EDUCATION/RESEARCH: COMMISSION TO OUTLINE PLANS FOR FUTURE EUROPEAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.

The creation of an EIT was raised in the context of the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy presented a year ago by the Commission and adopted at the informal Hampton Court Summit in October 2005.

Research focusing on the business world.

The central aim set by the European Commission for the EIT is to place industrial and business considerations at the heart of research. This objective is very present in the three missions assigned to the EIT: education, research and innovation. The institute will aim to attract students and postgraduates and provide training at the highest level by a European elite, focusing above all on industrial development and developing "key links to the business world" to ensure that "research efforts reflect market needs".

Public-private funding.

The Commission advocates public-private funding which would mark a break with the current "essentially public funding of universities". The development of merit-based remuneration systems has also been put forward. The EIT should "promote a culture of excellence with incentives focusing on objectives and encouraging more effective partnership with industry". This would represent a break with the current culture where "the excellence of results is not the key factor in determining remuneration or promotion for those working in universities and research centres".

A loose structure.

The Commission feels the EIT's structure should be relatively loose. Europe Information is reliably informed that it will have about ten staff guiding the work of researchers. The driving force behind the EIT will be its board of administration which will determine the institute's strategic priorities and excellence...