The European Innovation Council (EIC) stimulates strong collaboration between EIC top-notch innovators and public or private buyers, investors, technology giants and industrial leaders to spur new partnerships to modernize their services for the benefit of the EU economy.
The EIC Business Acceleration Services is implementing the EIC Innovation Procurement Partnership Program to allow EIC-funded companies to boost their networks and meet relevant innovation procurement makers from the most ambitious public or private buyers within, and outside, Europe.
From June 2019 until summer 2022, 15 initiatives have been organized through “EIC Procurers Days” and “EIC Multiprocurers Days” with the participation of more than 300 business public or private buyers’ partners.
Over 150 EIC-funded startups/scale-ups/SMEs have been able to participate in these initiatives, reporting a business impact of 56 follow-up discussions and 11 signed contracts and NDAs.
The following sectors are covered: pharmaceutical industry, healthcare institutions (university hospitals), health emergency services, postal services, mobility infrastructures, robotic and industrial processes, metal coating industries,
The satisfaction rate among procurers’ representatives has reached 86%, proving the efficiency of the concept: bridging the gap between innovative SMEs and large public & private buyers’ can prove to be a vital strategy for introducing innovations and reaching new clients.
Structure of the new programme
Action 1. EIC Communities of Buyers
- Creation of Communities of Public Buyers interested in the innovations of the EIC Beneficiaries
- Creation of Communities of Private Buyers interested in the innovations of the EIC Beneficiaries
- Assistance to Public Buyers to purchase innovative solutions offered by innovative SMEs and start-ups (in particular from the EIC innovators)
- Pitching events with private and public buyers
- Prizes to private buyers that work with the EIC Beneficiaries
Action 2. Assistance to EIC beneficiaries in Innovation Procurement (Europe)
- Assistance to EIC beneficiaries to submit tenders in R&D procurements
- Assistance to EIC beneficiaries to submit tenders in Procurements of Innovative Solutions (non-R&D)
- Assistance to EIC beneficiaries to submit tenders in Private Sector procurements
- Helpdesk for questions on Innovation Procurement
- Innovation Procurement Academies for the EIC beneficiaries
- Toolkit on Innovation Procurement tailored to the needs of suppliers in tenders
Action 3. Assistance to EIC beneficiaries in Innovation Procurement (global – non EU - level )
- Assistance to EIC beneficiaries to submit tenders in Procurements of Innovative Solutions (non-R&D)
- Assistance to EIC beneficiaries to submit tenders in Private Sector procurements
- Helpdesk for questions on Innovation Procurement
- Innovation Procurement Academies for the EIC beneficiaries
- Toolkit on Innovation Procurement tailored to the needs of suppliers in tenders
What is in it for you – buyers (public and private)
- Support to procure innovation (public buyers)
- Prizes for private buyers that work with the EIC beneficiaries
- Participation in Communities with procurers that are facing similar needs
- Modernization of the offered services with breakthrough solutions provided by the EIC top-notch innovators
What is in it for you – EIC innovators/beneficiaries
- Increased business opportunities through the engagement with the demand side
- Support to submit tenders in Innovation Procurements in Europe and at a global level
- Enhancement of the capacity to find and exploit business opportunities opened through procurement
- Finding new markets/clients and scaling up through procurement
Learn more about the ongoing initiatives
In the context of this unique program, there are actions for both the procurers (public and private) as well as the EIC beneficiaries from EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, EIC Accelerator, Seal of Excellence and Women Tech.EU.
Read more about the SPIN4EIC Programme.