Martin Kern has been the Director of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) since 2019, following his appointment by the EIT Governing Board. Prior to this, he played a key role in the institute’s leadership as Interim Director and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing strategic initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe.
Before joining the EIT, Martin Kern built a distinguished career at the European Commission, where he worked for 15 years in pivotal roles related to EU enlargement policy, economic development, and financial assistance programs. His expertise in EU integration was particularly impactful during his tenure as Head of Operations at the EU Delegation to Serbia, where he coordinated financial aid programs to accelerate Serbia’s path toward EU accession. He also served as Country Coordinator for EU financial assistance to Türkiye and was seconded to the Swedish Foreign Ministry during Sweden’s EU Presidency in 2009 to support EU enlargement efforts.
Earlier in his career, Martin Kern was actively involved in monitoring and guiding the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU, ensuring the effective utilization of EU funds during their integration process. His experience in EU enlargement dates back to his work in Lithuania and Estonia, where he supported their EU accession efforts as part of the EU Delegations. His tenure in the Baltic region culminated in his role as Acting Head of the European Commission Representation in Estonia.
Beyond his work in EU institutions, he began his career at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in Switzerland, contributing to economic policy and development initiatives.
Martin Kern holds MA degrees in Economics and English from the University of Heidelberg (Germany) and an MA in European Studies from the University of Reading (UK). His extensive expertise in European innovation, economic policy, and EU integration continues to shape the EIT’s mission of driving innovation and entrepreneurship to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.
