Pre-Commercial Procurement

PCP related initiatives in countries around Europe

Over the past few years, PCP related initiatives have emerged in a number of countries around Europe. To facilitate further experience sharing around Europe in this area, a collection of such initiatives will be published here on a regular basis as initiatives in Member States emerge and evolve. We would be grateful to receive information also about PCP related case studies or experiences in your country. Contact: Lieve Bos

Overview picture: Status of implementation of PCP - Status May 2012

Norway

Statoil and Gassnova, Norwegian oil and gass operators governed by public law, launched a pre-commercial procurement in July 2011 to get innovative solutions developed for carbon capture and storage. The PCP is currently ongoing with 5 vendors representing different carbon capture technology approaches. The Carbon Capture Mongstad PCP project is a very large industrial and technological development project, and a plant of similar size has never been built before. Short description of the Statoil - Gassnova carbon capture PCP.

Finland

Since 2009 Finnish research and innovation agency TEKES is running a funding program that provides financial incentives to Finnish public procurers undertaking "innovative procurements" such as for example PCPs. For 2012, TEKES has foreseen for example a budget of 6 Mio to co-finance 4 to 5 PCP projects. Short description and powerpoint presentation of Finnish demand driven innovation strategy and TEKES innovation procurement funding program.

Sweden

In 2010-2011 the Swedish research and innovation agency VINNOVA developed a funding program that provides financial incentives to Swedish public procurers undertaking "public innovation procurements" such as for example PCPs (for getting new solutions for mid-to-long term needs developed) and technology procurement (equivalent to FCP used in UK) for deploying new solutions addressing short-to-mid-term needs. April 2011 VINNOVA launched a specific call for proposals, that remains open during 2012, to support Swedish public procurers in undertaking 3 to 5 PCP projects. Short description of Swedish PCP strategy, VINNOVA public innovation procurement funding program (presentation), first Swedish PCP case example as well as case examples of Swedish longstanding experience with technology procurement.

Germany

In 2012 the German BMWI dedicated a budget for providing financial incentives to German public procurers for undertaking R&D intensive public procurements such as for example PCPs. Short description of these German PCP initiatives, including also some information on the first emerging PCP cases involving German public procurers.

Italy

During 2011-2012 Italy has been working to introduce PCP into its research and innovation policy framework as well as into Italian legisation, an develop an central government approved PCP hanbook for Italian public procurers. A first PCP case in the region of Lombardia has also started based on this above Italian framework for PCP. Presentation of the Lombardia case and short description of the Italian PCP policy framework, including some info on Lombardia case as well.

Belgium

The Flanders region in Belgium developed in 2009 an integrated approach to procurement of innovation that covers the complete path starting from political ambitions and procurement needs for innovative solutions, up to the final procurement (pre-commercial and/or commercial). There are currently two PCP projects ongoing (related to e-books and building sites). Description and powerpoint presentation on the Flemish integrated approach.

United Kingdom

In the UK there are a number of public sector organisations that have prepared themselves for PCPs and/or have already undertaken some PCPs.

The NIC (National Innovation Center) of the UK NHS (National Health Service) applies an integrated approach to procurement of innovation that combines the use of pre-commercial procurement (PCP), for getting solutions developed for mid-to-long term innovation procurement needs, and Forward Commitment Procurement (FCP) for deploying solutions addresing short-to-mid term innovation procurement needs. Description with case examples of NIC NHS combined PCP - FCP innovation procurement approach.

The UK ETI approach 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. This case was notified to the European Commission and the ETI PCP approach was found to be compliant with competition rules and not to constitute State aid

Spain

In 2011 the Spanish government passed a law embedding pre-commercial procurement into the Spanish strategy for research and innovation, setting a target of 3% of the budget of the General State Administration to be spent on innovative public procurement (including PCP), and mandating the Spanish center for research and innovation (CDTI) to develop a financial incentive scheme for this. Short description and presentation on Spanish strategy related to PCP.

Hungary

During the EU funded RAPIDE project, the Hungarian Észak-Alföld Regional Innovation Agency (INNOVA) investigated the feasibility of incorporating PCP practices into their regional operational programme for the Structural Funds. Thanks to that, Hungary is now the first EU-10 country that is preparing itself to launch a PCP pilot. Description and powerpoint presentation on the Hungarian Észak-Alföld PCP experience.

Austria

In 2011 Innovation promoting public procurement was included as priority in the Austrian federal strategy for research, technology and innovation and the Austrian concept for "Innovation Promoting Public Procurement" was worked out by the Austrian Federal ministries for Innovation, Technolgy and Economy (BMVIT and BMWFJ). The first Austrian PCP pilot was launched in the fall of 2011. Short description and presentation on PCP in Austria.

Denmark

Coming soon.

Netherlands

Coming soon.