European Commission names 20-member European Innovation Council Board with broad expertise and renewed scrutiny
- ›The Commission appointed 20 members to the renewed European Innovation Council Board, including 15 new appointees and 5 reappointments.
- ›Board composition aims for balance across gender, geography and innovation expertise with 16 nationalities and 50:50 gender representation.
- ›Members were chosen from 951 applicants and will serve two year terms renewable twice; the new Board meets for the first time on 29 January 2026.
- ›The Board will advise the Commission and EISMEA on the strategy and work programme of the EIC, which has a Horizon Europe budget of €10.1 billion.
- ›The appointment raises familiar questions about transparency, potential conflicts of interest, and how the Board will help the EIC become Europe’s deep tech scaling instrument.
Commission appoints new European Innovation Council Board amid ambitions and scrutiny
On 18 December 2025 the European Commission announced the appointment of 20 members to the renewed European Innovation Council Board. The group includes 15 new members and five members whose previous mandates were renewed. The Board, chaired by President Michiel Scheffer, brings together people drawn from academia, entrepreneurship, finance, incubators and ecosystem building. Its stated mission is to guide the EIC to become Europe’s go to instrument for breakthrough innovation and deep tech scale ups while maximising impact and promoting strategic autonomy.
What the appointment covers and the Board’s remit
The Board has an advisory role to the Commission and to the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency known as EISMEA. It advises on overarching strategy, the EIC work programme and the definition of thematic portfolios. The Board may also be consulted on broader innovation policy questions. Members serve in a personal capacity and are appointed for two year terms that can be renewed twice.
| Item | Figure or detail | Notes |
| Total Board members | 20 | Includes 15 new members and 5 renewed members |
| Applicants to call | 951 | Number who applied to the April 2025 call for expressions of interest |
| Gender balance | 50:50 | Equal representation of women and men reported |
| Nationalities represented | 16 | Includes 7 from Horizon Europe widening countries |
| Term length | 2 years | Renewable twice |
| First meeting of renewed Board | 29 January 2026 | Scheduled plenary |
| EIC budget | €10.1 billion | Allocated under Horizon Europe for the EIC lifecycle support |
Who is on the Board
The Commission published the list of appointed members through the EIC and EISMEA channels. The Board is led by President Michiel Scheffer who has held the presidency since 1 June 2023. Members include founders, CEOs, investors, university professors and innovation managers from across Europe. The published membership list contains figures known in the innovation ecosystem such as founders of incubators, VC and deep tech investment leads and senior corporate innovation executives.
Selection process and participation
The 20 members were drawn from the 951 applicants who responded to the April 2025 call for expressions of interest. The Commission and EISMEA emphasised expertise across priority areas such as digital and artificial intelligence, health and biotech, and the Green Deal and energy transition. The Board is intended to reflect diversity of background and geography including representation from Horizon Europe widening countries.
Background on the EIC and context for the Board
The European Innovation Council is the EU’s flagship instrument for backing breakthrough technologies and scaling deep tech startups and SMEs. Established under Horizon Europe the EIC has an allocated budget of €10.1 billion to support game changing innovations across their lifecycle from early research to scale up financing. The EIC comprises multiple programmes and instruments including Pathfinder, Transition, Accelerator and fund elements that combine grants and equity investments.
Why the Board matters and what to watch
A functioning, well governed Board can help the EIC sharpen priorities, channel resources and coordinate public and private stakeholders. That said the appointment raises routine governance questions. How the Board manages conflicts of interest is a persistent issue when many members are active in startups, venture funds, incubators or corporates. Transparency about interests and recusal rules will be important if the Board is asked to provide input on investment portfolios or thematic calls.
Another practical test will be whether the Board can help reduce fragmentation of public support across the EU and improve delivery for scaling deep tech firms. The EIC has been criticised in the past for complexity and for uneven geographic distribution of beneficiaries. The Commission highlights a 50:50 gender balance and representation from 16 nationalities including seven from widening countries. Those are positive markers but they do not by themselves demonstrate changes in outcomes.
Operational details to note
Board plenary meetings are scheduled at a cadence of five to six each year according to EIC governance pages. The newly appointed Board members will meet for the first time on 29 January 2026. Members serve two year mandates with the possibility of two renewals which means an individual could remain in place for up to six years if reappointed.
Implications for innovators and policymakers
For innovators the renewed Board could shape funding priorities and the practical support available to scale ups. For policymakers the Board is a forum to align the EIC with wider EU objectives such as strategic autonomy, industrial competitiveness and the Green Deal. The success of the Board’s advice will be measured by whether it helps the EIC direct funding efficiently, improves access across member states and widens participation to underrepresented regions.
Observers should also follow how the Board interacts with other EU research and innovation bodies such as the European Research Council, the Directorate General for Research and Innovation, national contact points and regional ecosystem actors. Coordination across those actors is necessary to turn strategy into better outcomes for deep tech firms and the broader research to market pipeline.
Where to find more information
The Commission and EISMEA published the appointment notice on 18 December 2025. Full membership lists, Board statements and minutes of meetings are available from the EIC Board pages and EISMEA news feed. The EIC work programmes and EIC Fund documents give further detail on priorities, instruments and funding allocations under Horizon Europe.