EIC and SPIN4EIC pitching session at Big Buyers event: innovators meet public buyers in Brussels
- ›On 24 April 2024 SPIN4EIC organised a pitching session at the Big Buyers Annual Event in Brussels where EIC beneficiaries presented digital solutions to public buyers.
- ›Five EIC-backed innovators showcased technologies ranging from assistive AI eyewear to privacy-first data platforms and smart lampposts.
- ›The session targeted procurement partnerships and networking with city representatives including Lisbon, Gothenburg and Haarlem.
- ›SPIN4EIC is inviting EIC beneficiaries to apply for a follow-up pitching slot at the European Urban Resilience Forum in Valencia on 27 June 2024 with an extended application deadline of 6 June 2024.
- ›SPIN4EIC offers trainings, matchmaking and hands-on procurement support to both innovators and public buyers, but event participation costs are not covered.
EIC pitching session at Big Buyers Annual Event brings innovators and public buyers together
Innovation procurement moved centre stage on 24 April 2024 when the SPIN4EIC programme, powered by the EIC Business Acceleration Services, staged a pitching session inside the Big Buyers Annual Event. The session took place at Maison de la Poste in Brussels and aimed to connect European Innovation Council beneficiaries with public procurers interested in digital, resilient and sustainable solutions for public services.
Why events like this matter for scaling public sector innovation
Public procurement is a major route to scale for technology providers who want to deploy at city or regional level. For early stage and scaleup firms getting the attention of municipal procurement teams can open large, repeatable contracts and long term pilots. Initiatives such as SPIN4EIC try to bridge the gap between technology development and procurement practice by offering matchmaking, training and direct assistance to both buyers and sellers.
That said, procurement is a complex market with regulatory, budgetary and operational constraints. A successful match at a pitching event does not guarantee a contract. Buyers must still navigate public tender rules, budget cycles and technical due diligence. Startups must convert interest into compliant proposals, demonstrable pilot results and procurement-ready offers.
Who attended and what was on show
Representatives of public buyers and procurement teams from several European cities including Lisbon, Gothenburg and Haarlem attended the session. EIC beneficiaries presented short pitches on digital solutions aimed at improving public services, infrastructure management and environmental quality. A highlights video of the event was published by the organisers.
Selected innovators and their propositions
| Company | Solution | Primary use case |
| .lumen | AI-powered wearable glasses that replicate main features of a guide dog | Assistive navigation and independence for visually impaired pedestrians |
| Inspech | Tools for automated road inspection and asset management planning | Infrastructure condition monitoring and maintenance planning |
| Is Clean Air | APA Air Pollution Abatement technology based on water and mechanical processes with no filters | Outdoor and indoor air purification to reduce pollutants and nanoparticulate matter |
| Omniflow | Sustainable smart lampposts powered by wind and solar with integrated services | Street lighting, connectivity, EV chargers and on-pole services for smart cities |
| Sarus Technologies | Privacy-first analytics platform using differential privacy, synthetic data and query rewriting | Privacy-safe analytics and AI workflows for sensitive datasets |
Each of these solutions targets specific procurement challenges. For assistive devices such as .lumen, public health and accessibility procurement tracks and evidence of safety and effectiveness will matter. For infrastructure monitoring and smart-city hardware, buyers will ask for integration, maintenance and total cost of ownership. For air purification systems, independent performance data and lifecycle environmental impacts should be carefully assessed.
Networking and next steps: Valencia pitching opportunity
Organisers framed the Brussels pitching session as part of an ongoing effort to facilitate procurement partnerships. SPIN4EIC has announced a follow-up pitching opportunity at the European Urban Resilience Forum in Valencia on 27 June 2024. That event sits inside Valencia Cities Climate Week and will attract city and regional representatives focused on resilience, adaptation and climate neutrality.
| Event | Date | Location / Notes |
| European Urban Resilience Forum pitching session | 27 June 2024 | Palau de la Música, Valencia. Part of the EURESFO programme during Valencia Cities Climate Week |
| Application deadline | 06 June 2024 | Extended from an earlier 23 May 2024 deadline |
| Number of selected innovators | Up to 5 | Selection will be made by buyers based on business interest |
| Commitments for selected participants | Online pitching guidance session and in-person presentation | Participants must attend a max 2 hour online session in the second week of June and present on 27 June. Travel and accommodation costs are not covered by SPIN4EIC |
The pitching session will focus on resilient and sustainable solutions that respond to three thematic streams: water resilience and the Blue Economy, multilevel governance and just transition, and the transformation to climate-neutral and adaptive cities. Special attention will be paid to water resilience in urban contexts.
What SPIN4EIC offers beyond pitching events
SPIN4EIC is the Strategic Innovation Procurement initiative run under the EIC Business Acceleration Services. The programme offers free services to EIC innovators and public buyers including matchmaking and hands-on help drafting procurement tenders. Services include assistance with needs assessment, market consultations, tender drafting and legal guidance such as intellectual property considerations.
Open calls from SPIN4EIC include an Assistance Action for EIC Innovators seeking support to find and bid for procurement opportunities and an Assistance to Public Buyers call that offers free support to set up innovation procurement tenders.
A cautious note on claims and procurement readiness
Pitching sessions are useful for introductions but they are an early step in a longer process. Claims made in pitches or on vendor websites about performance, reduction percentages or deployment readiness deserve scrutiny. Public buyers will need evidence from independent tests, pilot results and clear maintenance and financing models before committing public funds. Similarly, innovators must be prepared to adapt products to procurement specifications, interoperability requirements and regulatory checks.
How to follow up and where to get support
Video highlights from the Brussels pitching session are available from the organisers. EIC beneficiaries interested in future pitching sessions or procurement assistance can contact the SPIN4EIC Helpdesk and subscribe to the SPIN4EIC newsletter. The SPIN4EIC team also provides onboarding guides for their community platform and a growing EIC Innovation Procurement Toolkit with practical modules for innovators.
For those considering the Valencia pitching opportunity, make sure your application is in English, include a concise PDF pitching deck and be ready to attend the preparatory online session and the in-person event on 27 June. Remember that travel and accommodation costs are not covered.
Disclaimer The information about the event and SPIN4EIC activities is provided for knowledge sharing and does not represent the official view of the European Commission or other organisations. Participation rules, deadlines and selection processes are managed by SPIN4EIC and event partners. For the most current details consult SPIN4EIC channels and the EIC Business Acceleration Services.