Reinforcing synergies between experimentation spaces and innovation procurement
Reinforcing synergies between experimentation spaces and innovation procurement supports public buyers' joint procurement to develop and test innovative solutions that modernise public services.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: June 1, 2027 (Opening) | September 15, 2027 (Application deadline, 17:00 Brussels time)
Funding Amounts: €10 million indicative topic budget; around €10 million for one expected award; up to 100% funding
Summary: Supports joint pre-commercial procurement linking public buyers with experimentation spaces to develop, test and accelerate uptake of innovative public-service solutions.
Key Information: No direct R&D funding for developers, industry or research organisations; suppliers compete for procurement contracts from funded buyers.
Description
This European Commission Horizon Europe action supports consortia of public buyers with shared procurement needs, connecting their joint pre-commercial procurement (PCP) with test beds, living labs and, where relevant, regulatory sandboxes. It enables suppliers to develop and test solutions alongside customers and competent regulatory or certification bodies, addressing customer needs and market-entry barriers during R&D rather than after development.
The topic covers all areas of public-sector interest requiring innovative solutions linked to EU strategic priorities, including single-technology improvements and end-to-end solutions combining technologies. It seeks to modernise public services, improve quality and efficiency, strengthen EU strategic autonomy and supply-chain resilience, and open procurement markets to innovative companies, particularly SMEs and startups. Projects should demonstrate greater ambition in innovation level and/or deployment scope, with at least one successful solution expected to be deployment-ready or deployed.
