EAIC Welcomes the EIC Code of Conduct for Consultants

The European Association of Innovation Consultants (EAIC) expresses its appreciation for EIC Board's introduction of the Code of Conduct for Consultants. This initiative reflects a commendable dedication to transparency, fairness, and ethical practices in European Innovation Council.
 
In its public statement released today in response to the dedicated public consultation,  EAIC highlights the facts that: 

• It supports the EIC Code of Conduct and recognises as a crucial step in ensuring a level playing field for all participants in EIC programmes.
• It already operates under a robust Code of Conduct that emphasizes professionalism and ethical standards in its members interactions with clients; the EAIC Code naturally aligns with the principles outlined in EIC Code.
• It is pleased to have been actively involved in the development phase of the code (prior to the public release of the July 2023 draft) and that many of its  suggestions were taken on board.

Read the Statement

EAIC offers additional written comments on the EIC Code text and recommends to:

• Prominently position the provision prohibiting consultancy company staff to support an application development, whilst also acting as an evaluator for those funding calls.
• Add provisions regarding the use of generative AI tools to support parts of the grant writing process.

Moving forward, EAIC is eager to contribute to the discussions about the enforcement and likely future revise the Code. Its goal is to ensure that eh EIC Code remains an effective tool for upholding the highest ethical standards within EIC programmes.