'Innovation is not given to systems and formulas. It is given to people-restless, inspired, fascinated individuals with an almost cellular need to change. A machine cannot innovate , because a machine cannot take risks.'

EYIF today gives voice to a community of young innovators and experts that believe in taking risks and the value of shared ideas and professional mentorship.

 
EYIF is of Europe, by Young Innovators, for Innovation and in Europe.

EYIF, launched at the European Parliament on 12 July, 2010 at a joint European Commission, European Parliament and Council of Europe event, intended as a permanent forum, is a natural step into a fruitful and long-standing cooperation between innovators, experts, hosts and companies distributed across Europe in a variety of sectors including independent research institutes, SMEs, industry innovation labs and academia.

In the last 18 Months EYIF has delivered significant achievements including that the European Union signed into budgetary execution in December 2011, EYIF’s borderless mobility and innovation residency programme, the Young Innovators Mobility. This aims to support a minimum of 100 Young Innovators to work on their own idea as a “Young Innovator in Residence”, at a host organisation which could be a large or small company, start-up, laboratory, university, institute, agency or NGO.

Also, EYIF organized the first ever InnotourUSA, a joint EYIF, US Mission to the EU and the US Department of State sponsored program in February 2012 where a delegation of ten European young innovators selected by EYIF through a pan-European competition, toured Silicon Valley, Boston and Washington DC, getting closer insights to America’s Innovation culture and best-practices, to be inspired to improve the Innovation Ecosystems in their communities across Europe.

Finally, EYIF has been selected to co-chair the Transversal Cluster on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, in the framework of the Digital Agenda Action 54, where working jointly with DG INFSO, it will drive and facilitate the public consultations around effective policy-making for Innovation Hubs.

The Innovators in the forum participate come from diverse, multidisciplinary, multinational backgrounds and who are passionate about the role of Innovation for European renewal.

EYIF is a non-profit, pan-European platform that was launched at the European Parliament on 12 July 2010 at a joint European Commission, European Parliament and Council of Europe event by 

Herbert REUL MEP (EPP), Chairman of the Industry, Research and Energy Committee and  

Damien ABAD MEP (EPP), Chairman of the Youth Intergroup from the European Parliament

Ms. Neelie KROES, European Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for Digital Agenda

Mr. Vincent Van QUICKENBORNE, Minister for Economy for Belgium and Belgian Presidency of the European Council Representative

At the event we brought together both the key decision makers and stakeholders from the EU polity and institutions, and, EYIF members, partners and selected industrial actors. The event was highly-interactive, included internet-based participants and was broadcast live globally.