Reinforcing synergies between experimentation spaces and innovation procurement

This call HORIZON-EIE under Horizon Europe Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems (2027.1) funds Pre-Commercial Procurement (HORIZON-PCP) actions to link public procurers with experimentation spaces (test beds, living labs, regulatory sandboxes) and regulators to accelerate market uptake of innovative solutions. It is open to transnational consortia of public buyers and cooperating regulatory or certification bodies; developers, industry and research organisations are not direct beneficiaries but may compete as tenderers in the PCP. The indicative budget is €10 million for around one project, opening 1 June 2027 with a single-stage deadline of 15 September 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time. Proposals must allocate at least 50% of eligible costs to PCP procurement, include a lead procurer and deployment commitment or fast-track option, and comply with Horizon Europe General Annex H and PCP model tender requirements.

Reinforcing synergies between experimentation spaces and innovation procurement

What it funds

Summary

A Horizon Europe HORIZON-PCP pre-commercial procurement (PCP) call that funds consortia of public procurers to run joint PCPs which integrate experimentation spaces (test beds, living labs, regulatory sandboxes) and cooperation with competent regulatory and certification bodies. The action finances the procurers to prepare and run a transnational PCP so suppliers compete for R&D contracts; it does not fund companies to do R&D directly.

Budget & deadlines:Indicative budget for the topic: €10.0 million total. Typical grant size per selected consortium: around €10.0 million. Planned opening date: 01 June 2027. Deadline (single-stage): 15 September 2027, 17:00 Brussels time. Action type: HORIZON-PCP (Pre-commercial Procurement).

Who can apply

Eligible applicants are consortia of public procurers (lead procurer + participating buyers) from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries, working together on a transnational PCP. Relevant competent regulatory and certification bodies should be included as partners. Developers, industry and research organisations are not direct beneficiaries under the PCP grant but may compete in the procurement tenders launched by the procurers.

Key eligibility and design points

1. 1Must be a consortium of public buyers with similar procurement needs and a designated lead procurer.
2. 2Project must use experimentation spaces during R&D and cooperate with regulatory/certification bodies; testing environments can serve as regulatory sandboxes.
3. 3PCP procurement costs are eligible; additional project costs must not exceed 50% of total eligible costs. Financial support to third parties (incentives to adopters) allowed up to €200 000 per third party.

How it works

The grant funds the procurers to prepare and run a joint PCP (typically multi-phase: solution design, prototyping, original development and testing) and to coordinate testing in living labs/test beds and engagement with regulators. Winning suppliers receive procurement contracts from the procurers (suppliers are selected via competitive tendering performed by the procurers).

Practical notes

Procurers must declare if they plan a fast-track PCP deployment option (e.g. procure a successful solution during the project, prepare a follow-up procurement, adopt open-source solutions, or provide incentives to end-users). Proposals must follow PCP-specific rules in Horizon Europe General Annex H and the Model Grant Agreement for HORIZON-PCP actions ¹.

Apply through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: the topic page and submission system open/close on the dates above. See the Topic description, General Annexes and PCP guidance on the Portal for application, evaluation and procurement requirements. Suggested starting point: EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Footnotes

1. 1See Horizon Europe General Annex H for specific PCP/PPI rules and the HORIZON-PCP model grant/tender documents available on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Opportunity: Reinforcing synergies between experimentation spaces and innovation procurement (HORIZON-EIE-2027-01-CONNECT-02)

Core facts

Call: Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems (2027.1). Topic ID: HORIZON-EIE. Type of action: HORIZON-PCP (Pre-Commercial Procurement) implemented as a HORIZON Action Grant, budget-based (HORIZON-AG). Opening planned: 01 June 2027. Deadline: 15 September 2027, 17:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Purpose and scope

This Horizon Europe topic funds joint pre-commercial procurement (PCP) actions by consortia of public procurers to shorten time-to-market for innovations by reinforcing synergies between innovation procurement and experimentation spaces (test beds, living labs, regulatory sandboxes). Projects must enable innovators to develop and test solutions immediately in cooperation with public buyers and — where relevant — with competent regulatory and certification bodies. The topic targets procurers with similar procurement needs across EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries and complements PCP calls elsewhere in Horizon Europe.

Expected outcomes:Outcomes include advancing public sector modernisation, reinforcing EU strategic autonomy and supply chain resilience by opening procurement markets to SMEs and startups, increasing opportunities for market uptake and economies of scale, contributing where relevant to standardisation/regulation/certification, achieving at least one successful solution ready for deployment during or shortly after the PCP, and supporting uptake through collaborative procurement and demand-side market creation ¹.

1. 1Reinforce cooperation between procurers, testbeds/living labs/regulatory sandboxes and regulatory/certification bodies.
2. 2Implement joint PCP procurement (phased approach: design, prototyping, original development/testing) in compliance with General Annex H of the Horizon Europe Work Programme.
3. 3Facilitate transnational testing and early regulatory engagement (regulatory sandbox function) to remove barriers and accelerate market entry.
4. 4Support third-party incentives for final end-user uptake (financial support to third parties up to €200,000 per beneficiary project).

Eligibility and consortium requirements

Lead applicants and beneficiaries: consortia of public procurers (public buyers). The funded entity(ies) must be procurers wishing to implement a joint PCP and must engage relevant competent regulatory and certification bodies that want to cooperate during the PCP. Developers, industry and research organizations are not direct beneficiaries of this grant topic — they will participate as bidders in the PCP tenders launched by the procurer consortium.

Eligible applicant types:Primary eligible applicants: public procurers (local, regional, national public authorities, public hospitals, public universities acting as buying authorities). The topic also requires engagement of regulatory or certification bodies as cooperating participants. Associated partners and third parties (test beds, living labs) may participate in the consortium. Private companies, startups and research organisations are NOT direct beneficiaries under the grant; they compete as tenderers in the PCP procurement that the beneficiaries run.

Consortium requirement:A consortium is required: PCP actions target transnational consortia of procurers with similar procurement needs. The lead procurer is appointed to coordinate and run the joint PCP procurement on behalf of the buyers group. The consortium must include relevant competent regulatory and certification bodies where applicable.

Funding characteristics

This topic provides a Horizon grant to the consortium of procurers to run a joint PCP. The grant can fund the PCP procurement costs (direct PCP contractor budgets) and additional eligible costs needed to prepare, implement and embed the PCP. Specific General Annex H rules apply to PCP/PPI actions.

Funding type and amount:Type: grant (Horizon-PCP). Total topic budget: approximately €10.00 million (indicative). Expected EU contribution per project: around €10.00 million (indicative — the topic foresees around one grant).

Forms of eligible funding within this PCP action:PCP procurement costs are eligible (actual costs). Additional project costs for preparation, open market consultation, tender design, testing, validation, supporting uptake, dissemination, monitoring and management are eligible subject to the 50/50 rule (PCP procurement costs must represent at least 50% of total eligible costs; additional costs may be up to 50%). Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties (grants) to incentivise final end-user uptake, maximum €200,000 per third party.

Project design and implementation essentials

Projects must follow PCP procurement phases as defined in the Horizon General Annex H and the HE PCP/PPI model tender documents. Typical structure: (1) preparation stage (open market consultation, development of common specifications and evaluation criteria, joint procurement agreement) and (2) execution stage (publication of contract notice, competitive procurement with minimum required tenderer numbers, phased R&D contracts for solution design, prototyping, and original development including installation and testing). The PCP may use a fast-track variant where procurers buy successful solutions during the project when budgeted.

1. 1Minimum number of contracted PCP suppliers: normally at least three to start the PCP phase 1 (except exceptional security/capability constraints).
2. 2Phased procurement contracts: Phase 1 solution design, Phase 2 prototyping, Phase 3 original development/limited test series and installation; second and third phase may be combined in fast-track PCPs where appropriate and allowed.
3. 3Monitoring and evaluation: selection and evaluation of third-party tenderers must be based on best value for money award criteria; independant external experts may be used for evaluating tenders.
4. 4Regulatory engagement: involving regulatory and certification bodies enables use of the PCP testing environment also as a regulatory sandbox and early identification of cross-border regulatory compliance issues.

Geographic and sectoral scope

Geographic scope: EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries (eligibility as per General Annex B). The call targets transnational buyers’ groups and may involve regulatory/certification bodies from multiple countries to test cross-border compliance. Sectoral scope: open across all areas of public sector interest linked to EU strategic priorities. The topic is technology-agnostic and can fund single-technology or multi-technology end-to-end solutions, with emphasis on strategic areas where the public sector buys innovation (e.g. health, transport, energy, environment, digital/AI, security, smart cities).

Mentioned countries and regions:Explicitly: EU and Associated Countries; widening/moderate and emerging innovator countries are referred to in the broader EIE destination and other topics. No specific Member States are singled out for this PCP topic. The activity is Europe-focused and transnational in nature.

Applicant resources, costs and co-funding

Budget and co-funding: PCP projects must budget for the PCP procurement costs. Procurers are expected to provide or commit the procurement budgets required to run the PCP; in fast-track PCPs procurers must include budget in the proposal to purchase at least one solution during the project. The Horizon grant funds up to the eligible share (as specified by the topic and General Annexes) — specific rules on funding rates and eligible costs are in General Annex G and H. Third party financial incentives are allowed up to €200,000 per third party and must be paid as grants by beneficiaries.

Co-funding requirement:Co-funding is required in practice because procurers must commit procurement budgets to purchase R&D services from market providers. The PCP procurement costs paid to contractors must be foreseen in the consortium’s budget or secured by the procurers. The Horizon grant funds procurement and additional costs but procurers must demonstrate financial commitment for PCP purchases where required (e.g. fast-track PCP purchase during project).

Application and evaluation

Application submission: single-stage call; submit Part A and Part B through the Funding & Tenders Portal. Use the HE PCP application templates available in the Submission System. Proposals must include detailed procurement planning, joint procurement agreement, open market consultation plan, budget split showing PCP procurement costs (D.5) and other eligible costs, timing of procurement phases and deliverables required under General Annex H.

Application type:Open call (single-stage) via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Submission system opens on planned opening date stated on the topic header.

Application stages and evaluation:The call uses a single-stage evaluation for grant selection. Applicants must meet admissibility, eligibility and award criteria. The evaluation uses standard Horizon scoring (0-5) with thresholds (normally ≥3 per criterion and overall ≥10) and specific PCP deliverable/milestone requirements defined in General Annex H and the HE PCP templates. After grant award, the consortium must publish contract notices in TED, run the competitive PCP procurement and submit mandatory PCP deliverables and contract award notices to the granting authority per Annex H.

1. 1Application form structure: Part A (administrative data) and Part B (technical description) using the HE PCP templates.
2. 2Mandatory deliverables include: prior information notice for open market consultation; report on preparation phase; completed call for tender documents (based on the HE PCP/PPI model tender); signed joint procurement agreement confirming buyers group commitment.
3. 3Execution deliverables include: TED contract notice, contract award notices, evaluation reports, validation assessments per PCP phase and demonstration to granting authority.

Success probability and selection context

Success rate: Not specified in the topic text. PCP grants are highly competitive; available budget for this topic is indicative (approx. €10M for around 1 grant). Applicants should treat success rates as low-to-moderate and prepare fully compliant, demand-driven, technically strong proposals with clear procurer commitments and properly costed PCP procurement budgets.

Typical project maturity and technology readiness:Expected project maturity: the PCP covers pre-commercial R&D procurement (from concept/solution design through prototyping to validation and limited test installations) typically targeting TRL progression appropriate to PCP (from low/mid TRL towards demonstrator/validation in operational conditions). The goal is to have at least one innovative solution ready for deployment during or soon after the project.

Templates, forms and guidance to use

Mandatory templates and references for applicants: HE PCP application templates (Part A and Part B) available in the Submission System; HE PCP/PPI model tender documents to prepare the procurement; General Annex H of the Horizon Europe Work Programme (PCP/PPI specific rules); Application Form guidance, HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreement (HE Unit MGA / Action MGA), and the Funding & Tenders Portal online manual. Applicants must use the standard HE PCP evaluation form templates. The submission wizard in the Portal guides steps for Part A entry and Part B upload.

Risks and critical success factors

Critical risks include insufficient procurer financial commitment to procurement budgets, inadequate open market consultation leading to low quality market responses, regulatory constraints hampering testing or procurement cross-border, and failure to involve relevant regulatory/certification bodies early. Success factors: strong transnational buyers’ commitments with budgeted PCP procurement costs, early engagement with regulators and testbeds, robust procurement documents based on HE PCP model tenders, clear evaluation processes to select multiple suppliers and well-designed validation/deployment plans.

Nature of support to beneficiaries:Monetary support (grant funding) to procurer consortia for preparation and execution of PCP procurement and related activities. Funding can include the funds to run procurement processes and pay the selected PCP contractors (PCP procurement costs), plus additional grant-funded activities. The action can include financial support to third parties (grants) to incentivise final end-user uptake (max €200,000 per third party).

Success metrics and monitoring

1. 1Number and quality of PCP tenders published and awarded transnationally.
2. 2Number of suppliers selected and competitive diversity across phases.
3. 3At least one solution ready for deployment or deployed during the project.
4. 4Evidence of regulatory engagement and removal of regulatory/certification barriers.
5. 5Uptake measures: deployments, procurements, financial incentives delivered to adopters, and measurable improvements in public services.

How to apply and practical advice

Apply via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Prepare Part A (administrative data) and Part B (technical narrative) using the HE PCP templates. Ensure your consortium includes procurers with formal financial commitment for PCP procurement costs, a named lead procurer, cooperating regulatory/certification bodies and the relevant experimentation spaces (test beds, living labs) or clear plans to use them. Use the HE PCP/PPI model tender documents to prepare the procurement package deliverable required at the end of the preparation phase. Demonstrate capacity to run a multi-phase PCP and to validate competing solutions in operational conditions.

Relevant Portal pages: call topic detail page HORIZON-EIE, submission system and templates, and the Portal Reference Documents listing the HE Programme Guide, General Annexes and the HE PCP/PPI model tender documents.

Footnotes

1. 1Further details on this topic, on General Annex H (PCP/PPI rules) and HE PCP/PPI model tender documents are provided in the Horizon Europe Work Programme topic page HORIZON-EIE available on the Funding & Tenders Portal Horizon EIE Work Programme – Topic HORIZON-EIE-2027-01-CONNECT-02

Reinforcing Synergies between Experimentation Spaces and Innovation Procurement

Opportunity Overview

This call HORIZON-EIE under the Horizon Europe Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems (2027.1) programme funds Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) actions to accelerate market uptake of innovative solutions by bridging innovation procurement with experimentation spaces such as test beds, living labs, and regulatory sandboxes. It targets consortia of public buyers with shared procurement needs to drive demand-led innovation, cooperating with experimentation spaces and regulatory bodies to overcome barriers to market entry. The call opens 1 June 2027 with a single-stage deadline of 15 September 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time.

Key Dates:Planned opening: 1 June 2027. Deadline: 15 September 2027 17:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission.

Budget:€10 million total budget. Expected EU contribution: around €10 million for 1 project.

Objectives and Expected Outcomes

The call addresses gaps between supply and demand for innovative solutions by enabling public buyers to test innovations early with experimentation spaces and regulatory bodies. Expected outcomes include advancing public sector modernisation through innovative technologies, reinforcing EU strategic autonomy by opening public procurement markets to SMEs and startups, improving market uptake via demand aggregation, and ensuring at least one successful PCP solution is ready for deployment or deployed during the project. It supports collaborative procurement for safer, efficient public services.

Specific Challenge

Shorten time-to-market by reinforcing synergies between innovation procurement and experimentation spaces. Tackle supply-demand gaps and lack of buyer cooperation with test beds, living labs, and regulatory authorities during R&D. Target transnational buyers groups to challenge markets for solutions, remove regulatory/certification barriers, and use testing as regulatory sandboxes. Contributes to EU Startup Scaleup Strategy and European Innovation Act.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Open to consortia of public buyers (procurers) with similar needs wanting to procure jointly, plus relevant regulatory/certification bodies. No direct funding for developers, industry, or research organisations; they respond to PCP tenders. Minimum eligibility per General Annex H. Lead procurer coordinates; buyers group provides financial commitments. Associated partners/third parties may contribute in-kind (e.g., test resources). Eligible countries per General Annex B. Pillar-assessed participants may apply own rules.

Consortium Requirements

• Lead procurer (appointed by buyers group) coordinates joint PCP.
• Buyers group: procurers sharing costs/effort for critical demand mass.
• Transnational: multiple countries for cross-border compliance testing.
• Procurement decision-makers involved for deployment commitment.
• Fast-track PCP possible if procurers commit to deployment (4 options).

Funding Details

PCP procurement costs (R&D services from providers) must be at least 50% of total eligible costs. Additional costs (preparation, implementation, follow-up) max 50%. No direct R&D funding to industry/research; they bid on tenders. Fast-track PCPs allow deployment budgets within project.

PCP Process Structure

1. 1Preparation stage: Open market consultation, common specifications, tender documents.
2. 2Execution: Min 3 providers (phases: solution design, prototype, validation). Framework contract with specific contracts per phase.
3. 3Fast-track option: Combine phases 2-3 for rapid deployment.
4. 4Monitoring: Buyers group tests/validates solutions in real conditions.

Key Requirements and Conditions

Proposal Content

• Common challenge: Shared procurement need; unmet by existing solutions.
• Ambition: Breakthrough innovation level; quality/efficiency gains beyond state-of-art.
• Deployment commitment: Procurers declare interest in 1 of 4 uptake options.
• Synergies: With test beds/living labs/regulatory sandboxes; standardisation/certification.
• Complements other PCPs; open to all public sector areas linked to EU priorities.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals evaluated per General Annex D. Page limit: 40 pages (title, participants, sections 1-3). Standard forms via Funding & Tenders Portal.

Implementation and Risks

Projects demonstrate high ambition in innovation/deployment. External expert review for FSTP selection. Risks: Market consultation failure, insufficient tenders, regulatory delays. Mitigation: Strong buyers group, early regulatory involvement, clear specs.

Key Documents:Work Programme General Annexes (A-H); PCP model tender docs; Horizon Europe PCP Guidance; Funding & Tenders Portal.

Support and Next Steps

• National Contact Points (NCPs) for guidance.
• Partner Search on Portal.
• Apply via Funding & Tenders Portal.
• Prepare: Needs analysis, consortium, deployment plan.

Footnotes

1. 1Source: Official topic page and Work Programme 2026-2027. Primary URL. General Annexes H for PCP specifics.