Public Procurement represents approximately 14% of the EU GDP. However, less than half of this budget is purchased from SMEs.

Public procurement of innovation (PPI) broadly refers to any public procurement that has one or both of the following aspects:

- buying the process of innovation;

- buying the outcomes of innovation.

Public procurement of innovation may commence with research and development of products, services or processes that do not yet exist. Public buyers state their need with little to no concrete idea of the solution and support innovative businesses and researchers in finding the perfectly suited product, service or process. In this way, the public buyer effectively becomes part of the innovation lifecycle from the very beginning of product or service development.

Furthermore, public buyers may choose innovative products, services or processes that are new in the market instead of renewing or replicating existing procurement contracts.

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects is EUR 4 000 000.

EASME expects to grant projects co-financing between EUR 800 000 and EUR 1.5 million. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

For more information see here