Innovation Europe > News > Innovation EU Vol2-1 > European Institute of Innovation & Technology

Gerard de Nazelle, Director, EIT

Who among us still remembers the pre-internet days and how we used to access information? Every click today on the blue link of a web page is a leap of faith and never in the history of mankind have we had so much knowledge on the state of the planet and on the needs and aspirations of people.

Long before the birth of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) – and of its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), on future information and communication society, the EIT ICT Labs KIC) – a mysterious club nobody had heard of published a report, “Limits of Growth” (1972). This report became world famous and the subject of heated debates, an indication that its message was not only controversial, but was perhaps also supremely recognisable: the Club de Rome was born.

Based on “systems dynamics”, a technique developed by scientists of high repute at the MIT, “Limits” used a large-scale computer model to investigate five major trends of global concern – accelerated industrialisation; rapid population growth; widespread malnutrition; depletion of non-renewable resources; and a deteriorating environment.

“Limits” and its model’s determinant characteristic of exponential growth coupled with fixed limits, reached two main conclusions: first, that “the limits to growth will be reached within the next one hundred years … if present trends … remain unchanged”, which will precipitate a sudden collapse of the economic and social structures. The second finding was actually an optimistic outlook on how easily these limits to growth can be altered if we act in a timely fashion, rather than attempt to change too late.

So, what is the link between “Limits” and the European Institute of Innovation & Technology ? It probably begins with the common perception of a problem and a shared sense of urgency to innovate faster and better to address the unprecedented challenges that Europe and the world are facing: the world is now 30 years into the Club de Rome’s 100-year view. The world has grown exponentially (population, energy, GDP, and so on) as fast as “Limits” warned – it accurately predicted the widening gap between the rich and the poor (from 35/65 to 20/80 in three decades) and increased environmental concerns.

Meanwhile, how has Europe responded to these challenges and pushed factors for accelerated innovation? Despite very strong capacities in the fields of research, education and business, Europe’s innovation efforts and results often find themselves lagging behind those of others, such as the US, Japan and the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China). Facing stiff competition, Europe very much needs to strengthen the integration of these strong capacities.

This is what the European Institute of Innovation & Technology is about: the European Institute of Innovation & Technology work is to build on existing exceptional European capacities (research, higher education and business, the so-called knowledge triangle) and to be the catalyst that combines the key actors of the knowledge triangle more effectively to create webs of innovation through the KICs, in their co-location centres and under their strong leadership.

The European Institute of Innovation & Technology itself was set up to narrow Europe’s widely acknowledged innovation gap by bringing together the various actors within the knowledge triangle. The European Institute of Innovation & Technology has adopted an entirely novel approach to innovation at EU level with its focus on achieving maximum effect in promoting and enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness.

The European Institute of Innovation & Technology could potentially be the tiny mouse in Pamela Allen’s lovely book Who Sank the Boat? or like Lorenz’s butterfly, flapping its wings in Asia today and transforming a storm system in the Atlantic next month, or, more modestly, like the drop of water that makes the bucket overflow. As a good catalyst, we aim to be the small and quick change that can have a real impact on larger systems – on innovation performance and creation of value.

However, more is needed as society as a whole must be involved. Public debates and increased involvement of people are key, since bringing about the drastic change Europe needs is not possible unless people from every part of society are involved. Thus, information and communication means, such as Innovation Europe, which spur discussion and help relay information about the latest developments in the innovation field, are very welcome.

The European Institute of Innovation & Technology acts as an “ice-breaker” within the European innovation landscape. It is not only a risk-taking initiative, but it is also bold in the way it experiments and tests out new ideas, concepts and delivery mechanisms. Indeed, it aims to become the catalyst for a step change in the European Community’s innovation capacity and impact.

The European Institute of Innovation & Technology relentlessly focuses on results and outcome: our operational culture is about “can do, results, speed and simplicity”, and this is clearly illustrated by the selection of the first three Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) and the integration of the knowledge triangle within their co-location centres. (For more information about this exciting development, please refer to “The EIT shaping its first KICs” article in this edition.)

Finally, the free flow of knowledge is a crucial element of an innovative Europe and as an experiment, the European Institute of Innovation & Technology believes that sharing its learning is extremely important. As such, the European Institute of Innovation & Technology is committed to disseminating best practices and engaging with its stakeholders.

Provided that we recognise and accept the many challenges ahead, that we build entrepreneurship as the “glue” that holds the knowledge triangle together, that we continuously learn and improve and that we act and deliver, the European Institute of Innovation & Technology and the KICs will then contribute to the changing European innovation landscape and will, thus, play a role in shaping the future of Europe.

For more information, contact:
Gérard de Nazelle, Director
European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT)
InfoPark – Building E
Neumann János utca 1
1117 Budapest – Hungary
Tel: +361 4819 300
Website: www.eit.europa.eu