European Commission opens search for first European Innovation Council Board President
- ›The European Commission launched a call for candidates to become the first European Innovation Council Board President.
- ›The position is full time with a four year term that can be renewed once and is open only to nationals of EU Member States.
- ›Key duties include chairing the EIC Board, preparing meetings, creating subgroups to spot portfolio trends, acting as the EIC's public face, and serving as interlocutor with the Commission and Member States.
- ›Deadline for applications was 17 December 2021 at 12.00 noon Brussels time and appointment was expected in the first quarter of 2022.
- ›The role sits at the intersection of EU innovation policy, the EIC Fund investment activities, and the wider European startup ecosystem, raising questions about governance, independence, and strategic influence.
Commission seeks inaugural EIC Board President to lead strategy and outreach
On 17 November 2021 the European Commission opened a public call for candidates to fill the new post of European Innovation Council Board President. The role was created to provide strategic leadership to the European Innovation Council, the EU body that steers high risk high reward innovation funding under Horizon Europe. The post is remunerated as a full time position, limited to a four year term that can be renewed once. Applicants must be nationals of an EU Member State. The Commission set a deadline for applications of 17 December 2021 at 12.00 noon Brussels time and expected to appoint the President in the first quarter of 2022.
Why the role matters
The EIC sits at the forefront of the EU's effort to back breakthrough technologies and scale deep tech startups. Beyond grants the EIC operates an investment arm called the EIC Fund which co-invests with private partners to help companies scale. Creating a single Board President concentrates visible leadership for the EIC's strategy and public profile. That visibility can help the EIC attract applicants, investors, and partners. At the same time the role places one individual at the junction between political steering from the Commission and operational decisions affecting entrepreneurs and investors. That raises legitimate questions about how independent strategic advice will be from political priorities and how the Board will balance risk taking with accountability.
Core duties and expected public role
The Commission set out three headline responsibilities for the EIC Board President. These make the post both an internal governance role and an external ambassadorial role. The description emphasises coordination, visibility and horizon scanning for emerging technologies within the EIC portfolio.
Terms, eligibility and application practicalities
| Item | Detail | Notes |
| Call published | 17 November 2021 | |
| Application deadline | 17 December 2021, 12.00 noon Brussels time | |
| Appointment expected | First quarter of 2022 | |
| Term length | 4 years, renewable once | Full time |
| Eligibility | Nationals of EU Member States | |
| Where to apply | Research and Innovation website of the European Commission | Full announcement and application details on the R&I portal |
What the Commission is likely to be looking for
The job description targets high profile candidates with leadership experience across innovation ecosystems. Practical strengths likely to be prioritised include a track record of scaling technology companies, experience in governance at board level, familiarity with venture financing and public funding instruments, ability to engage with investors and national innovation actors, and credibility with researchers and entrepreneurs across Europe. Experience in translating technical trends into policy relevant strategic priorities will be valuable given the Board role in horizon scanning.
Implications and points for scrutiny
Concentrating public leadership in a Board President can make the EIC easier to recognise and engage with for startups and investors. That advantage comes with trade offs. The position sits between political stewardship by the Commission and the need for independent, expert-driven risk taking. Observers and stakeholders should watch whether the Board President is given genuine strategic autonomy, and how the appointment process safeguards against undue political influence. Equally relevant is how the President will coordinate with the EIC Fund and with EISMEA which executes many EIC operations.
Operational questions also matter. The EIC's portfolio covers diverse technology areas including health, deep tech, energy and space. Effective horizon scanning and subgroup work will require systems to identify cross cutting technology signals rather than simply reinforcing sectoral priorities. The President will need to balance public outreach with rigorous support to startups in areas where the market is still nascent and private capital is scarce.
Next steps for interested candidates
Potential applicants should consult the full announcement and the Research and Innovation portal for application instructions, eligibility checks and any selection criteria. Candidates should be prepared to evidence governance experience, stakeholder networks across the European innovation ecosystem and a clear view of how the EIC can prioritise and scale breakthrough technologies while preserving accountability.
For historical reference the Commission published the opening of this call on 17 November 2021 and set the application deadline as 17 December 2021. The appointment was expected in early 2022. Applicants and stakeholders seeking outcome updates were directed to the R&I website and related EIC channels.