Michiel Scheffer is the President of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Board. He holds a PhD in geography (1992) A Dutch national, he has three decades of experience in business, academia, and public policy. From 2015 to 2019 he was regional minister for economy, education and Europe in the Province of Gelderland (NL), and member of the European Committee of the regions. He is equipped with a wide network in the world of research and innovation (Utrecht University, Wageningen University, Hoghschule Rhein-Waal) and has a remarkable professional experience of more than 20 years in the field of innovation, including on breakthrough technologies, disruptive innovations, and start‐ups impact investment. He was involved in setting up close to ten companies.