EIC doubles in-house programme manager team, appoints four domain leads for space, quantum, construction AI and agrifood
- ›The European Innovation Council has appointed four new Programme Managers, expanding the team from four to eight.
- ›New managers cover space, quantum technologies and electronics, construction and artificial intelligence, and food and agri tech.
- ›Programme Managers are senior, fixed term experts who build strategic visions and actively manage portfolios of EIC-funded projects.
- ›EIC says the appointments strengthen proactive portfolio management, but practical impact will depend on coordination, resources and follow through.
EIC expands programme management capacity with four new domain leads
On 4 April 2022 the European Innovation Council announced the appointment of four new Programme Managers. The recruits bring the in-house Programme Manager complement from four to eight. The new managers will lead portfolio and vision work in space, quantum technologies and electronics, construction and artificial intelligence, and food and agri tech. The EIC described the move as expanding its capacity to build sectoral visions and to take a more proactive approach to managing EIC-funded portfolios of projects.
Who the new Programme Managers are
| Name | Portfolio | Background highlights |
| Franc Mouwen | Architecture, engineering and construction technologies and AI | MSc Mechanical Engineering from TU Delft, former project manager for major tunnel boring systems, MBA from IMD, experience founding and joining deep tech construction startups. Focus on technology scouting and venture building for the construction sector of the future. |
| Samira Nik | Quantum technologies and electronics | Appointed as Programme Manager for quantum tech and electronics. Selection was based on competitive process and field expertise. Public EIC material lists her portfolio but provides limited biographical detail in the initial announcement. |
| Ivan Stefanic | Food chain technologies, novel and sustainable food | Over 30 years in business development and technology transfer. Founder and director of TERA TEHNOPOLIS Ltd. Academic posts in agribusiness economics and entrepreneurship. Extensive experience with EU initiatives including EEN and EIT Food. Active in outreach, speaker and podcast contributor on agrifood topics. |
| Stela Tkatchova | Space systems and technologies | PhD in aerospace engineering from TU Delft. Experience at ESA ESTEC on Galileo and ISS, project and commercialization manager in European space industry, cofounder of a space startup, editor and founder of a space technology journal, author on commercialisation of space technology and in-orbit services. |
What an EIC Programme Manager does
Programme Managers work closely with EIC Project Officers and interact with the EIC Board and the EIC President. They are appointed for limited terms, normally up to four years, and are subject to conflict of interest and confidentiality rules. The EIC emphasised that appointments followed a highly competitive selection procedure focused on domain expertise and an ability to build visions for future breakthroughs.
Selection, governance and safeguards
The EIC recruited the new Programme Managers through an open and competitive selection process. Appointees join for a fixed term of up to four years. They are supported administratively and operationally by EIC Project Officers. The EIC also underscored that Programme Managers must respect strict rules on conflicts of interest and confidentiality. In practice this means appointed experts cannot use privileged project information for outside benefits and their interactions with portfolios are governed by internal safeguards.
How Programme Managers fit into the EU innovation architecture
Programme Managers are part of a broader attempt by the EIC and its implementing agency to manage breakthrough innovation more actively. They are intended to link EIC instruments such as Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator with other EU actors including the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, the European Research Council, Member State initiatives and private investors. The EIC aims to combine funding decisions with active curation of project portfolios so as to increase the odds of disruptive technologies moving to market.
Implications and caveats
Doubling the number of Programme Managers increases in-house capacity for horizon scanning and for curated portfolio work. That said, capacity alone does not guarantee outcomes. The effectiveness of PMs will depend on how much decision making authority they have, the resources allocated to portfolio activities, and the quality of coordination with project officers, EU agencies, Member States, regional bodies and private investors. Measuring the added value of PM led portfolio management will require clear performance indicators and transparent reporting on portfolio outcomes over time.
The EIC press material also noted the appointment of the first two female Programme Managers among the new recruits. That statement reflects the announcement narrative at the time and highlights diversity as a stated objective. Observers should note that the broader EIC programme manager roster and subsequent appointments have continued to evolve. Gender balance and diversity in senior positions remain recurring themes across EU innovation programmes and require sustained attention beyond single hiring rounds.
Practical next steps and where to find more
Programme Managers are expected to engage with EIC-funded projects, organise challenge calls and portfolio activities, and take part in outreach to national contact points, investors and ecosystem partners. The EIC publishes interviews with several Programme Managers and runs Tech Talks and podcasts where PMs explain priorities and challenges in their sectors. Readers who want to follow portfolio level work should monitor EIC challenge pages, EIC Pathfinder and Accelerator calls, and EIC outreach events managed by the EISMEA agency.
| Resource | Purpose | Where to look |
| EIC Programme Managers profiles | Backgrounds and portfolio descriptions for individual PMs | EIC website 'Programme Managers' section and PM profile pages |
| EIC Pathfinder and Accelerator calls | Funding opportunities that PMs help curate and manage | Funding and Tenders Portal and EIC calls pages |
| EIC Tech Talks and Podcasts | Deeper discussions from PMs on technology trends and portfolio thinking | EIC media and podcast pages |
Bottom line
The appointment of four new Programme Managers in April 2022 signalled the EIC's intent to invest in internal domain expertise and in more proactive portfolio stewardship. The move widens the range of technology areas covered by in-house PMs and aims to strengthen links to investors and national innovation actors. Whether this structural change accelerates the path from breakthrough research to scalable innovation will depend on execution, coordination and on measurable follow through across EIC portfolios.