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Call for proposals for innovative low-carbon technologies

The European Commission has launched an innovation fund that will provide approximately €10 billion from 2020 to 2030 for the commercial demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The aim is to bring industrial solutions to market to decarbonise Europe and support the transition to climate neutrality. The European Commission is calling for project proposals until 10 March 2021. Funding is available for smaller projects with a volume of €2.5 to €7.5 million. Further information

ProcurComp^EU, the EU's new competency framework for the professionalisation of public procurement reinforces the strategic role of public procurement for modernizing public services with innovations, for digital transformation and sustainable growth. By defining 30 key competences, including for innovation procurement, it provides a common reference for professionalisation across the EU. It encourages public buyers to develop skills on pre-commercial procurement and public procurement of innovative solutions and to position ICT as strategic sector for economic growth.

On 10 March 2021, the European Commission is organising an online seminar on How to Attract Agile & SMART SMEs? Public Buyers & Innovative SMEs share their views. It starts at 10am and presents how procurers and innovative companies can build long-term partnerships. Registration

The aim of the European Commission is to promote the demand for innovative goods, services and work in Europe. In this context, innovative procurement is seen as a key to bring innovations to the market. More information on the Innovation Partnership method

The European Commission's Directorate-General GROW provided information on the Innovation Partnership method in a three-part seminar series. The aim of the European Commission is to promote the demand for innovative goods, services and work in Europe. In this context, innovative procurement is seen as a key to bring innovations to the market.

• 13 October 2020: Think Innovative! Unlock the potential of the Innovation Partnership to boost the economic recovery
• 1 December 2020: Laying down the foundations of an innovation partnership
• 1 February 2021: From the negotiation to the execution of the Innovation Partnership (recording available soon)

Online seminar Workshop presenting results of the European wide benchmarking of innovation procurement investments and policy frameworks on 12 October 2020: The European Commission informed how much the public sector in different EU countries invests in the implementation of innovative solutions and in which sectors (e.g. health, transport, energy, security, ICT). In addition, existing National Action Plans and other measures to promote innovative procurement were presented.

European Week of Regions and Cities from 5 to 22 October 2020: The lecture programme covered the topics Empowering Citizens, Cohesion & Cooperation and Green Europe. These presentations focused on public procurement.

The EU provides funding for the development of products that are not yet available on the market. The instruments Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) and Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions (PPI) are used. To give examples on how the projects can be structured and which products could be developed, the EU Contact Point for Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions presents the following projects in more detail: 

• THALEA
• STARS
• NIGHTINGALE
• PAPIRUS

The European Commission has also updated its brochure Innovation Procurement - The power of the public purse. This presents EU-funded procurement projects that addressing ICT-based solutions. They cover areas such as health, transport, climate change, energy, security, education and public administration.

The IÖB service point regularly publishes challenges to bring together public institutions and companies with innovative offers.  The current challenges can be found here.

The European Commission has released new guidance for public buyers to help public authorities use the flexibility provided by the EU’s public procurement framework to ensure rapid and efficient purchases of all necessary equipment. The possibilities range from considerably shortening the public procurement process to emergency procurement that is not subject to EU procedural requirements and does not require the prior publication of tender notices. The guidance also recommends that public buyers consider alternative innovative solutions and ways of engaging with the market.

Results EU funded PCPs (May 2019)

Commission notice: Guidance on Innovation Procurement (May 2018)

Call for tender

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Projects offering information