Organisational Model

EAI was created by leaders from industry, research, and policy making organisations to engage the global community with the shared goal of securing Europe’s future competitiveness through innovation. By harnessing the potential of the ICT revolution, EAI engages the global community in all sectors of society to explore ways in which innovation in technology and business can benefit society at large.

EAI combines vision and advocacy of society leaders with a grassroots democratic participative model, functioning together through innovative web tools covering all stages of the innovation cycle to build a new and sustainable innovation paradigm.

The EAI Model is composed of two main bodies interacting and cooperating through the innovation cycle:

  • The Strategic Forum representing the EAI advocacy body composed of leading institutions
  • The EAI Community consisting of individual contributors and participants in EAI innovation activities

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The Strategic Forum and EAI Community share the EAI Innovation processes through the Innovation Cycle. The Innovation Cycle covers six key activity segments that EAI considers to be founding steps of successful innovation:

  1. Education and professional enhancement
  2. Dissemination and personal recognition
  3. Research and technology transfer
  4. Policy and Regulation
  5. Funding and business development
  6. Market trends and society

The Innovation Cycle activities and services are supported by web-based guided cooperation leading to shared participation of institutions and individual promoting innovation through participation.

EAI Strategic Forum

The Strategic Forumis the main advocacy body of the EAI. It provides guidelines on European innovation strategy, goals and policies, and represents the EAI institutional members. The Strategic Forum is composed of the following bodies:

  • The EAI General Assembly representing EAI member institutions organised into five clusters consisting of Institutional stakeholders, non-profit Affiliated organisations, Corporations, SMEs and International Cooperation partners. The Assembly evaluates and approves EAI forum recommendations for setting the overall strategic goals and innovation agenda.
  • The Steering Board consisting of representatives of the five clusters headed by the Chair of the Strategic Forum. It is responsible for the agenda and meeting coordination of the Assembly, and for guiding the overall activities and communication of the Forum. 
  • The Advisory Board, consistent with EAI’s mission to contribute to technology, business and the improvement of human condition by harnessing ICT technology progress, is composed of world leaders in all walks of life. The Advisory Board’s role is to provide guidance, advice and advocacy on key strategic decisions of EAI. 
  • The Innovation Academy is the highest professional recognition organ of EAI, identifying and rewarding Innovation Excellence through Awards in the six segments of the Innovation Cycle. 
  • The Innovation Cycle Working Groups focus on the respective segments of the EAI Innovation Cycle. Each group consists of the respective Vice Chairs of the Community SIBs and is responsible for defining guidelines for the activities to be carried out by the EAI Community within the Innovation Cycle scope. Each Working Group is led by a mentor organisation.

EAI Community

The EAI Community is organised into thematic interest groups called Science, Innovation and Business Technology Councils (SIBs). The SIBs form the “working platforms” of EAI’s grassroots participation. SIBs web tools and meetings serve as the point of development and interaction for individuals participating in EAI activities and initiatives, and act as access points for EAI member organisations interested in contributing a service or supporting an activity in the Innovation Cycle. The participation in SIB activities occurs through the Innovation Cycle, Portals and SIB summits, and can be augmented by additional activities as approved by individual SIBs. EAI Community is composed of the following bodies:

  • SIB Chairs Panel The SIB Chairs Panel is made up of Chairpersons from all SIBs and is responsible for coordinating SIBs interaction, communication and coordination with the EAI Forum and EAI Administration.
  • SIB Organising Committee The SIB Organising Committee consists of the Chair, Deputy Chairs and six Vice Chairs guiding the respective Innovation Cycle segments. The Organising Committee is responsible for the operation of each SIB to promote innovation excellence through member participation.
  • Activity Committee The Activity Committee consists of members responsible for the coordination and the support of the activities falling within each Vice Chair’s segment area of the SIB.

EAI Administration

The EAI Administration is responsible for the support of the EAI initiative, for the professional management of EAI activities and for overall EAI administration in all procedural, legal, executive, financial and secretarial matters. In particular, it is responsible for the definition and adherence of the participants to the established procedures of the Strategic Forum and the professional and ethical conduct of EAI community members, adhering to the rules, regulations and membership procedures of the organisation. Through its management oversight of activities, functions and procedures, the EAI Administration is responsible for guaranteeing sustainability through fiscally responsible operation.

In its organisational and administrative functions, the EAI Administration is supported by the Secretariat and Technical Support units.

The Secretariat is assigned the responsibility of supporting, representing and promoting the Strategic Forum and EAI Community on all internal and external administrative matters.
The Technical Support unit provides the necessary development and support of the advanced community web tools, services and operations management.

 
 

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