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Innovation Procurement initiatives around Europe

Check out the updated list of innovation procurement initiatives and case examples around Europe. Now also with results of completed pre-commercial procurements. We identified over 600 pre-commercial procurements that have been launched across Europe so far. To facilitate experience sharing, we would be grateful to receive further information about experiences in your country.

PCP Europe

Sweden

Check out the Sweden country profile for an overview of Sweden's national capacity building measures and financial support program for innovation procurement, respectively coordinated by UHM (Swedish competence center for innovation procurement) and VINNOVA.

VINNOVA support has succesfully triggered the implemention of several PCP projects: In 2013-2014 the Innovative Traffic Systems PCP (City of Stockholm, the Swedish Transport Administration, Stockholm Public Transport and Kista Science) succesfully brought traffic assistance apps for citizens to the market and helped small startups to grow their business (e.g. Veridict). The largest PCP in Sweden, Electric traction of heavy lorries and other large vehicles (Swedish Transport Administration) is still in the final testing phase. In 2014, the S4 Nordic group of water utilities lead by Norvatten completed in 8 months time a PCP to develop new safe techniques to join water pipes: the solutions developed by the final 2 vendors have been procured and deployed in several countries. In 2015 the group completed another PCP that created non-destructive testing techniques for safe joining the water pipes. In 2014-2015 the Kappala association of eleven municipalities completed a PCP that developed mercury free COD analysis methods for wastewater and waste products: the solutions worked only in some cases (effluent samples), one of them was commercialised (Machery Nagel). In 2014-2015 SAMSA, the network organization for southern Swedish municipal waste operations, completed a PCP that successfully developed new solutions that can reduce waste at community recycling centers. The solution from Off2Off is now deployed in several Swedish cities.

Check out how the SILVER PCP has helped the Swedish start-up Bioservo grow its business internationally.

Examples of EU funded PCPs with buyers groups from several countries that are implemented under Swedish law: IMAILE (on e-learning, Halmstad Municipality), PREFORMA (on digital preservation for libraries and national archives, Riksarkivet – National Archives Sweden), NIGHTINGALE (on wearables for patient monitoring, Karolinska hospital) and LIVE INCITE (on perioperative health, Karolinska hospital). The IMAILE and PREFORMA solutions are already deployed in several countries.

Swedish procurers also participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PCPs HSMONITOR on health status monitoring (region Jämtland Härjedalen), SILVER on elderly care (city of Västerås), V-CON on virtual road modeling (Traffikverket), RELIEF on relieving chronic pain (Uppsala county) and in the buyers group of the EU funded PPIs INNOBUILD on sustainable buildings (Falun) and PROBIS on sustainable construction (City of Borlange holding company). Swedish procurers participate also in the EU funded networking project P4ITS (ITS Sweden) on PPI for deploying Intelligent Transport Systems.

Norway

Check out the Norway country profile for an overview of Norway's national capacity building / assistance measures and financial support program for innovation procurement, coordinated by Difi (Norwegian competence center innovation procurement), KS (association of local and regional authorities) and NHO (supplier development organisation).

The Norwegian support has triggerered several successful PCPs: Solutions from the 2014-2016 no-dig PCP by the Oslo's water agency (VAV) are already procured and deployed in Norway (Hawle Technologies). This provides a dig-free method for connecting private water lines e.g. inside homes to the municipal water network, saving costs, noise and CO2 emissions. The Antura and Feed the Monster games deployed in March 2017 from the EduApp4Syria PCP (by Norad) won several prizes for bringing to the market educational games that effectively help refugee children follow school while on the move. The 2018-2019 Hurtigbåt PCP (by Sør-Trøndelag County Council) successfully developed emission free express boats for inter communal transport and won a the 3rd prize for local climate action of the year 2018. The procurements to deploy new emission free public ferry services are under preparation. In 2019 preparations started for a new PCP on future sewage water facilities (Bergen kommune) and a PCP on remote digital mapping of agricultural ecological maps (Miljødirektoratet Trondheim). In 2020 started the environmental monitoring PCP (Environmental agency).

Check out how the Norwegian start-up Yeti Snow Technology has become a pioneer in the market of self-driving snow clearing vehicles following its participation in a PCP to increase the efficiency of airport operations in winter by Norwegian airport operator Avinor.

Statoil and Gassnova, Norwegian oil and gass operators governed by public law, implemented the two largest PCPs in Europe. July 2011-beginning 2013, in the Mongstad Carbon Capture PCP 5 vendors developed different technological solutions to capture carbon but that had unwanted side effects. After further studies solved those issues, 2015-2016 in the second Carbon Capture PCP 3 potential site operators in Norway conducted feasibility studies for full scale carbon capture deployment. In the meantime Gassnova made commercial partnerships for transport and storage of CO2 from all over Europe to Norway. The aim is that by 2020/2021 the Norwegian parliament can make the investment decision to roll out waht will be then the world's largest carbon capture, transport and storage plant. Short description of the Statoil - Gassnova carbon capture PCP.

Norwegian procurers participate in the buyers group of EU funded PCP projects AI4CITIES on AI for climate neutrality (Stavanger city) ,MARINE-EO on marine earth observation (Kystverket - Norwegian coastal administration), FABULOS on automated bus lanes (Giesdal Kommune) and EU funded PPI projects INNOBUILD (Lyngdal Commune), PAPIRUS on sustainable construction (Oslo Kommune) and LCB-HEALTHCARE (SINTEF – Directorate for Health Affairs).

Nordics join forces on 'green' innovation procurement

Nordic cities and municipalities are joining forces to challenge together the market to get innovative green solutions. The group includes Oslo, Bergen, Kristiansand, Trondheim, Turku, Göteborg, Kaarina, Gladsaxe and Orebro. Together they will initiate in 2020 a market dialogue to find solutions for «emission-free delivery of goods and services». 

Austria

Check the Austria country profile for an overview of Sweden's national action plan, spending target, capacity building and financial support measures for innovation procurement. The BBG operates the competence centre for PPI, the FFG the competence center for PCP

The FFG supported several PCPs in Austria: In 2014 the solutions resulting from the 2012-2014 road works and traffic incident warnings PCP (Austrian highways agency ASFINAG) were deployed. The Austrian railways OBB-INFRA started in 2012 the natural hazards - rockfall detection PCP and OBB-PRODUKTION completed in 2015-2017 the electrically powered locomotives in shunting with and without catenary PCP. For the first, testing of the systems can only be completed when a natural hazard happens. The procurement deploying eshunting solutions is under preparation.

Examples of EU funded PCPs with buyers groups from several countries that are implemented under Austrian law: Instand NGS4P on next generation sequencing for personalised therapy (Medical university Graz).

Austrian procurers participate also in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP project Instand NGS4P on next generation sequencing for personalised therapy (St. Anna Children Cancer Research Institute) and of the EU funded PPI projects THALEA II PPI on telemedicine (BBG), HAPPI on healthy ageing (BBG), INNOBOOSTER on office furniture and lighting (Federal Ministry of Finance, BBG, Airport Linz). Austrian procurers participated also in the P4ITS networking project on PPI for intelligent transport systems (ASFINAG, Austriatech) and in the INSPIRE healthcare procurement networking project (BBG).

United Kingdom

Check out the UK country profille for an overview of the capacity building / assistance measures for innovation procurement in the UK.

The UK has significant experience with over 450 PCPs that have been implemented by various public entities since 2008. As results showed that PCPs implemented by the enduser government department were far more impactful than PCPs implemented by the national innovation agency (Innovate UK), from 2016 onwards all PCPs/SBRIs are implemented by the individual procurers themselves. NHS England has the longest and most successful experience. A recent report shows that PCP innovations have already brought £73m cumulative benefits to the NHS since April 2014, forecast to rise to between £349m and £482m by 2022 and to between £1.2billion and £1.9 billion by 2027. Savings were generated on patient transport, remote monitoring, pain management etc. Other examples of PCPs that helped the companies raise venture capital and grow their business include the autonomous surface vessel (ASV global) developed for the national oceanography center and the e-uniform developed for the ministry of defence (Intelligent Textiles). Recent example is the wave energy converter PCP (Wave Energy Scotland) which is now in its final testing phase.  

The UK ETI (Energy Technology Institute) case illustrates how an entity that is financed by a combination of public and private funds, and in which private and public partners collaborate on research and innovation, can undertake a PCP. The ETI case was notified to the European Commission and the ETI PCP approach was found to be compliant with competition rules and to not constitute State aid.

Check out how the National Oceanographi Centre's autonomous surface vessel PCP has helped the UK SMEs ASV and MOST to grow their business internationally.

Various NHS divisions apply also PPI (called Forward Commitment Procurement in the UK) for deploying solutions that address short-to-mid-term procurement needs. Description with case examples on innovation procurement in NHS.

Examples of EU funded PCPs with buyers groups from several countries that are implemented under UK law: The EU funded projects MAGIC (post stroke recovery, Health and social service, Northern Irelanc), CHARM (next generation traffic management centers, Highways Agency) and SILVER (robotics solutions for elderly care, Stockport city). 

UK procurers also participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PCPs projects NIGHTINGALE on remote patient monitoring (UCL NHS hospitals foundation trust), ANTISUPERBUGS on hospital born infections (Sheffield hospital NHS foundation trust), MAGIC (Public Health Authority, Health and social care board, Business Services Organisation), HNSciCloud (Science and Technology Facilities Council), DECIPHER (TRUSTECH – Central Manchester Foundation Trust), PRACE 3IP (EPCC) and SMART@FIRE on smart ICT solutions for firefighter garments (Greater Manchester fire and rescue authority).

UK procurers participate also in the buyers group of the EU funded PPI projects RITMOCORE on remote monitoring of arrythmia patients (Liverpool heart and chest NHS foundation trust), STOPANDGO on elderly care (Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group), HAPPI on healthy ageing (NHS Commercial Solutions), ECOQUIP on medical equipment (Nothingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, Department of Health), LCB-HEALTHCARE on low carbon heatlhcare (Department of Health), FIRED-UP on fire fighting vehicles (London Fire Brigade), PROLITE on lighting (Transport for London), SPEA on sustainable buildings (Birmingham city), SPPREGIONS on PPI for energy efficient buildings, transport and catering (South West England region), CEPPI on energy efficient solutions for cities (Birmingham) and in the EURECA networking project that promotes PPI for green data center uptake (Oldham).

UK procurers participate in the EU funded procurers networking projects PRO4VIP that is preparing a PCP and/or PPI ICTs for visually impaired people (UCL Partners), the SAEPP network of procurers that prepares a PCP on smart ambulance (NHS Commercial Solutions), TRANSFORM on sustainable transport (Birmingham) and C4BI with cities on healthcare (Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire).

Ireland

Check out the Ireland country profile for an overview of the capacity building measures for innovation procurement in Ireland. The 2008 "Innovation in Ireland" and the 2012 "Agenda 2020" strategy promote the use of PCP and PPI in Ireland to modernise public services and create new business opportunities for industry.

Since 2016, so far the first 20 PCPs have started or are under preparation in Ireland. As the first results are positive, a growing number of PCPs are expected to come in 2021-2022. Examples of ongoing PCPs are the soft plastics in the circular economy PCP (Enrivonmental Protection Agency), the Gully monitoring PCP (Dublin city) that is now in the testing phase for prediction of flooding in the city, the Seafood PCP (Irish sea fisheries board), the Wayfinding PCP and the Unheard voices PCP to increase citizen engagment (Fingal county countil), the Eco-friendly last mile delivery PCP, the Smart mobility workplace hub PCP and the Illegal dumping challenge PCP (Dublin city), the IoT challenge PCP and the Bathing water challenge PCP (Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council).

Irish procurers participate also in the EU funded PCP BROADWAY on interoperable mobile broadband for public safety (An Garda Siochana - Irish police) and PREFORMA on long term digital preservation (Local Government Management Agency - LGMA).

Germany

Check out the Germany country profile for an overview of the capacity building / assistance measures for innovation procurement in Germany, coordinated by KOINNO (competence center innovation procurement) and ZENIT. According to a German government study in 2009 already 10% of public procurement spending in Germany went to buying innovative solutions (PPI), but R&D procurement is still lagging behind. 

Some German regions have also developed their regional PCP strategy. The North-Rhine Westphalia approach helps regional public procurers to participate in EU funded PCP and PPI projects by financing the financial contribution of public procurers to participate such projects up to maximum 200.000 EURO. ZENIT has been appointed also by the region to kick-start projects that actively use Horizon 2020 and ESIF funding in synergy, including PCP and PPI projects.

Check out how the EduApp4Syria PCP has helped the Germany SME Cologne Game Labs win prizes for its Antura and the letters educational game that it developed and deployed as a result of the PCP.

The EU funded project THALEA is an example of a transnational group of procurers that completed together a joint PCP under German law (University Clinic Aachen) in the field of telemedicine for Intensive Care Unit patients at increased risk. The THALEA II PPI, that followed the THALEA PCP, is an example of a joint transnational PPI procurement that was launched under German law (same lead procurer) to deploy THALEA solutions more widely. The EU funded HBP (Human Brain Project) that focuses on human brain simulation is also a PCP under German law (Juelich).

German procurers participate also in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP projects NIGHTINGALE on wearable sensors for patient monitoring (Univ clinic Aachen), ANTISUPERBUGS (University Clinic Aachen and Helios Clinic Wuppertal), ARCHIVER on research archiving and preservation (Foundation for the electron synchrotron - DESY and European Molecular Biology Laboratory - EMBL), Instand NGS4P on next generation sequencing for personalised therapy (Christian Albrechts University Kiel - Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology), oncNGS on next generation sequencing for oncology (Charité University Medicine Berlin and Ludwig-Maximilians University ), IMAILE on personalised learning for schools (Ministry of finance of Saxony Anhalt), PREFORMA on digital preservation (Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz), PRACE 3IP on supercomputing (Forschungszentrum Juelich) and HNSciClouds on research cloul (Karlsruher Institut für Technologie and Deutsches Elektronen-Synchroton, European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL). German procurers (Fire department city of Dortmund) participate also in SMART@FIRE PCP project on smart ICT solutions for firefighter garments.

German procurers participate also in the EU funded PPI projects PPI4HPC and FENIX / ICEI on supercomputing (Juelich) PROLITE on lighting (Bremen), PAPIRUS on sustainable construction (Landratsamt Enzkreis) and in the PRO4VIP networking project for visually impaired people (Berufsförderungswerk Düren).

Italy

Check out the Italy country profile for an overview of the innovation procurement policy measures in Italy. Consip is working on setting up a national competence center for innovation procurement in Italy. The national guidelines on PCP for Italian public procurers developed in 2011 in the context of the Italian framework for PCP were first used by Lombardy region, the Niguarda hospital and ARCA. This award winning Lombardy PCP successfully developed by 2014 new, more environmental friendly, cheaper, and easier-to-use automated universal systems for moving hospital beds, with anti-collision and safety systems, not needing guide lines or tracks even on non rectilinear routes. Since then Lombardy started two new PCPs end 2018: The Exoskeleton PCP (ARCA) focuses on motor rehabilitation in neurological patients with upper limb motor deficit. The coronary atherosclerotic plaque PCP (AST Pavia) is looking for new solutions to evaluate the fragigility of this type of plaque. In 2020 Lombardy launched another PCP on imaging technology for surgical support systems. In Sardegna three PCPs were launched in 2020: The Cagliari hospital started a PCP for improving cancer diagnosis, Pula municipality started a PCP to combat climate change effects on lagoons and the health and emergency service started a PCP to improve helicoper medical interventions in extreme weather conditions.

Check out how the SMARTATFIRE PCP helped the Italian SME Dune create a spinoff company Ariane that sucessfully sold its new solution from the PCP to big corporates and large international procurers in Asia and the US.

Examples of EU funded PCPs with buyers groups from several countries that are implemented under Italian law: The EU funded PCPs SMART.MET on smart metering (Viveraqua), POSIDON on soil decontamination (Port Authority Trieste), eCARE on frailty prevention for elderly (Azienda sanitaria locale Benevento), PRACE 3IP on energy efficient supercomputing (CINECA) and NYMPHA-MD on biplolar disorders (Trento).

Italian procurers also participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP projects HSMONITOR on health status monitoring (Lombardy region, Federico II hospital), Instand NGS4P on next generation sequencing for personalised therapy (Firenze University and Milan University Bicocca), oncNGS on next generation sequencing for oncology (Alleanza Contro il Cancro ACC), BROADWAY on interoperable mobile broadband for public safety (ministry of interior), PROEMPOWER on diabetes patient empowerment (Soresa), STARS on health stress reduction (INRCA), ANTISUPERBUGS (Trento), DECIPHER on cross-border e-health (ESTAV CENTRO), HNSciClouds on science cloud (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare), MAGIC on stroke recovery (Azienda Sanitaria Locale TO3 Piedmont, Ancona University Hospital).

Italian procurers also participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PPI projects PPI4HPC and FENIX / ICEI on supercomputing (CINECA), SYNCRO (Provincia di Torino), ECOQUIP (Bologna University Hospital Authority - St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic), INNOCAT on sustainable catering (Torino), PROLITE on lighting (Comune di Torino, CONSIP), PAPIRUS on sustainable construction (ATC Torino) and PROBIS on sustainable construction (City of Torino, Lombardia region).

Italian procurers participate also in the P4ITS networking project (city of Verona, Liguria region) about PPI on intelligent transport systems, the SPPREGIONS network on energy efficient buildings, transport and catering (Torino), the BRODISE networking project on soil decontamination (Trieste), the WATERPiPP networking project about innovation procurement in the water sector (ARCA Lombardia, Puglia region), and the PRO4VIP networking project (Rittmeyer regional institute for the Deaf, Friuli Venezia Giulia region, University Salerno) that is preparing a PCP and/or PPI ICTs for visually impaired people. The House Ambrosetti PCP competence center was also active in the INSPIRE networking project that provides training and case study material about PCP and PPI cases in the healthcare sector.

Netherlands

Check out the Netherlands country profile for an overview of the capacity building and other policy support measures for innovation procurement in the Netherlands. PIANOo is the national competence center for innovation procurement.

Some examples of PCPs in the Netherlands: In 2020 the city of Amsteram launched a PCP for monitoring the deformation of bridges. In 2019, AI for sewage water system PCP (waterboard Limburg), End 2013 to 2015 the province of Brabant concluded the Shockwave Jam PCP (in cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment) on Intelligent Transport Solutions for resolving shockwave traffic jams (Tender documents, testimony procurer). Some of the resulting solutions were successful in later procurements such as Talking Traffic and MobilityMovez. Waterboard Limburg launched a a cybersecurity / big data PCP, the Dutch ministry of defence is preparing a PCP on interoperable mobile radio.

Check out how the THALEA PCP has helped the Dutch startup NewCompliance to grow its business internationally.

Examples of PCPs implemented by group of procurers from different EU countries under Dutch law: The EU funded PCPs NIGHTINGALE on wearable sensors for patient monitoring (UMC Utrecht),  STARS on health stress reduction (Maastricht hospital) and V-CON are on virtual modelling of road infrastructure (Rijkswaterstaat).

Dutch procurers also participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP projects AI4CITIES on AI for climate neutrality (Amsterdam city), BROADWAY on interoperable mobile broadband for public safety (national police of the Netherlands), SHUTTLE on trace analysis by forensic laboratories (Netherlands Forensics Institute), Instand NGS4P on  next generation sequencing for personalised therapy (Erasmus University Medical Center), FABULOS on automated bus lanes (Helmond), THALEA (University Hospital Maastricht), SILVER (city of Eindhoven), PREFORMA (Beeld en Geluid), HNSciClouds (SURFsara), SMART@FIRE (National Disaster reponse agency) CHARM (Rijkswaterstaat) and SAEPP network of procurers that prepares a PCP on smart ambulance (University Medical Center Groningen).

Examples of PPIs implemented by group of procurers from different EU countries under Dutch law: OCRE PPI to deploy cloud services for research and education networks across Europe

Duth procurers also participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PPI projects STOPANDGO (Gemeente Helmond), THALEA PPI (University Hospital Maastricht), ECOQUIP (Erasmus University Medical Center) and SPEA (Duurzamen gebouwen Eindhoven). Dutch procurers participate also in the TRANSFORM network of procurers on PPI for sustainable transport (Rotterdam city), in the WATERPiPP networking project about innovation procurement in the water sector (Rotterdam commune, Deltares), in the SPPREGIONS project on PPI for energy efficient buildings, transport and catering (Rotterdam-The Hague region) and in the PPI4WASTE networking project that promotes PPI on resource efficiency and waste management (Rijkswaterstaat).

Finland

Check out the Finland country profile for an overview of the Finnish action plan, target, financial support and capacity building activities for innovation procurement. KEINO is the competence center for innovation procurement and Business Finland provides since 2009 financial incentives to Finnish public procurers to undertake innovation procurements. It supported also the participation of the cities of Vantaa and Oulu in the buyers group of the first EU funded PCP project SILVER.

Check out how the IMAILE PCP has helped the Finnish start-up Almerin grow its business on personalised e-learning.

Examples of PCPs implemented by a group of procurers from different countries under Finnish law: AI4CITIES on AI for climate neutrality (Forum Virium Helsinki) and FABULOS on automated bus lanes (ForumVirium Helsinki) 

Finnish procurers also participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP projects BROADWAY on interoperable mobile broadband for public safety (Finnish Security Network FIVIR), THALEA (Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District), IMAILE (Municipality of Konnevesi), SELECTforcities (Forum Virium Helsinki), PRACE3IP on supercomputing (CSC-Tieteen Tietotekniikan Keskus Oy) and in the buyers group of the EU funded PPI project INNOBOOSTER on office furniture and lighting (Hansel) and THALEA PPI (Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District).

Finnish procurers participated also in the EU funded networking project P4ITS that prepares a PPI to deploy Intelligent Transport Systems (Finnish Transport Agency, VTT) and the SAEPP network of procurers on smart ambulances (South Karelia Central Hospital). The Nordic Healthcare Group lead the INSPIRE networking project on innovation procurement in healthcare and the link between PCP and venture capital.

Belgium

Check out the Belgium country profile for an overview of the policy measures in support of innovation procurement in Belgium. Check out the action plan, target, capacity building and financial assistnance measures for innovation procurement in the Flanders region, implemented by PIO, the Flemish competence center for innovation procurement. There are also local targets: in 2014, Ghent city set a target to dedicate 10% of its annual ICT procurement budget to innovation.

In the meantime a number of PCPs have taken place in Belgium: for example the Brussels Metro launched in November 2020 the market consultation for a PCP on smart monitoring of people flow. In 2011 the innovative e-book platform PCP (CJSM) which results in one of the three solutions developed being procured in 2013. The e-book platform is still used in Flanders today. The sustainable greenhouses PCP (Flemish department of agriculture and fisheries) also developed three innovative solutions that were deployed. In 2019 the OPTIMO garbage car PCP (OV Limburg) started that aims to develop the garbage collection system of the future that can collect multiple separate fractions simultaneously, at the same or lower price with less mileage and higher customer satisfaction. The preliminary market consultation for a potential new PCP on road grass (Flemish waterways) as a resource for paper production has finished.

Examples of PCPs implemented by groups of procurers from different EU countries under Belgian law: BROADWAY on interoperable mobile broadband for public safety (Astrid), oncNGS on next generation sequencing for oncology (Sciensano) and SMART@FIRE on smart ICT for firefighters (Belgian Federal Home Affairs Ministry - IBZ).

Belgian procurers participate also in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP projects NIGHTINGALE on wearable sensors for patient monitoring (Catholic Univ Leuven), oncNGS on next generation sequencing for oncology (Institut Jules Bordet), SMART.MET on smart metering (CILE Liege, Vivaqua SCRL), POSIDON on soil decontamination (SPAQUE), THALEA (Hospital East Limburg), PREFORMA (koninklijk instituut voor het kunstpatrimonium), SELECTforcities (Digipolis Antwerp) and in the EU funded PCP project CHARM (Department of Mobility and Works).

Check out how the Belgian Smart mobility company Be-Mobile leveraged the Dutch Shockwave traffic jam PCP to accelerate its growth track.

Belgian procurers (city of Ghent) participate also in the EU funded PPI project FIRED-UP on fire fighting vehicles, in the P4ITS networking project (Flanders Region) and in the PPI4WASTE networking project that promotes PPI on resource efficiency and waste management (Association des cites et regions pour le recyclage et la gestion durable des ressources).

Spain

Check out the Spain country profile for an overview of capacity building and financial support measures for innovation procurement in Spain. 

In 2011 the Spanish government passed a law embedding PCP and PPI into the Spanish strategy for research and innovation, that planned financial incentives to public procurers for innovation procurement. Since then mostly PPIs but also several PCs have been implemented: for example, fog protection system PCP (Madrid), the ontological architecture PCP and the Hercules data enrichment and analysis PCP for the future research data mangement system of universities (Murcia + Conference of ICT rectors of Spanish universities). Following PCPs are under preparation: in-situ olive oil monitoring PCP (CADPER) and Polyfenol measurement in grapes PCP (CADPER). The national institute for cybersecurity (INCIBE) just finalised a preliminary market consultation for a cybersecurity PCPBeginning 2020 open market consultations were started for 10 new PCPs on maritime security, transfer of prisoners, rural security, organ preservation, U-space simulation environment, trial management/clinical studies, surface water quality monitoring, computer systems supporting decision-making in water managmeent, seawater desalination, distributed smart computing.

Examples of EU funded PCPs with buyers groups from several countries that are implemented under Spanish law: The EU funded projects ANTISUPERBUGS on infections (AQUAS + Catalan Institue of Oncology, FMT),  DECIPHER on mobile e-health are examples of PCPs implemented by groups of procurers from different EU countries under Spanish law. RITMOCORE on remote monitoring of arrythmia patients (Sant Pau and PAMT hospitals, AQUAS). 

Spanish procurers also participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP projects: BROADWAY on interoperable mobile broadband for public safety (ministry of interior), CIVILNEXT on IT system for external security policies (Guardia Civil), oncNGS on next generation sequencing for oncology (Catalan Institute for Oncology), MARINE-EO on marine earth observation (ministry of interior), SMART.MET on smart metering (Badajoz), eCARE on frailty prevention for elderly (CSI and Santander), PROEMPOWER on diabetes patient empowerment (Murcia health service), POSIDON on soil decontamination (Bilbao city, center of environmental studies), ARCHIVER on research archiving and preservation (High Physics Institute IFAE-PIC), LIVE INCITE (Hospital Clinic i Provencial de Barcelona), STARS on health stress reduction (Hospitals Parc Tauli and Sant Joan de Déu, Health Service Andaluz), THALEA (Parc Tauli Sabadell University Hospital), NYMPHA-MD (CSPT University Hospital), IMAILE (City of Viladecans), PREFORMA (Ayuntamiento de Girona), HNSciClouds (Institut de Fisica d’Altes Energies), QUACO (CIEMAT), EMPATTICS (Consellería de Sanidade Galicia, Servicio Aragonés de Salud), RELIEF (Servicio Andaluz de Salud)

Spanish procurers also participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PPI projects: THALEA II PPI on telemedicine (Parc Tauli Sabadell University Hospital), FENIX / ICEI on supercomputing (Barcelona Supercomputing Center), SPEA on sustainable buildings (Barcelona city council), PROLITE on lighting (Ente Vasco de la Energia), PAPIRUS on sustainable construction (SESTAOBERRI), PROBIS on sustainable construction (Energy Agency of Andalucia), CEPPI on energy efficient solutions for cities (Castello, Valencia) and SPPREGIONS on PPI for energy efficient buildings, transport and catering (Barcelona region).

Spanish procurers participate also in the P4ITS networking project that is preparing a PPI on intelligent transport systems (Vigo city council, OHL concessions Spain), the INSPIRE healthcare procurement networking project (AIAQS), EPP e-HEALTH network that is preparing e-health PCPs/PPIs for hospital procurers (Servizio Andaluz de Salud SAS, Servizio Madrileno de Salud SERMAS), the PRO4VIP networking project that is preparing a PCP and/or PPI ICTs for visually impaired people (Barcelona Macula Foundation research for vision, Agència de Qualitat i Avaluació Sanitàries de Catalunya AQuAS), the TRANSFORM network of procurers on sustainable transport (Barcelona city council), the BRODISE networking project on soil decontamination (Bilbao city council) and the PPI4WASTE networking project that promotes PPI on resource efficiency and waste management (Mancomunidad del Sur).

France

Check out the France country profile for an overview of the policy measures for innovation procurement in France. The French government set a target to dedicate 2% of central government public procurement expenditure to innovation. 

PPI4HPC (GENCI & CEA) and FENIX / ICEI (CEA) on supercomputing and HAPPI (Resah) on healthy ageing are example of groups of buyers from several EU countries that have launched a joint PPI procurement together under French law. These PPIs are implemented as a framework contract under French law (law of the lead procurer) from which the procurers in the other countries can buy via their own national legal framework. French procurers participate also in the EU funded PPI projects SYNCRO (Itinisère, Department of Mobility de l' Isère), INNOCAT on sustainable catering (Resah-Idf), PAPIRUS on sustainable construction (Grenoble city) and in the P4ITS networking project (ITS Bretagne, TOPOS Aquitaine) about PPI on intelligent transport systems and in the SPPREGIONS project on PPI for energy efficient buildings, transport and catering (West France region).

Check out how the PRACE3IP PCP and the PPI4HPC PPI have helped the French supplier Bull / ATOS bring more powerful and more energy efficient supercomputters to the market..

The RELIEF project is an example of a groups of healthcare procurers from several EU countries that are doing a joint PCP procurement under French law (lead procurer is Resah-Idf) about relieving chronic pain.

French procurers participate also in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP projects AI4CITIES on AI for climate neutrality (Paris region), BROADWAY on interoperable mobile broadband for public safety (ministry of interior), SHUTTLE on trace analysis by forensic laboratories (ministry of interior), oncNGS on next generation sequencing for oncology (Institue Curie and Hospices Civils de Lyon), Instand NGS4P on next generation sequencing for personalised therapy (Centre Anticancereux Leon Berard), SMART.MET on smart metering (Eau de Paris, SDEA Alsace Moselle), PRACE 3IP on energy efficient supercomputing (Genci), SMART@FIRE on smart ICT solutions for firefighter garments (SDIS fire department Bouches-du-Rhone), EMPATTICS (GCS D-SISIF Ile-de-France), HNSciClouds (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and QUACO (CEA). French procurers participate also in the V-CON PCP project (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment), the WATERPiPP networking project about innovation procurement in the water sector (Office International de l'eau) and in INSPIRE networking project on innovation procurement in healthcare and the link between PCP and venture capital (Resah-Idf: Reseau d'acheteurs Ile-de-France).

Lithuania

Check out the Lithuania country profile for an overview of capacity building and financial support measures for innovation procurement in Lithuania, implemented by the Lithuanian Agency for Science and Technology MITA (national competence center innovation procurement). The strategy for the Development and Improvement of the Lithuanian public procurement system for 2009-2013 and the Lithuanian innovation development programme 2014-2020 set a target for the share of innovation procurement to account for 5% of all public procurement in Lithuania. The ministry of economics developed guidelines for PCP and MITA provides co-financing for Lithuanian procurers to start PCP procurements.

With the support of MITA, 12 PCPs are currently ongoing: info system for blind and partially sighted (LT company for municipalities), emotion measuring device (Traika district), african swine fever control (agricutural chamber), landfill recovery (Kaunas region waste managemen center), LBchain PCP on blockchain solutions for the fintech sector (Lithuanian national bank), nano modified asphalt PCP (LT Road administration) to develop a nanomaterial modified asphalt mix to enhance road surface sustainability with high resistance to climatic factors, spatial 3D real estate registry PCP (Center of registers), real-time transport flow control PCP (Kaunas city), rechargeable hybrid drives PCP (Kaunas city), holistic animal therapy PCP (LT sea museum +  Kurtuvėnai Regional Park Directorate), traffic rationalization in the old town (Vilnius), smart lighting surgery PCP and innovative braces PCP (Santos clinic). 19 more PCPs are expected to start their call for tenders beginning 2020. In 2016 the ministry of defence already started a PCP for creating day/night surveillance devices, which was stopped unfortunately after phase 2 because no supplier's solution could meet the requirements. 

Lithuanian procurers also participate in the EU funded PCP SHUTTLE on trace analysis by forensic laboratories (Lithuanian Forensic Science Center).

Denmark

Check out the Denmark country profile for an overview of the policy measures for innovation procurement in Denmark.

With support from the Market Development Fund three PCPs started in 2014-2015 (overview Danish PCPs): in 2017 hospital PCP (group of Danish hospitals and regional healthcare authorities) finalised robotics solutions to reduce the spread of infections in hospital bathroom wards and for automation of sterilization centers. One of the successful companies (Blue Ocean Robotics) has raised significant venture capital to commercialise its solutions worldwide. The Climate PCP (Copenhagen, Tarnby, HOFOR) finalised in 2017 innovative solutions to better manage high quantities of rain water in urban areas. Two of those solutions have been deployed and are in use in the meantime (permeable asphalt and a sewer grate that separates water for flower beds before going to waste water). in 219 the Waste water PCP (DANVA + group of water utilities) finalised solutions that optimise the (re)use of resources in wastewater.

Check out how Danish disinfection robots developed in the hospital PCP are saving lives in the fight against the Corona virus and how the start-up behind it, Blue Ocean Robotics, is growing at a staggering speed. Learn how the waste water PCP helped the Danish startup Aquagreen in growing its business and sucessfully commercialising solutions that turn sludge into heat and fertilizer. 

Danish procurers participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP projects AI4CITIES on AI for climate neutrality (Copenhagen city), SILVER (city of Odense, South Denmark Region), NYMPHA-MD (Mental Health Services Capital Region Copenhagen), LIVE INCITE (Region Hovedstaden - Bispebjerg/Frederiksberg Hospital Copenhagen) and SELECTforcities (Copenhagen city). Danish procurers are also participating in the EU funded networking project P4ITS that is preparing a PPI procurement to deploy intelligent transport systems (North Denmark Region), the EPP e-HEALTH network preparing e-health PCPs/PPIs for hospital procurers (Zealand region), the SAEPP network of procurers that prepares a PCP on smart ambulance (Falck, Region Zealand) and in the SPPREGIONS project on PPI for energy efficient buildings, transport and catering (Copenhagen region).

Greece

Check out the Greece country profile for an overview of policy measures for innovation procurement in Greece. In Greece the ministry of economy's directorate general for public procurement is creating a competence center for innovation procurement. In 2015 PCP was added under the objectives of the Greek National Strategy for R&D&I (article 4).

Check out how the DECIPHER PCP has helped the Greek scale-up Gnomon Informatics grow its business across Europe.

The EU funded PCP SHUTTLE on trace analysis by forensic laboratories (KEMEA) and CIVILNEXT on IT system for external security policies (KEMEA, Ministry of Defence) are examples of PCPs implemented by a group of procurers from different countries under Greek law.

Greek procurers are participating in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP projects MARINE-EO on marine earth observation (Hellenic center for marine research), BROADWAY on interoperable mobile broadband for public safety (center for security studies), FABULOS on automated bus lanes (Lamia), PREFORMA on long term digital preservation (Greek Film Center) and in the networking project COMPLETE (Greek Research and Technology Network GRNET) that prepares the ground for PPI on novel optical networking solutions.

Hungary

Check out the Hungary country profile for an overview of policy measures in support of innovation procurement in Hungary. PCP and PPI are planned under the National Hungarian R&D&I strategy 2013-2020, with a special focus on healthcare, environmental, energy, educational, transport/logistics sectors. Already back in 2011-2012 during the EU funded RAPIDE project, the Észak-Alföld region already investigated how to incorporate PCP into their regional operational programme for the Structural Funds. However no national PCP projects have been started so far.

Hungarian procurers participate in the EU funded PCP project SMART.MET on smart metering (Budapest Waterworks) and in the EU funded PPI project ECOQUIP on medical equipment  (Semmelweis University Health Services Management Training Centre) and in the buyers group of the EU funded PPI project PROBIS on sustainable construction (City of Miskolc holding company) and CEPPI project on energy efficient solutions for cities (Budapest city). Észak-Alföld Regional Innovation Agency participated in the P4ITS network about PPI on intelligent transport systems.

Portugal

Check out the Portugal country profile for an overview of policy measures supporting innovation procurement in Portugal. In Portugal the Innovation Agency ANI is setting up a competence center on innovation procurement.

The EU funded MARINE-EO on marine earth observation (Directorate general on maritime policy) is an example of a PCP implemented by a group of procurers from different countries under Portuguese law.

Check out how the SELECT4CITIES PCP has helped the Portuguese SME Ubiwhere grow its business across Europe.

Portuguese procurers participate also in the buyers group of the EU funded PCPs SHUTTLE on trace analysis by forensic laboratories (Judiciary and Scientific policy laboratory), FABULOS on automated bus lanes (Public transport provider Porto), PROEMPOWER on diabetes patient empowerment (Servicos Partilhados do Ministerio da Saude Epe), POSIDON on soil decontamination (Baia do Tejo), in the SAEPP network of procurers ton smart ambulances (INEM) and in the BRODISE networking project on soil decontamination (Seixal Municipality).

Estonia

Check out the Estonia country profile for an overview of policy measures supporting innovation procurement in Estonia. The "Public sector as a smart customer" strategy in 2015 assigned the role as innovation procurement competence center to EEA (Enterprise Estonia) who manages a financial support scheme for Estonian public procurers to start PCPs and PPIs with co-financing from the European Structural Funds. 

Estonian procurers participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP project AI4CITIES on AI for climate neutrality (Tallinn), BROADWAY on interoperable mobile broadband for public safety (National infocommunication foundation), FABULOS on automated bus lanes (Ministry of economic affairs and communication), PREFORMA on long term digital preservation (Ministry of Culture - EVKM) and in the EURECA networking project that promotes PPI for green data center uptake (Ministry of Interior).

Czech republic

Check out the Czech Republic country profile for an overview of innovation procurement policy measures in Czech Republic.

The Na Františku Hospital started end 2019 a PCP to create an advanced comprehensive navigation and knowledge system for patients and visitors of Na Františku Hospital.

Czech procurers participate in the EU funded PCP BROADWAY on interoperable mobile broadband for public safety (National agency for communication and ICT), and in the networking project COMPLETE that prepares the ground for PPI on novel optical networking solutions (Czech education and scientific network CESNET).

Poland

Check out the Poland country profile for an overview of innovation procurement policy measures in Poland. April 2014 public procurement law was modified in Poland to pave the way for PCP implementation.

Polish procurers participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP project eCARE on frailty prevention for elderly (Falkiewicz hospital in Wroclaw) and QUACO on quadrupole magnets for accelerators (NCBJ), in the buyers group of the EU funded PPI projects ECOQUIP on medical equipment (Sucha Beskidzka Hospital), LCB-HEALTHCARE on low carbon healthcare (Rawicz Hospital) and CEPPI on energy efficient solutions for cities (Wroclaw).

Polish procurers participate also in the networking project COMPLETE that prepares the ground for PPI on novel optical networking solutions (Poznan supercomputing and networking center PSNC) and the EPP e-HEALTH networking project that is preparing e-health PCPs/PPIs for hospital procurers (University hospital Krakow).

Luxembourg

Check out the Luxembourg country profile for an overview of innovation procurement policy measures in Luxembourg.

Luxemburg procurers participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PPI project  HAPPI on healthy ageing (EHL - Entente des Hopitaux Luxembourgeoises) and in the P4ITS networking project that is preparing a PPI procurement to deploy intelligent transport systems (CRP Henri Tudor).

Switzerland

Check out the Switzerland country profile for an overview of innovation procurement policy measures in Switzerland.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research CERN based in Switzerland leads the buyers group of the PCP projects HNSciCloud on science cloud, QUACO on quadrupole magnets for accelerators and ARCHIVER on research archiving and preservation. The HNSciCloud PCP won the 2019 Ecoprocura prize for the ICT procurement of the year.

CERN participated also in the networking project PICSE that developed a roadmap for cross-border procurement for the Trusted Cloud Europea science use case.

Swiss procurers also participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP projrect CIVILNEXT on IT system for external security policies (International Organisation for Migration) and the EU funded PPI project FENIX / ICEI on supercomputing (ETHZ, CSCS).

Slovenia

Check out the Slovenia country profile for an overview of innovation procurement policy measures in Slovenia.

Slovenian procurers participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP project CIVILNEXT on IT system for external security policies (Center for European perspective), EMPATTICS (General Hospital Slovenj Gradec).

Croatia

Check out the Croatia country profile for an overview of innovation procurement policy measures in Croatia.

Croation procurers participate in the EU funded PCP HSMONITOR on health status monitoring (Dom zdravlja Zagreb – Centar) and in the EU funded PPI4WASTE networking project that promotes PPI on resource efficiency and waste management (Zagreb city holding).

Bulgaria

Check out the Bulgaria country profile for an overview of innovation procurement policy measures in Bulgaria.

Bulgarian procurers participate in the EU funded SPPREGIONS project on PPI for energy efficient buildings, transport and catering (Gabrovo city).

Romania

Check out the Romania country profile for an overview of policy measures supporting innovation procurement in Romania.

Romanian procurers participate in the buyers groups of the EU funded BROADWAY on interoperable mobile broadband for public safety (Special Telecommunications Service).

Cyprus

Check out the Cyprus country profile for an overview of policy measures for innovation procurement in Cyprus.

Cypriot procurers participate in the buyers group of the EU funded PCP CIVILNEXT on IT system for external security policies (ministry of foreign affairs). 

Latvia

Check out the Latvia country profile for an overview of innovation procurement policy measures in Latvia.

Malta

Check out the Malta country profile for an overview of innovation procurement policy measures in Malta.

Turkey

The EU funded PCP HSMONITOR on monitoring solutions to improve health status (Turkish ministry of health) and PROEMPOWER on improved detection and personalised care for diabetes (Turkish ministry of health) are examples of PCPs implemented by a group of procurers from different countries under Turkish law.

Note: Except where explicitly mentioned, the above national PCP and PPI approaches have not been notified to, and thus also not legally verified by, the European Commission.