During the first 12 months, the InnoMatch consortium completed all foreseen tasks and activities, following the principles and requirements of the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme. Below are summarised the key achievements, aligned with the main project objectives and KPIs:
- Elaboration of a Project handbook setting the project management rules and internal communication tools. Amendment preparation, followed by a successful submission and approval by the Funding Authority.
- Laying the foundations of the data management process and practices throughout the project duration, with the first version of the Data Management Plan delivered in month 6.
- Preparation and execution of the first wave of the open call for EIC Awardee + Buyer ( OC1 wave1). The call was launched on January 16, 2025, and the winners were informed at the end of July 2025, directly proceeding with the contracting process preparation.
- Preparation and execution of the open call for public and private buyers (OC2 buyers). The call was launched a month after the call for EIC Awardee + Buyer (February 7, 2025) and remained open for 4 months. The buyers’ unmet needs were selected by external evaluators.
- Conducting a series of online and onsite Capacity building sessions used as a tool to attract potential applicants for the two open calls running during the first period (OC1 wave1 and OC2 for buyers).
- Promotion of OC1 wave1 and recruitment of applicants - info webinars providing insights on the call requirements, eligibility, and the application process on the F6S platform; promotion at external events; Matchmaking sessions organised as a tool to attract applicant EIC awardees and Buyers.
- Promotion of OC2 buyers - info webinars providing information on the applications process and the call details, promotion at bigger external events, and targeted direct outreach and scouting (such as direct mailing, one2one calls and in person meetings with buyers). In order to support the onboarding of the buyers, which was initially considered a challenge for the project, an Expression of interest was launched early in the project, so as to build a pool of interested buyers even before the call for public and private buyers is launched (OC2).
- Design and launch of an Expression of interest for external evaluators for the InnoMatch open calls. A pool of 10 experts with profiles matching the InnoMatch scope was created.
- Evaluation & Selection of OC1 wave1 companies conducted by external experts, led by F6S, and overseen by the InnoMatch Selection Committee and the Funding Authority.
- Evaluation & Selection of the collected under OC2 unmet needs of buyers. The evaluation was conducted by external experts, led by ICLEI Europe, with the close support from F6S, the InnoMatch Selection Committee and the Funding Authority.
- Setup of the InnoMatch Programme framework and relevant templates.
- Design of the InnoMatch Aggregation exercise and templates for the selected buyers’ unmet needs coming from the call for public and private buyers (OC2).
- Design of the InnoMatch Growth sessions to be conducted as part of the InnoMatch Programme, and in parallel to the pilots / POCs deployment, so as to increase the chances for potential adoption and further commercialisation of the products/services which received funding under InnoMatch.
- Building synergies since the project's early start, within the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme, followed also by active wider project promotion at bigger external events, and networking.
- Elaborating the final draft of the first InnoMatch Guidance document, providing valuable insights on innovation procurement practices and regulations, aligned with the current initiatives and requirements within the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme scope and beyond.
