To that end, a possible extension of the Framework Partnership Agreement, which should be limited in scope, time and budget, may be decided by the EIT Governing Board after thorough evaluation by independent experts.
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) It is appropriate that the Commission initiate independent, external evaluations of the operation of the EIT, including the KICs , in particular with a view to preparing the SIA. Those evaluations should examine how the EIT fulfils its mission, cover all activities of the EIT and KICs and should assess their relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, European added value, openness, communication, visibility, dissemination of results and coherence. Those evaluations should feed into the Commission programme evaluations provided for in the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation.
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20 a (new)
Recital 20 a (new)
(20 a) It is essential to promote strong synergies between the EIT and the European Innovation Council. KICs should stimulate the creation of innovative companies in close synergy and complementarity with the EIC, and EIT beneficiaries should be able to apply to the EIC instruments for support additional to the services provided by the EIT KICs; Startups with a high growth potential supported by KICs may have a more direct access to EIC actions in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Horizon Europe in order to help them scale-up rapidly.
Amendment 159 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20 b (new)
Recital 20 b (new)
(20 b) Synergies of the EIT, through its KICs, with Cohesion Policy Funds shall be strengthened in order to promote regional and cross-regional cooperation between the knowledge triangle actors (education, research, business) and managing authorities, as well as to increase the overall impact and visibility of the EIT.
Amendment 162 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) ‘Knowledge and Innovation Community’ (KIC) means an autonomous large-scale European partnership of higher education institutions, research organisations, companies and other stakeholders in the innovation process in the form of a strategic network, regardless of its precise legal form, based on joint mid- to long-term innovation planning to meet the EIT challenges and contribute to attaining the objectives established under the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation Horizon Europe;
Amendment 164 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
(2 a) 'KIC co-location centre' means a physical space, established in an open and transparent manner and covering a geographical area, where a KIC’s knowledge triangle partners can easily interact, providing the focal point for the KIC’s activity in that area;
Amendment 168 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 b (new)
Amendment 171 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 c (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 c (new)
(2 c) 'EIT country liaison officers network' means a network of national representatives nominated by the governments of the Member States and by countries associated to Horizon Europe, part of the National Contact Points for Horizon Europe, tasked with facilitating a more structured dissemination of opportunities, results and achievements emerging from the EIT Community and encourages the exchange of knowledge, advice and best practice, in line with the EIT’s institute function;
Amendment 180 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8
(8) ‘Regional Innovation Scheme’ (or ‘RIS’) means an outreach scheme targeted at establishing partnerships between higher education institutions, research organisations, companies and other stakeholders, in order to foster innovation across the Unionlow R&I performing countries as identified in Article 2, point (15a) of Regulation [xxx] establishing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation as well as in Moderate and Modest Innovator countries (and regions in those countries) according to the European Innovation Scoreboard with the aim to foster innovation across the Union and to bridge regional disparities thus mitigating the innovation divide;
Amendment 195 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
The EIT’s mission is to contribute toboost sustainable Union economic growth and competitiveness by reinforcing the innovation capacity of the Member States and the Union in order to address major challenges faced by the society. It shall do this by promoting synergies and cooperation among, and integrating, higher education, research and innovation of the highest standards, including by fostering entrepreneurship.
Amendment 198 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
The EIT shall contribute to deliver on the general and specific objectives of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovationHorizon Europe.
Amendment 203 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The SIA shall define the priority fields and strategy for the EIT for the seven-year period concerned, taking into account the Union framework programme supporting research and innovationHorizon Europe, and shall include an assessment of its socioeconomic impact and its capacity to generate the best innovation added-value. The SIA shall take into account the results of the monitoring and evaluation of the EIT as referred to in Article 19.
Amendment 207 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. The SIA shall be aligned with the objectives of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovationHorizon Europe, the strategic multiannual planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation and other requirements of that programme, and foster synergies with other relevant Union programmes of the respective MFF, in particular with those supporting education and regional development. It shall also establish appropriate synergies and complementarities between the EIT activities and other Union initiatives , policies and instruments .
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) a Governing Board composed of high-level members experienced in higher education, research, innovation and business, as well as a common member with the European Innovation Council.. It shall be responsible for steering the activities of the EIT, for the selection, designation , monitoring and evaluation of the KICs, and for all other strategic decisions;
Amendment 225 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) raise awareness and ensure openness among potential new partner organisations and encourage their participation in its activities;
Amendment 227 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) select and designate KICs in the priority fields in accordance with Article 9 and define their rights and obligations by framework partnership agreements and grant agreements , provide them with appropriate support, apply appropriate quality control measures and continuously monitor and periodically evaluate their activities and their steps towards achieving financial sustainability;
Amendment 232 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) widen the scope and strengthen the recognition and visibility outside the EIT Community of degrees and diplomas which are awarded by participating higher education institutions and which mayshall be labelled EIT degrees and diplomas and extend them to lifelong learning programmes with emphasis on upskilling, reskilling and development of digital and entrepreneurial skills, while ensuring a gender-balanced approach;
Amendment 246 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
(k a) establish a dedicated network of country liaison officers, as part of the National Contact Points for Horizon Europe, in order to facilitate a more structured dissemination of the opportunities, results and achievements emerging from the EIT Community, as well as encourage the mutual transfer of knowledge, advice and best practice in line with the EIT’s function;
Amendment 248 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point l
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point l
(l) design and coordinate support actions undertaken by the KICs for the development of entrepreneurial and innovation capacity of higher education institutions from across Europe and their integration in innovation ecosystems. In close collaboration with the Commission, the EIT shall design and launch a pilot to support the development of innovation capacity in higher education, which shall be implemented through the KICs. External experts shall conduct an evaluation of the pilot phase and based on the results, the Governing Board shall decide whether the action should be continued and scaled up or discontinued.
Amendment 258 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) innovation activities and investments with European added value , including the support to the creation and development of innovative start-ups and innovative businesses, fully integrating the higher education and research dimensions to attain a critical mass and stimulating the dissemination and exploitation of results;
Amendment 263 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) education and training activities in particular at masters and doctoral level, with strong entrepreneurial components, as well as professional training courses, in disciplines with the potential to meet future European socio-economic needs and which expand the Union’s talent base, promote the development of innovation-related skills, the improvement of managerial and entrepreneurial skills and the mobility of researchers and students, and foster knowledge-sharing, mentoring and networking among the recipients of EIT- labelled degrees and training, while ensuring a gender-balanced approach;
Amendment 276 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) ensure their openness to new memberspartners, through open calls, whenever they add value to the partnership;
Amendment 288 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. The relationship between the EIT and each KIC shall be based on framework partnership agreements and multi-annual grant agreements and on a well-defined long-term collaboration strategy.
Amendment 292 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The rules for participation and dissemination of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovationHorizon Europe shall apply. By way of derogation from those rules:
Amendment 296 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. A partnership shall be selected and designated by the EIT to become a KIC following a competitive, open and transparent procedure. The criteria of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovationHorizon Europe for the selection of European partnerships shall apply. The EIT Governing Board may further specify those criteria, by adopting and publishing criteria for the selection of KICs based on the principles of excellence and innovation relevance..
Amendment 303 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 5
Article 9 – paragraph 5
5. The EIT shall adopt and publish criteria and procedures for financing, monitoring and evaluating the activities of the KICs, as well as put in place a financial sustainability strategy with clear requirements for existing and new KICs, prior to the launching of the selection procedure for new KICs. The Member States’ Representatives Group referred to in Article 6(k) and the European Parliament shall be promptly informed of them.
Amendment 309 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
The EIT shall, on the basis of indicators set out, inter alia, in the Union framework programme supporting research and innovationHorizon Europe and in the SIA, and in close cooperation with the Commission, organise continuous monitoring and periodic external evaluations of the output, results and impact, impact and steps taken towards achieving financial sustainability of each KIC. The results of such monitoring and evaluations shall be reported to the European Parliament and to the Council and shall be made public.
Amendment 313 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. Subject to thpositive outcome of a comprehensive mid-term review by independent external experts before the expiry of the initial period of seven years, he Governing Board may decide to extend the framework partnership agreement with a KIC beyond the initial period for another period of a maximum of seven years or to discontinue the EIT’s financial contribution and not to extend the framework partnership agreement. The Governing Board shall take into account in particular the achieved level of financial sustainability of a KIC, its capacity to ensure openness to new membpartners and its success in attracting new partners, as well as the limits of the Union financial contribution referred to in Article 20 and relevance with regard to the objectives of the EIT.
Amendment 319 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 4
Article 11 – paragraph 4
4. Subject to the outcome of a final review before the expiry of the fourteenth year of the framework partnership agreement, the EIT may conclude a memorandum of cooperation with a KIC or under strict conditions the EIT Governing Board may decide a possible extension of the Framework Partnership Agreement, after thorough evaluation by independent experts. The extension shall be limited in scope, time and budget.
Amendment 322 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. Degrees and diplomas relating to the higher education activities referred to in point (c) of Article 7(1) shall be awarded by participating higher education institutions in accordance with national rules and accreditation procedures. The framework partnership agreements and grant agreements between the EIT and the KICs shall provide that these degrees and diplomas mayshall also be labelled EIT degrees and diplomas.
Amendment 340 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2
2. The EIT shall adopt a consolidated annual activity report , which shall include comprehensive information on the activities conducted by the EIT and the KICs during the preceding calendar year and on the EIT’s contribution to the objectives of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovationHorizon Europe, and to the Union innovation, research and education policies and objectives. It shall also assess the results with respect to the objectives, indicators and timetable set, the risks associated with the activities carried out, the use of resources and the general operation of the EIT. The consolidated annual activity report shall include further comprehensive information in accordance with the EIT’s financial rules.
Amendment 342 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2
Article 19 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall provide for evaluations of the EIT with the assistance of independent experts selected on the basis of a transparent process in accordance with its financial rules . Those evaluations shall examine how the EIT fulfils its mission, cover all activities of the EIT and the KICs and assess the European added value of the EIT, the impact, effectiveness, sustainability, efficiency and relevance of the activities pursued and their coherence and/or complementarity with relevant national and Union policies , including synergies with other parts of the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation . They shall take into account the views of stakeholders, at both European and national level and feed into the Commission programme evaluations provided for in the Union framework programme supporting research and innovation Horizon Europe.
Amendment 348 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The Union contribution mayshall be provided through a financial contribution from the Union framework programme supporting research and innovationHorizon Europe and other Union programmes, without prejudice to the amounts decided in the respective MFF.
Amendment 353 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – section 1 – point 1 – introductory part
Annex I – section 1 – point 1 – introductory part
1. The Governing Board shall be composed of 15 members, appointed by the Commission, providing a balance between those with experience in business, higher education and research. Additionally, there should be a common member with the EIC. The term of office of the members of the Governing Board shall be four years . The Commission may extend that term of office once by a two- year period on the proposal of the Governing Board .
Amendment 374 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – section 6 – point 1
Annex I – section 6 – point 1
1. The staff of the EIT shall consist of personnel employed directly by the EIT . The Staff Regulations, the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants and the rules adopted by agreement between the institutions of the Union for giving effect to them shall apply to the staff of the EIT. As a transitional measure, this provision shall apply to the staff of the EIT whose contracts expire in 2020.