Wolfgang Boch is working with the European Commission for more than 15 years on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), within the EU Framework Programmes for Research. In January 2007, he has been appointed Head of Unit for "Future and Emerging Technologies – Proactive Initiatives" in the context of Framework Programme VII (2007–2013). FET-Proactive aims to nurture the roots of innovation in Europe. It supports long-term and foundational research in ICT, in particular, radical interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary explorations (such as bio-nano-info-cogno) of new and alternative approaches towards the development of new scientific foundations and technological breakthroughs. The FET proactive Initiatives are granted by the European Union a total funding of 120 M€ for the years 2007–2008. The FET-scheme acts as the pathfinder and incubator for new ideas and themes for long-term research in the area of information and communication technologies.

His background is in Electrical Engineering and Informatics with a focus on feedback and control Systems. He holds a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Karlsruhe, Germany. Prior to joining the European Commission he worked for 10 years in R&D in the German aerospace and avionics industry. In the European Commission he has held previous positions as Head of Unit on ICT research related to Grid Technologies and Telematics Applications for the Environment.