InnoMatch project - Open call 1 EIC Awardee + Buyer (wave 2)

The InnoMatch project aims to connect European Innovation Council (EIC) Awardees, who are innovative SMEs and start-ups, with public and private buyers to facilitate pilot testing of their innovative solutions. This initiative operates under the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme and is funded by Horizon Europe, aiming to bridge the gap between innovation and market needs. The current call, titled "Open Call 1 EIC Awardee + Buyer (wave 2)," is open from November 3, 2025, to February 4, 2026.

Eligible applicants must be EIC Awardees paired with a committed Buyer, either a public or private entity with unmet innovation needs. Funding available totals €2.28 million, with each pilot receiving up to €60,000 to support proof-of-concept demonstrations. The project specifically targets five thematic sectors including agriculture, digital transformation, energy, health, and construction, reflecting the needs of the procurement market.

The application process involves a two-stage evaluation: first, an internal eligibility check, followed by external evaluations by two independent experts. Successful applicants will participate in the "Prepare, Deploy & Assess" program, which is structured into three phases: Prepare lasts two months, Deploy spans six months, and Assess takes four months. This structured support aims to increase the chances of pilot success and the subsequent adoption of solutions.

Participants in this open call must submit their applications through the F6S platform, which maintains confidentiality and data privacy throughout the process. While specific co-funding requirements are not defined, committed Buyers are expected to contribute resources to the pilots, facilitating real-world testing. The anticipated success rate for this highly competitive opportunity is expected to be under 10%, with only 12 pilots selected from this call.

InnoMatch represents a strategic investment by the EU to enhance public and private procurement systems as engines of innovation, providing a structured pathway for EIC Awardees to demonstrate their technologies in collaborative settings with buyers.

InnoMatch project Open call 1 EIC Awardee + Buyer (wave 2)

This is a cascade funding opportunity.

General Information:

Opening date: 03 November 2025
Deadline: 04 February 2026 17:00 (Brussels time)
Deadline model: single-stage
Status: Open For Submission
Expected duration of participation: The InnoMatch open call 1 for EIC Awardee + Buyer, wave 2 will be accepting applications for three months.
Total funding available: 2,28 €
Project acronym: InnoMatch
Full name of the EU funded project: Matching innovators with buyers
Grant agreement number: 101165966
Topic: HORIZON-EIC-2023-INNOVPRO-01-01 - Support to test EIC innovations for public and private procurers

Submission & evaluation process:

The EIC Awardee is the applicant and is responsible to fill the application form on behalf of the pair of EIC Awardee + committed Buyer.

Submission process:
The full documentation kit for this call is available at: https://innomatchproject.eu/open-call-for-eic-awardee-and-buyer-wave-2/
Only proposals submitted through the official open call submission tool - the F6S platform, and within the Call duration will be accepted: https://www.f6s.com/innomatch-oc1-wave2-eic-awardee-buyer/apply
Only the documentation that is required to be attached in the online application form will be considered during the evaluation.
Personal data privacy during submission will be managed according to the InnoMatch open call 1 EIC Awardee + Buyer, wave 2 Guidelines for applicants available on the InnoMatch website: https://innomatchproject.eu/

The evaluation process has two main stages:
Eligibility check - performed internally, by the InnoMatch partners.
Remote (external) evaluation - performed by external experts.

After the eligibility check, the shortlisted applications will proceed to external (remote) evaluation where each proposal will be evaluated by two (2) external expert evaluators with relevant expertise and experience, bound by a confidentiality agreement and non-conflict of interest declaration. The evaluation criteria are described in detail in the open call Guidelines for applicants available on the InnoMatch website.

At the end of the evaluation, the applications that are scored above the threshold, and for which there is a significant divergence in the scores provided by the two evaluators, will be considered by them in consensus meetings. In case of doubts, need for additional clarifications, or ties the applicants will be interviewed. Finally, the proposals will be ranked taking into account the revised scores from the consensus process.

As a result, in the second wave of open call 1 EIC Awardee + Buyer will be selected up to 12 pilots. The applicants will be informed on the decision related to their applications via a dedicated email. The final list of funded third parties will also be published on the InnoMatch website.

Further information:

About the InnoMatch project:
InnoMatch is powered by the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme, an initiative of the European Innovation Council (EIC), that aims to facilitate access to procurement markets in Europe and at the global level, ensuring increased market opportunities for innovative SMEs and start-ups and contributing, at the same time, to their scaling up.

InnoMatch is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) funded under the Horizon Europe Programme, GA Nr. 101165966. It was launched on 1 September 2024 and will be implemented over a period of 36 months.

Finding first customers is one of the main barriers that is hampering access to market and commercialisation of innovative solutions developed by innovative SMEs. To facilitate the uptake of innovation procurement, InnoMatch will support the pilot testing or proof-of-concept demonstration of innovative solutions provided by the EIC Awardees for public and private procurement customers (Buyers). The success rate of the pilots / PoCs will be increased by the tailored InnoMatch “Prepare, Deploy & Assess” Programme, which aims to guide and monitor the project deployment. Additional supporting activities for the EIC Awardees and the Buyers are foreseen to maximise impact and growth.

Task description:

The success rate of the pilots will be increased by the tailored InnoMatch “Prepare, Deploy & Assess” Programme, which aims to guide and monitor the project deployment, and to maximise the successful implementation of the pilots. The InnoMatch consortium will support the pilot implementation throughout its three main phases:
Phase 1: Prepare - 2 months
Phase 2: Deploy - 6 months
Phase 3: Assess - 4 months

Besides a successful deployment, InnoMatch envisions the adoption and replication of the tested innovative solutions. Therefore, additional supporting activities with EIC Awardees & Buyers are foreseen to maximise impact and growth.

Summary:

The InnoMatch project's Open Call 1, Wave 2, focuses on connecting European Innovation Council (EIC) Awardees with public and private sector buyers to pilot and demonstrate innovative solutions. This initiative, funded under the Horizon Europe Programme, aims to overcome the barrier of finding initial customers, which often hinders the market entry and scaling up of innovative SMEs and startups. The call provides support for pilot testing and proof-of-concept demonstrations, with a total funding of 2.28 €. The application process requires an EIC Awardee to apply on behalf of themselves and a committed buyer. The selected projects will undergo a "Prepare, Deploy & Assess" program to ensure successful implementation and maximize impact. The evaluation process involves eligibility checks and external expert evaluations, with potential interviews for clarification. Ultimately, up to 12 pilots will be selected in this wave, with the goal of fostering the adoption and replication of innovative solutions in procurement markets.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant is an EIC Awardee, who must apply on behalf of a pair consisting of the EIC Awardee and a committed Buyer (public or private procurement customer). The opportunity targets innovative SMEs and start-ups that have received an EIC Award.

Funding Type: Cascade funding (grant). The InnoMatch project is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) that provides support for pilot testing or proof-of-concept demonstrations.

Consortium Requirement: A pair consisting of an EIC Awardee and a committed Buyer is required. The EIC Awardee is the applicant.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The InnoMatch project aims to facilitate access to procurement markets in Europe and at the global level. The geographic eligibility is therefore broad, encompassing Europe and potentially international participants.

Target Sector: The program targets innovative SMEs and start-ups across various sectors, focusing on those with solutions relevant to public and private procurement. The topic HORIZON-EIC-2023-INNOVPRO-01-01 specifies support to test EIC innovations for public and private procurers, so it is cross-sectoral.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the focus is on Europe and potentially global markets. The program is funded by the EU and aims to facilitate access to procurement markets in Europe and at the global level.

Project Stage: The project stage is pilot testing or proof-of-concept demonstration. The program supports the testing of EIC innovations for public and private procurers.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is 2.28 €. It is unclear if this is 2.28 million Euro or another amount. The text mentions up to 12 pilots will be selected.

Application Type: Open call. Specifically, it is "InnoMatch project - Open call 1 EIC Awardee + Buyer (wave 2)".

Nature of Support: Money. The selected EIC Awardee + Buyer pairs will receive funding to support their pilot projects.

Application Stages: The evaluation process has two main stages: Eligibility check and Remote (external) evaluation. Applications that pass the eligibility check proceed to external evaluation by two experts. Applications with divergent scores are considered in consensus meetings, and interviews may be conducted for clarification.

Success Rates: Up to 12 pilots will be selected in the second wave of open call 1. The success rate is not explicitly stated, but given the competitive nature of EU funding, it is likely to be below 10%.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

The InnoMatch project, powered by the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme and funded under Horizon Europe, aims to connect innovative SMEs and start-ups (EIC Awardees) with public and private procurement customers (Buyers) to facilitate the uptake of innovation procurement. This open call (wave 2) invites EIC Awardees to apply on behalf of a pair consisting of themselves and a committed Buyer for pilot testing or proof-of-concept demonstration of their innovative solutions. The selected pairs will receive funding and support through the InnoMatch "Prepare, Deploy & Assess" Programme, which includes three phases: Prepare (2 months), Deploy (6 months), and Assess (4 months). The goal is to increase the success rate of the pilots, promote the adoption and replication of tested solutions, and maximize the impact and growth of the participating companies. The application process involves an eligibility check and external evaluation by experts, with a consensus process to resolve divergent scores. Up to 12 pilots will be selected. The total funding available is 2.28 €. The call is open from 03 November 2025 to 04 February 2026. The application must be submitted through the F6S platform.