Seeing the work and results of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) in action; this was the purpose of the visit by Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, and Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions, to EIT Digital’s Budapest innovation hub on Monday 29 May.
The visit follows the Hungarian innovation hub becoming a full node in January 2017, offering Budapest, Hungary and the CEE region great opportunities to drive digital transformation and innovation across Europe.
Commissioner Navracsics said: "Today is a reminder both of the talent Europe has to offer and of EIT Digital’s work in nurturing this talent through its valuable educational programmes. Combined with unique pan-European networking; access to knowledge, funding and new markets; the EIT offers a unique pipeline for both budding and existing entrepreneurs across Europe."
President Markkula added: "It is inspiring to be here in Budapest and see the EIT's commitment to boost European human capital, especially focussed on young people and a new innovative future. I fully agree with Commissioner Navracsics that innovation and entrepreneurship in education is vital for Europe's future and the EIT is ideally placed to make this happen. I look forward to joint CoR & EIT collaboration in and for Europe's cities and regions. Together, we can transform great ideas into successful businesses, new jobs and sustainable growth."
Martin Kern, EIT Interim Director, stated: " The EIT is Europe’s largest innovation community, bringing together leading business, research and higher education institutions. EIT Digital and its partners here in Budapest are demonstrating in practice how the investment into the development of entrepreneurial talents pays off as it directly creates the innovations that help to resolve the challenges of tomorrow. I am pleased to be able to introduce Commissioner Navracsics and President Markkula to some of our committed partners and passionate entrepreneurs that give us a glimpse into the future."
Willem Jonker, CEO EIT Digital, concluded: "We are very happy to have Commissioner Navracsics and President Markkula visiting us today given the import role education and regions play in the digital transformation of Europe."
EIT Digital Budapest’s Director, Zoltán Horváth, introduced several of the Node’s partners to the visitors. Csaba Antall, of EIT Digital Partner Ericsson; Antal Kuthy, CEO of E-group, the first Hungarian SME to found an independent research laboratory; and EIT Digital Master student, Dániel Rátai, founder of Leonar3Do, an integrated software and hardware platform capable of creating an entire three-dimensional virtual reality environment.
Source: European Institute of Innovation & Technology