Governance & Transparency
EIT Food is an international non-profit association under Belgian law and a Knowledge and Innovation Community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
Its governance model combines Partner representation, independent oversight and executive accountability. Policies and procedures support this framework by promoting integrity, transparency, independence, fairness and the responsible management of resources.
Our governance structure
EIT Food's governance structure sets out clear responsibilities for its Partners, Supervisory Board and Executive Management Team. Partners have a formal role in key decisions, while the Supervisory Board provides independent oversight of the organisation and its leadership.
Partner Assembly
The Partner Assembly represents EIT Food's Strategic and Delivery Partners and exercises the rights reserved to the Association's Partners. It approves the annual budget and accounts, appoints and removes members of the Supervisory Board and the statutory auditor, and decides on changes to EIT Food's Statutes and other matters reserved to the Partners. The Partner Assembly meets at least once a year.
Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board provides strategic and non-executive oversight of EIT Food. It oversees the organisation's strategy, business plan, performance and governance, and is responsible for appointing and overseeing the CEO. It has between six and ten members, at least half of whom must be independent. The Chair is also independent. The Board is supported by four committees that provide more focused oversight and recommendations within their respective areas of responsibility.
Executive Management Team
Led by the CEO, the Executive Management Team is responsible for managing EIT Food and translating its strategy into organisational priorities and operations. It prepares EIT Food's Business Plan, implements the strategic direction and is accountable to the Supervisory Board for the organisation's performance.
The principles that guide us
Good governance is not only about structures and responsibilities. It also depends on how decisions are made. EIT Food's Code of Conduct sets out the principles for ethical and lawful conduct across the organisation, helping to protect the independence and integrity of our work and supporting the responsible use of the resources entrusted to us.
We make decisions impartially and objectively, disclose and manage potential conflicts of interest, and aim to be transparent and accountable for our actions. We are committed to fairness, equal treatment and professional conduct, and we do not tolerate fraud, bribery, corruption or improper advantage. The Code of Conduct also sets safeguards for funding and sponsorship to protect EIT Food's independence, credibility and mission.
We invite everyone working with or interested in EIT Food to read the Code of Conduct to learn more about the principles and standards that guide how we work.
Governance documents and policies
EIT Food's governance is supported by policies and procedures that set out how the organisation makes decisions, manages resources and protects the integrity of its work. Together, these documents provide the framework for accountable decision-making, responsible conduct and transparent management across EIT Food.
Statutes
EIT Food's Statutes establish the legal and governance framework of the Association under Belgian law. They define the roles and responsibilities of the Partner Assembly, Supervisory Board and Management Board, as well as the rules governing partnership, decision-making, representation and accountability. They provide the foundation for how EIT Food is governed and how authority is distributed across the organisation.
By-Laws
The By-Laws supplement EIT Food's Statutes and provide more detailed rules concerning the organisation and operation of EIT Food's governing bodies and activities. Together with the Statutes, they form the core internal governance framework of the Association.
Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct sets out the principles and standards for ethical and lawful conduct across EIT Food. It covers independence and impartiality, objectivity, transparency and accountability, equal treatment and non-discrimination, professional conduct and safeguards around funding and sponsorship. The Code applies to EIT Food employees, members of the Management Board and Supervisory Board, and EIT Food grant recipients.
Conflict of Interest Policy
The Conflict of Interest Policy sets out how EIT Food identifies, declares and manages actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest. It establishes responsibilities for declaring relevant interests and procedures for managing situations in which personal or professional interests could compromise, or appear to compromise, impartial decision-making. The policy supports the independence and integrity of decisions made across EIT Food.
Diversity and Inclusion Policy
The Diversity and Inclusion Policy describes EIT Food's commitment to equality, inclusion and non-discrimination across its workplace, partnerships and activities. It establishes expectations around equal opportunities, respectful behaviour and an inclusive environment in which people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives can contribute.
Anti-Fraud, Bribery, Corruption and Whistleblowing Guidelines
These guidelines describe EIT Food's approach to preventing, identifying and responding to fraud, bribery, corruption and other serious wrongdoing. They set out the responsibilities and controls that help protect EIT Food and the resources entrusted to it, as well as how concerns can be raised confidentially and how reports are handled.
They also complement the reporting provisions in the Code of Conduct, which provides access to EIT Food's reporting system and allows concerns to be raised anonymously.
Read the EIT Food Anti-Fraud, Bribery, Corruption and Whistleblowing Guidelines
Procurement Manual
The Procurement Manual explains how EIT Food purchases goods and services and selects suppliers. It establishes the principles and procedures designed to support value for money, transparency, equal treatment, fair competition and proportionality, alongside measures for identifying and managing conflicts of interest.
These requirements help ensure that procurement decisions are made consistently, fairly and in the interests of EIT Food.
Intellectual Property Policy
The Intellectual Property Policy provides a common framework for managing intellectual property connected with EIT Food activities and collaborations. It covers the ownership, access, protection and use of intellectual property, helping EIT Food and its Partners understand their respective rights and responsibilities when knowledge and results are created or used through collaborative activities.
Privacy Notice
The Privacy Notice explains how EIT Food collects, uses, stores and protects personal data in accordance with applicable data protection requirements. It also sets out individuals' rights in relation to their personal data and explains how to contact EIT Food about the handling of their information.