(6)

Article 7 is amended as follows: (a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "1. A partnership shall be selected and designated by the EIT to become a KIC following a competitive, open and transparent procedure. Detailed criteria for the selection of the KICs, based on the principles of excellence and innovation relevance, shall be adopted and published by the EIT. External and independent experts shall be involved in the selection process."; (b) the following paragraph is inserted: "1a. The EIT shall launch the selection and designation of KICs according to the priority fields and time schedule defined in the SIA."; (c) paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: "2. In accordance with the principles enshrined in paragraph 1, the selection criteria for the designation of a KIC shall, inter alia, include: (a) the current and potential innovation capacity, including entrepreneurship, within the partnership as well as its excellence in higher education, research and innovation; (b) the partnership’s capacity to achieve the goals of the SIA and thereby contribute to the general objective and priorities of Horizon 2020; (c) a multidisciplinary approach to innovation, including the integration of technological, social and non-technological solutions; (d) the partnership’s capacity to ensure sustainable and long-term self-supporting financing, including a substantial and increasing contribution from the private sector, industry and services; (e) an appropriately balanced participation in the partnership of organisations active in the knowledge triangle of higher education, research and innovation; (f) the demonstration of a plan for the management of intellectual property appropriate to the sector concerned, including the way in which contributions from the various partner organisations have been taken into account; (g) measures to support the involvement of, and cooperation with, the private sector, including the financial sector and in particular SMEs, as well as the creation of start-ups, spin-offs and SMEs, with a view to the commercial exploitation of the results of the activities of KICs; (h) readiness to establish concrete measures to interact and cooperate with the public and third sectors, as appropriate; (i) readiness to interact with other organisations and networks outside the KIC with the aim of sharing best practices and excellence; (j) readiness to establish concrete proposals for synergies with Union and other relevant initiatives."; (d) paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: "3. The minimum condition to form a KIC is the participation of at least three partner organisations, established in at least three different Member States. All such partner organisations must be independent of each other, within the meaning of Article 8 of Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (8). (8) Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 laying down the rules for the participation and dissemination in "Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020)" and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1906/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 81).";" (e) paragraph 4 is replaced by the following: "4. In addition to the condition set out in paragraph 3, at least two thirds of the partner organisations forming a KIC shall be established in the Member States. At least one higher education institution and one private company shall be part of each KIC."; (f) the following paragraph is added: "5. The EIT shall adopt and publish criteria and procedures for financing, monitoring and evaluating the activities of the KICs prior to the launching of the selection procedure for new KICs. The special configuration of Member States’ representatives within the Stakeholder Forum shall be promptly informed of them.".