Decision (EU) 2021/820 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 on the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) 2021-2027: Boosting the Innovation Talent and Capacity of Europe and repealing Decision No 1312/2013/EU (Text with EEA relevance)

• Published date: 28 May 2021
• Date of Signature: 20 May 2021
• Official Gazette Publication: Official Journal of the European Union, L 189, 28 May 2021

28.5.2021 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 189/91

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DECISION (EU) 2021/820 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 20 May 2021

on the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) 2021-2027: Boosting the Innovation Talent and Capacity of Europe and repealing Decision No 1312/2013/EU

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 173(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (2),

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EU) 2021/819 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), and in particular Article 4 thereof, provides for the adoption of a Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA).

(2) The SIA should set out the priority fields and the strategy for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for the seven-year period concerned in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4), should establish the EIT’s key actions and should include an assessment of the EIT’s expected social, economic and environmental impact, its outreach activities and its capacity to generate best innovation added-value. The SIA should take into account the results of the continuous monitoring and periodic independent evaluation of the EIT.

(3) The SIA should also take into account the strategic planning of Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon Europe), established by Regulation (EU) 2021/695, establish and foster appropriate synergies and complementarities between EIT activities and other relevant Union, national and regional initiatives, instruments and programmes, and ensure consistency with Union priorities and commitments, including those referred to in the communications of the Commission of 11 December 2019 on the European Green Deal, of 27 May 2020 on EU budget powering the recovery plan for Europe (Recovery Plan for Europe), of 19 February 2020 on a European strategy for data, of 10 March 2020 on an SME Strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe and of 10 March 2020 on a New Industrial Strategy for Europe and those related to achieving Europe’s strategic autonomy, while retaining an open economy.

(4) The SIA should include an estimate of financial needs and sources for the future activities of the EIT. It should also include an indicative financial plan covering the period of the relevant multiannual financial framework (MFF).

(5) In order to ensure the continuity of the activities of the EIT and the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) in compliance with the relevant provisions of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, this Decision should enter into force as a matter of urgency and should apply, with retroactive effect, from 1 January 2021.

(6) Since the objectives of this Decision cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of scale and transnationality, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.

(7) Decision No 1312/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (5) should be repealed,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology for the period from 2021 to 2027 (SIA 2021-2027) as set out in the Annex is hereby adopted.

Article 2

SIA 2021-2027 shall be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/819.

Article 3

Decision No 1312/2013/EU is repealed with effect from 1 January 2021.

Article 4

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2021.

Done at Brussels, 20 May 2021.

For the European Parliament

The President

D. M. SASSOLI

For the Council

The President

A. P. ZACARIAS

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(1) OJ C 47, 11.2.2020, p. 69.

(2) Position of the European Parliament of 27 April 2021 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 10 May 2021.

(3) Regulation (EU) 2021/819 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (see page 61 of this Official Journal).

(4) Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and (EU) No 1291/2013 (OJ L 170, 12.5.2021, p. 1)).

(5) Decision No 1312/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): the contribution of the EIT to a more innovative Europe (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 892).

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ANNEX

THE STRATEGIC INNOVATION AGENDA OF THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTE OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD FROM 2021 TO 2027

Table of contents

1. Introduction 94

1.1. Background 94

1.2. Key challenges 95

1.3. Positioning in Horizon Europe 97

2. Raising the bar: EIT strategy and objectives for 2021-2027 98

3. Boosting the Innovation Talent and Capacity of Europe: Key actions 98

3.1. Support for existing KICs 98

3.2. Increasing the regional impact of KICs 99

3.3. Launch of new KICs 100

3.4. Supporting the innovation and entrepreneurial capacity of higher education institutions 101

3.5. EIT cross-cutting activities 102

3.5.1. Communication and dissemination 102

3.5.2. Identify and share good practices with stakeholders 103

3.5.3. International cooperation and global outreach activities 103

3.6. Making it work: mode of operation 104

3.6.1. KIC operational model 104

3.6.2. KIC funding model 105

3.6.3. Reducing the administrative burden 106

3.6.4. EIT relation with KICs after the termination of the partnership agreement 106

3.7. Synergies and complementarities with other Union programmes 106

4. Tackling the crisis resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19 108

5. Resources 108

5.1. Budget needs 108

5.2. Impact (monitoring and evaluation) 109

5.2.1. Reporting and monitoring 109

5.2.2. Evaluation, interim review and comprehensive assessment 111

Appendix 1 112

Appendix 2 115

1. INTRODUCTION

This Strategic Innovation Agenda sets out the priority fields and strategy of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for 2021-2027 (SIA 2021-2027). It establishes the EIT’s objectives, key actions, mode of operation, expected results and impact, as well as an estimate of the resources needed. SIA 2021-2027 ensures the necessary consistency of the EIT with Horizon Europe.

SIA 2021-2027 is informed by an impact assessment carried out by the Commission. It takes into account the draft SIA prepared by the EIT and submitted to the Commission on 20 December 2017, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 294/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1). It also reflects Regulation (EU) 2021/695, and, in particular, the key role of the EIT as part of Pillar III ‘Innovative Europe’ of Horizon Europe, and its contribution to addressing global and societal challenges, including established targets and commitments to climate objectives and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to Pillar I ‘Excellent Science’ and Pillar II ‘Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness’ of Horizon Europe. SIA 2021-2027 builds on the lessons learnt over the previous years of operation of the EIT and the results of a wide consultation process with key stakeholders.

SIA 2021-2027 takes into account the strategic planning of Horizon Europe to ensure consistency with the Horizon Europe activities, as well as synergies with other relevant Union programmes and consistency with Union priorities and commitments, including those related to the European Green Deal, the Recovery Plan for Europe, the European strategy for data, the SME Strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe and the New Industrial Strategy for Europe and those related to achieving the Union’s strategic autonomy, while retaining an open economy. Furthermore, it contributes to tackling global and societal challenges, including the SDGs by following the principles of the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2), and to achieving a net-zero greenhouse gas economy by 2050 at the latest. It also aims to increase complementarity and synergies between the EIT activities and national and regional funding programmes and priorities.

1.1. Background

The EIT was established in 2008 in order to contribute to sustainable economic growth and competitiveness by reinforcing the innovation capacity of the Union and Member States. It pioneered the integration of higher education, research and innovation (the ‘knowledge triangle') together with...