We would like to congratulate FRUCT team that is developing Blood Pressure Diary application. The team was announced as a winner of FASIE START H2 grant for further development of the system for comprehensive mobile monitoring of cardiac activity on top of smartphone used as data processing and communication device.

First of all, welcome to the EIT. Could you tell us a bit more about yourself and your background?

José Manuel Leceta: Thank you – I am really excited to be joining such a relevant European initiative for Europe like the EIT following my appointment in May. Regarding my background, I have degrees in innovation management and electrical engineering as well as higher education studies in business administration, strategic management of ICT, economics of telecommunication, international studies, etc. Building upon my previous experience in space industry, I am joining the EIT from CDTI (the Spanish National Innovation Agency), where I served as International Director for six years. My main responsibilities there where fostering Spanish

The European Commission launched this week a consultation on major improvements to EU research and innovation funding.

The proposed "Common Strategic Framework" aims to create a coherent set of instruments along the whole "innovation chain" starting from basic research, culminating in bringing innovative products and services to market. This would involve the current Framework Programme for Research (FP7), the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

Stakeholders have until 20 May 2011 to contribute their views on the Green Paper on the Common Strategic Framework.

Consultation on the Green Paper

European Commission press release

“I am delighted and honoured to have been elected Chairman by my fellow Governing Board members. I am very much looking forward to taking on this challenge with my colleagues at the EIT headquarters and together continue to shape our first three Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs)”, says Alexander von Gabain. “After successfully seed-investing into the first three KICs, the next four years will be decisive for the EIT as we will present and start implementing our first Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA). The SIA will outline the EIT’s future priorities and provide the basis for further support from the European Union in order for the EIT to become a significant driver of intelligent and sustainable growth and competitiveness in

Prof. Alexander von Gabain, Member of the EIT Governing Board, presented the EIT’s vision for its future to the EU Member States’ Research Ministers meeting as Informal Competitive Council hosted by the Hungarian Presidency in Gödöllő on 12 April 2011. Chaired by Minister of State Prof. Zóltan Cséfalvay and in presence of European Commissioner for Research and Innovation Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, the EIT revealed key elements of its Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA). The SIA will be presented to the European Commission in June 2011. It will outline the EIT’s long term priority fields for future initiatives for the period of 2014-2020 including new Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).

1. Informal Competitiveness Council