EIC invites awardees to shape SPIN4EIC programme aimed at opening procurement markets to disruptive solutions
- ›The European Innovation Council is running a short survey for EIC awardees to inform the SPIN4EIC Strategic Innovation Procurement Programme.
- ›SPIN4EIC, part of EIC Business Acceleration Services, aims to help awardees meet public and private procurement buyers and receive tailored assistance and training.
- ›The programme will run until August 2026 and seeks to promote market uptake of EIC-backed innovations while strengthening buyers ability to procure innovation.
- ›The announcement does not disclose budget details or firm guarantees of procurement outcomes, so participating innovators should treat it as an opportunity not a contract.
EIC seeks input from awardees to design SPIN4EIC, a procurement support programme
The European Innovation Council is asking EIC awardees to complete a short survey to help shape the SPIN4EIC Strategic Innovation Procurement Programme. The survey takes up to five minutes and is aimed at understanding awardees needs and the barriers they face when engaging with public and private procurement. Responses will feed into the programme design so that services reflect participants priorities and constraints.
What SPIN4EIC is supposed to do
SPIN4EIC is offered under the EIC Business Acceleration Services. Its stated purpose is to help EIC awardees expand their networks by connecting them with relevant innovation procurement buyers. The programme promises direct assistance and training to support participation in innovation procurement both within the European Union and beyond. The initiative is scheduled to run until August 2026 and frames itself as mutually beneficial because it aims to accelerate market uptake of EIC innovations while improving the competitive position of procurement buyers.
Why procurement matters to innovators and EIC awardees
Public and large private procurement can be a powerful route to scale for technology companies. Public contracts can provide predictable revenue, validation from credible buyers, and entry points into domestic and international markets. For the EU policy agenda procurement is also a tool to meet strategic objectives such as digital transition, decarbonisation, and resilience.
Common barriers for innovators entering procurement
Despite the promise, procurement markets present steep barriers. Rules and procedures are complex and vary across countries. Tenders often favour established suppliers or require large delivery capabilities that early stage companies do not have. Payment terms, lengthy evaluation cycles, and high documentation requirements are frequent obstacles. Meeting regulatory standards, certification and public liability expectations can be costly and slow for small firms.
What SPIN4EIC offers and what remains unclear
The programme offers matchmaking with procurement buyers, direct assistance and training. That can be valuable for awardees that need buyer visibility and practical help to navigate procurement processes. However the public announcement does not specify the programme budget, the exact services on offer, the criteria for selecting participating awardees, or which buyers will be engaged. The announcement frames SPIN4EIC as a facilitator rather than a source of procurement contracts.
How awardees can act now
EIC awardees who want to influence the programme design should fill out the short survey and express interest via the SPIN4EIC page. Preparing for procurement engagement will increase the value they derive from the programme. Practical preparatory steps include developing concise procurement facing materials, clarifying regulatory compliance and certification needs, building case studies or pilot evidence, and identifying target buyers and use cases.
Information organisers should make public to increase trust and uptake
For the programme to be credible to innovators the EIC should publish details on selection criteria and participant quotas, the identity or profiles of engaged buyers, the types of procurement instruments targeted, and monitoring metrics for market uptake. Other useful disclosures include the programme budget, whether financial support is available to cover certification or pilot costs and how cross border procurement will be handled.
| Instrument | Primary objective | Typical buyer | Stage for innovators |
| Pre Commercial Procurement (PCP) | Buyers procure R D services to develop prototypes before a commercial purchase | Public authorities with innovation mandates | Early stage R D and prototyping |
| Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions (PPI) | Buyers procure first time purchases of innovative products or services at scale | Public authorities wanting ready solutions | Pilot tested solutions ready for scale |
| SPIN4EIC Strategic Innovation Procurement Programme | Facilitate connections between EIC awardees and procurement buyers and provide assistance and training | Public and private procurement buyers engaged by EIC | EIC awardees seeking matchmaking, market entry support and procurement readiness |
Assessment and implications
The SPIN4EIC initiative is a positive signal that the EIC is attempting to bridge innovators and procurement markets. The targeted support may help some awardees navigate procurement complexity and find buyer partners. At the same time the lack of public detail about funding, buyer commitments and selection rules means innovators should remain cautious. Procurement remains a challenging route to scale for many startups. Programmes that combine matchmaking with financial support for pilots, clear buyer commitments and cross border guidance tend to be more effective.
Participating awardees can improve their chances by providing the EIC with specific feedback through the survey, by asking for transparent programme rules and by preparing procurement ready materials. Policy makers and programme managers should aim for clarity on metrics of success so that the programme can be evaluated fairly by participants and the wider innovation ecosystem.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission or any other organisation.