⚙ Innovation Partnership EU Tenders

An innovation partnership is an EU procurement procedure designed to develop innovative products, services, or works not yet available on the market and to subsequently purchase the resulting output. It combines R&D procurement with a supply contract in a single procedure.

The innovation partnership is used when a contracting authority needs a solution that does not yet exist on the market and cannot be obtained through existing procurement procedures. It is suitable for emerging technologies, new healthcare treatments, smart city solutions, and green innovations.

An innovation partnership is structured in successive phases mirroring R&D steps: research, development, and pilot/prototype. Contracting authorities can terminate the partnership after each phase and must set intermediate targets. Multiple partners can be selected initially, with numbers reduced through phases.

The remuneration must reflect R&D costs and reasonable profit. The profit element and the procurement of resulting supplies/services must represent fair market value. Innovation partnerships are typically high-value, long-duration contracts.

EU rules require at least 3 candidates to be invited provided enough qualified applicants exist. In practice, 3–5 partners are typically selected for the first phase, with the number reducing as phases progress toward a final supply contract.

Any economic operator — including SMEs, research institutions, universities, and consortia — can apply for innovation partnerships. The procedure is specifically designed to encourage innovative suppliers and R&D-capable organizations to engage with public sector challenges.