European Cluster Collaboration Platform

The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) has issued a call for tenders under the reference EISMEA/2025/OP/0030 for the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP). This procurement opportunity represents a service contract with an estimated value of 11,000,000 EUR, aimed at enhancing connections within clusters and ecosystems across the EU. The maximum duration for the contract is 48 months, and it emphasizes improving EU value chains while facilitating the green and digital transition of industrial ecosystems.

Eligible applicants are primarily large enterprises and consultancies with extensive experience in platform operations since the contract is marked as not suitable for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The call allows both individual applicants and consortiums, with a mandatory requirement for each participant to register for a Personal Identification Code (PIC). Applicants will submit bids electronically through the EU's Funding and Tenders Portal, with the submission deadline set for October 9, 2025.

Services provided through the ECCP will include partner searches, matchmaking events, project laboratories, and training sessions aimed at building capacity within the industrial community. The evaluation of tenders will focus primarily on quality (weighted at 75%) relative to cost (weighted at 25%), underscoring the importance of delivering technical excellence.

The tender documents, detailing specific requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission procedures, are available for download. The project expects to operate beyond the research phase, focusing instead on practical implementation and operational support for the ECCP. Importantly, no co-funding is required from applicants, as the full contract value will be funded by the EU upon successful delivery of services.

Overall, this opportunity presents a significant public procurement contract aimed at organizations capable of delivering sophisticated digital solutions in service of Europe's industrial ecosystem goals. The open call encourages a competitive response, with the public opening of submissions occurring on the same day as the deadline.

The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) has published a call for tenders, EISMEA/2025/OP/0030, for the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP). The TED reference for this tender is 147/2025 508506-2025. This is an open procedure, and submissions must be electronic. The estimated total value of the tender is 11,000,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 04/08/2025. The maximum contract duration is 48 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. This is not a framework agreement. The date and time of the public opening is 09/10/2025 at 15:00 Europe/Brussels time. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 09/10/2025 at 12:00 Europe/Brussels time. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 02/10/2025 at 06:00 Europe/Brussels time.

The ECCP aims to better connect clusters and ecosystems across the EU to facilitate the strengthening and creation of EU value chains, use clusters as investment hotspots, and implement the green and digital transition of the industrial ecosystems. The ECCP provides services to the cluster community to collaborate, such as partner search, matchmaking events, project labs, events for clusters and regional authorities, and cluster exchanges. It also aims to build capacity through regular webinars on industrial policy developments, trainings, information sessions, and green transition support. The ECCP also collects data to provide data-driven information and feedback for industrial and cluster policy. The main classification (CPV) code is 79400000, which refers to business and management consultancy and related services. The nature of the contract is for services.

The following documents are available for download:

1. Invitation to tender EISMEA2025OP0030 European Cluster Collaboration Platform (Published on 04/08/2025, Version 1, No translations available)
2. ECCP 2025 tender specifications part 1 - FINAL (Tender specifications - adm. part, Published on 04/08/2025, Version 1, No translations available)
3. ECCP 2025 tender specifications - part 2 - FINAL (Tender specifications, Published on 04/08/2025, Version 1, No translations available)
4. Annex 1-list of documents to be submitted 2025 OP 0030 (Published on 04/08/2025, Version 1, No translations available)
5. Annex 2-Declaration-honour-EISMEA2025OP0030 (Published on 04/08/2025, Version 1, No translations available)
6. Annex 2.1-Statement of turnover-EISMEA2025OP0030 (Published on 04/08/2025, Version 1, No translations available)
7. Annex 2.2 - Technical Capacity (Published on 04/08/2025, Version 1, No translations available)
8. Annex 3-Power of attorney-EISMEA2025OP0030 (Published on 04/08/2025, Version 1, No translations available)
9. Annex 4-List of identified subcontractors EISMEA2025OP0030 (Published on 04/08/2025, Version 1, No translations available)
10. Annex 5 -Letter of submission EISMEA2025OP0030 (Published on 04/08/2025, Version 1, No translations available)

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

FAQ's related to the eSubmission system:

1. How to proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents? Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. If the issue persists, clear the cache and cookies on the Internet browser. (Published on 13/02/2025 21:52)
2. Which Internet browsers does eSubmission support? Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. For the most up-to-date technical recommendations, click on the link System Requirements. (Published on 13/02/2025 21:52)
3. Is it possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline? No, the content of the submission is not accessible after submitting the tender as the system encrypts all attachments upon upload. (Published on 13/02/2025 21:50)
4. Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal? Submissions can be found in ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to participate. (Published on 17/10/2024 21:40)
5. Which size should attachments have? eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size. (Published on 17/10/2024 21:36)
6. How should I name attachments in eSubmision? Follow the System Requirements. See the following conditions: The attachment names must respect the naming conventions. (Published on 03/10/2024 17:39)
7. Can I submit a video in eSbmission? Which formats are supported? Check the System Requirements of eSubmission. (Published on 03/10/2024 17:37)
8. I received an invitation from the F&T Portal but cannot view the procurement documents. Invited candidates can only see the procurement documents after having selected an organisation. Go to F&T Portal, “My Invitations”. Click on “Select Organisation” from the “Action”. (Published on 03/10/2024 17:37)
9. Do I need to validate my PIC in order to submit a tender in eSubmission? The Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). (Published on 03/10/2024 17:36)
10. I have an issue uploading a file in eSubmission and it’s giving me an error. What do I do? Make sure it follows the technical requirements of the system. (Published on 03/10/2024 17:36)
11. How many attachments can I upload per submission? The maximum number of documents the system will allow you to upload per tender is 200 files. (Published on 03/10/2024 17:35)
12. Why do tenderers need a PIC? It is mandatory to register for a PIC if you intend to submit a tender or a request to participate. Only one PIC per organisation must be used. (Published on 23/04/2024 18:14)
13. How do I register my organisation and get a Participant Identification Code (PIC)? First, check if the organisation is already registered using the Search PIC tool under 'How to Participate' > Participant Register. (Published on 23/04/2024 17:07)
14. How many languages does the system support? The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages. (Published on 01/04/2024 20:56)
15. Which is the character set encoding in the system? The character set encoding is UTF-8. (Published on 23/02/2024 00:58)
16. Does the system use encryption to ensure the integrity and the confidentiality of the information? Yes, the system encrypts all uploaded documents, using an asymmetric key as an encryption mechanism. (Published on 23/02/2024 00:57)
17. Which file types does the system support? The supported file types depend on the type of submission you want to make. The allowed file types are specified within the system requirements linked to the procedure in question. (Published on 22/02/2024 00:55)
18. Can I view and edit my draft submission? Until the deadline for the submission has been reached, submissions in the draft status can be edited, viewed and deleted. (Published on 24/03/2023 22:32)
19. In the submission report, under the name of our entity, "Legal form: UNKNOWN" is displayed while in the system, our legal form was correctly displayed. Is this a problem for the submission? No, it is just a display issue. This is not blocking for you: you can submit. (Published on 03/08/2021 23:07)
20. I sent my submission on time and a few days later, I received an automatic email informing me that the deadline for the reception of submissions had been reached. Does this mean that my submission was not correctly sent? No, this is an auto-generated notification sent when the time limit of receipt defined for the call for tenders has been reached. Until then, you had the possibility of withdrawing. (Published on 03/08/2021 23:05)

In summary, this is a call for tenders by EISMEA for the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP). The goal is to enhance collaboration among clusters and ecosystems within the EU to strengthen value chains, promote investment, and facilitate the green and digital transition of industries. The project involves providing services such as partner searches, matchmaking events, training, and data collection to support industrial and cluster policies. The tender is open to organizations that can provide business and management consultancy services. The submission process is electronic, and applicants must adhere to specific guidelines regarding document formats, file sizes, and naming conventions. A Participant Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation. The tender will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio, and the maximum contract duration is 48 months.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of the tender, it is likely that eligible applicants include organizations with expertise in cluster collaboration, ecosystem development, business and management consultancy, and related services. This could include SMEs, large enterprises, consulting firms, research institutions, and other relevant organizations. The requirement for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) suggests that registered organizations are the intended applicants.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is an "invitation to tender," and the "Nature of the contract" is explicitly stated as "services."

Consortium Requirement: The text mentions that a PIC is mandatory to participate as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). This indicates that both single applicants and consortia are eligible to apply.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) aims to better connect clusters and ecosystems across the EU. This suggests that the geographic eligibility is primarily focused on the EU.

Target Sector: The target sector is primarily focused on clusters and industrial ecosystems. This includes activities related to strengthening EU value chains, using clusters as investment hotspots, and implementing the green and digital transition of industrial ecosystems. The main classification (CPV) code provided, 79400000, further specifies "Business and management consultancy and related services."

Mentioned Countries: The text explicitly mentions the EU (European Union) as the primary geographic focus of the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP).

Project Stage: The project stage is not explicitly mentioned, but based on the description, it appears to be focused on implementation and operational activities related to cluster collaboration, ecosystem development, and industrial transition. This suggests a stage beyond research and development, leaning towards demonstration, validation, and potentially scale-up.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the tender is 11,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with electronic submission.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered, as this is a procurement contract.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it can be inferred that there are multiple stages involved in the tender process. These stages likely include: publication of the call, submission of tenders, evaluation of tenders, selection of the winning tenderer, and contract award.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Summary:

This is an invitation to tender (EISMEA2025OP0030) issued by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) for the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP). The ECCP aims to enhance connections between clusters and ecosystems across the EU to strengthen EU value chains, promote clusters as investment hotspots, and facilitate the green and digital transition of industrial ecosystems. The estimated total value of the tender is 11,000,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 48 months.

The tender is an open procedure, meaning any eligible organization can apply. Submissions must be electronic. The deadline for receipt of tenders is October 9, 2025, at 12:00 Europe/Brussels time. The contracting authority will not reply to questions submitted after October 2, 2025, at 06:00 Europe/Brussels time.

The ECCP provides various services to the cluster community, including partner search, matchmaking events, project labs, events for clusters and regional authorities, cluster exchanges, webinars, trainings, and green transition support. The platform also collects data to inform industrial and cluster policy.

To participate, organizations must register for a Personal Identification Code (PIC), which is mandatory for both sole candidates and members of a consortium. The eSubmission system supports various file types, with a maximum attachment size of 50 MB and a maximum of 200 files per submission. The system is multilingual, supporting all 24 official EU languages, and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of information.

The tender documents, including the invitation to tender, tender specifications, and annexes, are available for download. These documents provide detailed information on the tender requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission procedures.