EIT Manufacturing Liquidation Fracas Leaves 3D Printing Startup Out in the Cold

• EIT Manufacturing ASBL was a public-private partnership between the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and a network of industrial and research partners. EIT is a European Union (EU)...

EIT Manufacturing ASBL was a public-private partnership between the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and a network of industrial and research partners. EIT is a European Union (EU) body, and European citizens can expect it to deliver on its promises. EIT Manufacturing, however, was a separate non-governmental body that helped disburse the EU’s money. By devolving responsibility and power to this supposedly faster and more efficient body, the EU gave up a teeny tiny sliver of its sovereignty to an external organization. We’re seeing this trend replicate itself worldwide. And yes, this may make government bodies more responsive, but it also carries risks. The EU’s anti-corruption body, OLAF, found irregularities and fraud at EIT Manufacturing on May 25. Subsequent to th