Call for proposals

“Innovation Procurement Broker: Creating Links for the Facilitation of Public Procurement of Innovation” - COS-LINKPP-2017-2-02

 

Objective and description

The general objective of this call for proposals is to establish an Innovation Procurement Broker that will bring together and facilitate commercial links between

·         public buyers,

·         suppliers of innovation (with a special focus on SMEs and start-ups),

·         investors, and

·         researchers.

 

The specific objectives of this call for proposals are to:

·    Create adequate links between public administrations, research institutions and the private sector in order to exploit the procurement potential of large buyers or other aggregators of public procurement. Here the main goal remains to create new opportunities for SMEs and/or start-ups to develop new products, services and to grow or scale up their operations;

·         Develop and implement a sustainable method for the successful facilitation of public procurement of innovation within the broad area of topics related to sustainability and energy efficiency within the European Single Market;

·         Support the growth and development of innovative SMEs and start-ups by making it easier for them to address public demand through participation in public procurement of innovation;

·         Ensure the European dimension of the solutions to be brokered.

 

This call for proposals will support one pilot for the co-financing of one Innovation Procurement Broker to develop and implement a sustainable method for the successful facilitation of public procurement of innovation. A specific focus will be put on the broad area of topics related to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency within the European Single Market.

 

Eligible activities

In order to achieve the objectives of this call for proposals (as indicated above), the applicant shall act as Innovation Procurement Broker.

 

In the proposal, applicants must describe the activities to be carried out as outlined below. Moreover, applicants are free to propose additional activities if duly justified and in line with the objectives of this call for proposals.

a)     Define the role and fine tune the tasks of the Innovation Procurement Broker

b)    Promote and manage two networks of stakeholders in the European innovation eco-system

c)     Advise public buyers on the definition of their actual procurement needs

d)    Define innovative products or services that tackle actual needs of the public buyers

e)     Propose recommendations, provide advice and strengthen knowledge sharing

 

Eligible applicants

Applicants must be legal entities forming a consortium. A non-exhaustive list of types of entities that can participate in the consortium includes:

·         non-profit organisations (private or public);

·         public authorities (national, regional, local);

·         universities or educational institutions;

·         research centres;

·         profit making entities.

 

Natural persons are not eligible.

 

Only applications from legal entities established in the following countries are eligible:

·         EU Member States;

·         Countries participating in the COSME programme

http://ec.europa.eu/DocsRoom/documents/23201.

 

Consortia must have at least 2 members from at least 2 eligible countries. At least one member of the consortium has to be a public authority (European, national, regional, local). The coordinator of the consortium shall be a public body.

 

Budget and duration

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects is EUR 600.000,00. The maximum grant per project will be EUR 600.000,00.

 

EASME expects to fund one proposal.

 

The grant is limited to a maximum reimbursement rate of 90% of eligible costs.

 

The budget can be used for all operational purposes (e.g. networking activities, engaging with stakeholders, travelling for broker's activities in meetings required for the preparation and facilitation of public procurement procedures etc.). The cost of procurement of the relevant goods or services by public buyers is excluded from funding under this call.

 

All activities are to be completed by 1 July 2020. The project's duration must be between 18 months and 24 months.

 

Deadline for proposals’ submission

The deadline for submitting applications is 21 November 2017, 17:00 Brussels time.

 

Applicants are requested to go to http://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/cosme-eu-programmecompetitiveness-enterprises-and-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-smes and follow the procedure for submitting an application.

 

Further information

Please find attached the call documents.

 

EASME is available to answer questions relating to the content of the present call for proposals.

All questions must be sent by e-mail to EASME-COSME-LINKPP@ec.europa.eu. Answers will be published at https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/cosme.

 

More information: https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/cosme/topics/cos-linkpp-ipb-2017.html

 

 

Kind regards,

Rosemary

 

Rosemary STREVINIOTI

Head of Brussels Office
European Office of Cyprus
Rue du Luxembourg 3, 2nd floor
B-1000 Brussels
Tel./Fax: +32 (0) 2 280 22 85
E-mail: strevinioti.rozamaria@ucy.ac.cy

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE GREEK TRANSLATION IS PROVIDED AT REQUEST OF ANY INTERESTED MEMBER (based on the decision of 22.12.2016 of the EOC Administrative Council).