Commission appoints Michiel Scheffer as President of the European Innovation Council Board

The European Commission announced the appointment of Michiel Scheffer as President of the Board of the European Innovation Council. The announcement was published on 29 March 2023 and the Commission later updated the page on 1 June 2023. The EIC is an EU initiative created under the Horizon Europe programme with more than ten billion euros earmarked to support and scale breakthrough technologies and disruptive innovation across the Union.

Appointment details and reporting inconsistencies

The Commission's news item names Michiel Scheffer as the new President of the EIC Board. One passage in the text says he started on 1 June 2023. Elsewhere in the same text a different line says that the starting date of his appointment is still to be determined. The page was updated on 1 June 2023 which suggests the earlier uncertainty was addressed. Readers and stakeholders should note this internal inconsistency and look to the Commission's updated notices or the EIC secretariat for the definitive start date.

What the EIC Board does

Board members including the President are selected following an open call for expressions of interest. The Board operates as a strategic steering body. Operational management of EIC programmes and financial instruments is handled through the Commission services and the executive agency responsible for implementing the EIC.

Michiel Scheffer's career and expertise

Scheffer, a Dutch national, brings a varied profile that spans private sector entrepreneurship, academic research and public office. The Commission text highlights more than 20 years of professional experience in the innovation field and a track record working with universities, companies and public authorities across Europe.

Why the appointment matters for EU innovation policy

The EIC plays a central role in the European innovation policy architecture. It is designed to identify and help scale high risk high impact technologies that can become European champions. With a budget above ten billion euros the EIC is one of the EU's largest explicit bets on deep tech. The Board President is an influential voice in setting strategic priorities and shaping how the Commission and implementing agencies invest time and resources.

Governance and potential conflicts of interest

Scheffer's commercial activities as founder and CEO of advisory and investment firms are relevant to his new role. EU appointments for advisory and governing posts commonly include transparency requirements and conflict of interest rules which may require recusal from decisions where personal interests are involved. The Commission did not provide details in the announcement about how such rules will be applied in this appointment. Observers and stakeholders should expect public declarations of interest and clarity on any operational safeguards to avoid undue private gain from publicly steered funding decisions.

Implications for stakeholders and the wider ecosystem

For start ups, researchers and investors the appointment signals the Commission's preference for leaders who combine private sector experience with academic credentials and public service. Scheffer's background across advisory, investment and public roles suggests an emphasis on translating research into marketable products. That said the EIC Board is advisory. Final implementation choices rest with Commission services and the executive agency that runs EIC calls and awards.

For policymakers and civil society the combination of influence and private sector ties requires robust transparency. The EIC's mission to back high risk innovation will raise questions about selection criteria, the balance between grants and equity style instruments and how public money is used to attract follow on private capital.

Practical next steps and sources

Readers who want authoritative confirmation of the start date, the full Board membership list, or Scheffer's declared interests should consult the EIC news pages, the Commission's press releases and the EISMEA website which implements EIC activities. The Commission page that carried the announcement was updated on 1 June 2023 and remains the starting point for official information.

This article restructures and clarifies the Commission announcement and adds context about governance and the EIC's role in the EU innovation ecosystem. The account preserves the substantive facts reported by the Commission while pointing to areas where further documentation is relevant for accountability and transparency.