The Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) [1] was established by the European Commission on 23 December 2003 as the Intelligent Energy Executive Agency (IEEA) to implement the ‘Intelligent Energy – Europe’ programme. On 1 May 2007 its name was changed and its objectives and tasks were redefined. It is the first of a number of new executive agencies established by the European Commission to put policies into action more efficiently and effectively, and to help the Commission concentrate on its policy-making and institutional tasks. It is based in Brussels, Belgium.
The Agency's initial remit was to implement the Intelligent Energy – Europe (IEE) programme. In 2007 its remit was extended to include the ‘Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme 2007-2013’ and the second ‘Marco Polo Programme’ 2007-2013. While the agency has its own legal identity, it reports to the Directorate-General for Transport and Energy, which remains responsible for programming and evaluation of the IEE programme.
It is a temporary agency, initially established for a period beginning on 1 January 2004 and ending on 31 December 2008, although this was later extended to 31 December 2015.
The Agency is based in the Madou Tower, in Brussels, Belgium.