24 February 2017

DG CONNECT publishes 2017 Pre-Commercial Procurement update

The European Commission's DG CONNECT has published an update of the results achieved by 15 Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) projects, aimed at the development of innovative solutions geared for public sector application. With the funding level for innovation procurement projects reaching €130 million per annum from 2014 to 2017, the Commission is keen to improve awareness of the support available for PPI and PCP among procurers, researchers and the private sector.

The 2017 update reports where PCP projects have had impact on improving the quality and efficiency of public services, extending market opportunities in innovation procurement to SMEs, valorising project research outcomes and nurturing cross-border approaches to contracting and job creation.

DG CONNECT report that 71% of the PCP contracts were won by SMEs, where the SME success rate in public procurement across the EU is only 29%. Other highlights include 28% of PCP contracts being awarded on a cross-border basis and a similar proportion including universities and research centres in the winning consortium.

The full update and list of PCP projects is available at on the PCP projects website.

For more information on Pre-Commercial Procurement visit ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/