Interim head of EIT finally crowned as director

After five years as interim head of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Martin Kern has been made director of the EU’s most important body for bringing together companies, universities and research centres.

“It’s good news for me, but I think it’s also recognition for the EIT itself,” Kern told Research Europe after his appointment for a four-year term, renewable once, was announced on 23 August.

Having been interim director since August 2014, he said he was “really delighted” the EIT’s governing board had chosen him from a shortlist of three candidates drawn up by the European Commission.