The partners started working together in the spring of 2007, when the pilot project, including lobbying and application, was developed. In March 2009, just before the formal call was announced the basic part of the current consortium was in place.

The application was submitted on 27 Aug 2009.

The group did have plenty of suggestions for naming the consortium, but had no real working name until the current EIT ICT Labs was suggested and approved. Once the consortium was selected the name was frozen by EIT.

ICT Labs was primarily a network of organisations willing to collaborate together for applying to EIT to develop a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) for ICT and collaborate to drive innovation forward in Europe. KTH brought the initial group together based on collaboration in the university network cluster. The group was thereafter extended and grew to the strong network of partners well aligned with EC and EIT political policies.

EIT ICT Labs was considered to have the most developed approached, addressing key issues in ICT innovation for scalable interventions and high impact. EIT ICT Labs also had the strongest partnership consisting of big industy partners, cutting edge research institutes, top level universities, as well as strong support from the public sector. The EIT ICT Labs internal organisation was already far developed and a well received presentation was held at the final hearing.

EIT announced the success of our application on 16 December 2009.

Autumn 2007: Successful evaluation of the pilot project “NINE - Networking ICT Innovation Ecosystems in Europe”.

Summer 2008: Positive feedback from major industries to revitalize the NINE consortium in the EIT framework.

December 2008:  EIT states that four to six to-location sites should form the consortium.

March 2009: The final consortium is created.

June 2009: Partner commitment to the application is confirmed in Stockholm

December 2009: Hearing and VictoryJuly 2010: Outlining of the final organisation and the first Business Plans 2010.

15 September: Willem Jonker commence as CEO of EIT ICT Labs

15 November 2010: The first general assembly is held in Brussels Following the creation of the KIC association.

1 December 2010: Berlin Node founded the German association,
EIT ICT Labs GmbH.