A New Board to Guide the European Innovation Council's Evolving Role

The European Innovation Council has appointed a new board, with the European CommissionDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → confirming the line-up in December 2025.

The board advises the Commission on the EIC’s strategy, work programmes and investment priorities, and plays a central role in shaping how the council deploys its capital.

The appointments come as the EIC takes on a larger and more strategic role. The council operates with a mandate of around €10B, with equity investments made through the EIC Fund, which takes direct stakes in selected companies alongside private co-investors.

According to Sifted , the EIC’s growing role has sharpened attention on governance and decision-making at board level. From 2026, the council will begin backing dual-use defence technologies, adding to its existing focus on health and biotech, the energy transition, and AI and quantum technologies. The shift broadens the scope of the EIC’s portfolio and increases the importance of strategic oversight.

In this context, the board’s composition takes on added significance. The EIC is increasingly seen not just as a funding mechanism, but as a strategic tool for Europe’s technological competitiveness and sovereignty, particularly in deep-tech areas where scale-up capital and industrial backing remain scarce.

The board is intended to bring market, investment and entrepreneurial perspectives into EU decision-making as the council’s mandate and visibility grow.

President

Michiel SchefferDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – EIC Board President and Principal Adviser

Members

Bart BecksDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Founder and CEO, GenisysDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →; co-founder, BeCentralDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Francesca BriaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Honorary Professor, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public PurposeDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Ana CasacaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Global Director of Innovation, GalpDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Jean-Michel DalleDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Managing Director, Agoranov

Carsten DreherDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Professor of Innovation Management, Freie Universität BerlinDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Stefan DrüsslerDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Managing Director, UnternehmerTUMDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Belén GarijoDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Chair of the Executive Board and CEO, MerckDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

María Victoria Hernández-ValcárcelDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Board member at CaixaBankDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and other companies

Anita KrohnDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – CEO, DSD AS GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Michaela KrškováDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Strategic adviser, Kempelen Institute of Intelligent TechnologiesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Eliza KruczkowskaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Managing Director, Foundation for Entrepreneurship SupportDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Milka (Milla) MarinovaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Founder and CEO, R8ERDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Ann MettlerDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Center on Global Energy PolicyDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →; adviser to Kinnevik

Sorin MoisaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Co-founder and chairman, Skyy NetworkDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Laurence PetitDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Director for Innovation, Start-ups and Investments, CEADealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Patrik SobockiDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Senior Investment Director and deep-tech practice lead, Industrifonden

Danielius StasiulisDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Co-founder, BitDegreeDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, OgvioDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and EdTech LithuaniaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Peter VanbekbergenDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Partner, imec.xpandDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Antti VasaraDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Venture partner, KvantedDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Jaromír ZahrádkaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → – Founder, i&i PragueDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and i&i Biotech FundDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →; co-founder, Prague.bioDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →

Sources:
European Innovation Council
European Innovation Council
Sifted
Science Business

J.V.