EIC launches €4 million tender to run and develop its Community Platform
- ›EISMEA published a €4 million call for tenders to support and manage the EIC Community Platform.
- ›The contract covers content, platform maintenance, functional improvements and running the Women Leadership programme.
- ›The platform is the EIC's virtual meeting place for awardees to network, share experience and access Business Acceleration Services.
- ›Applications were due via the EU e-Tendering portal by 28 June 2023.
- ›Successful tenderers will need to balance technical delivery, community management and compliance with EU data rules.
EIC Community Programme tender: what was announced
On 15 May 2023 the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, EISMEA, launched a call for tenders worth approximately €4 million to procure services for a new Business Acceleration Services Community Programme. The procurement was published on the EU e-Tendering portal. The contract scope covers the support activities and management of the EIC Community Platform, the online hub where EIC awardees can meet, exchange experience and access acceleration services.
Scope and stated objectives
According to the call, the contractor is expected to provide editorial content, maintain and improve platform functionalities and services, and run related community activities. The Women Leadership programme is explicitly listed as a component to be organised under the contract. The overall aim is to help EIC awardees leverage business partnerships and the EIC Business Acceleration Services offer.
| Item | Detail | Comment |
| Publisher | EISMEA (European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency) | Agency implementing the EIC programmes |
| Contract value | €4 million | Indicative total value published in the call |
| Platform | EIC Community Platform | Virtual meeting place for EIC beneficiaries |
| Core tasks | Content production, platform maintenance, feature improvements, community management, Women Leadership programme | Includes online and event activities |
| Application route | EU e-Tendering portal | Standard procurement channel for EU institutions |
| Deadline | 28 June 2023 | Date published in the original call notice |
| Publication date | 15 May 2023 | Date of the EIC news item |
Why the EIC runs a platform and what it is used for
The EIC Community Platform forms part of the EIC Business Acceleration Services ecosystem. It is positioned as a one-stop shop for awardees to discover services, apply to offers in the EIC service catalogue, find partners and benefit from curated acceleration activities such as corporate days, trade fair participation and coaching. The platform aims to support market entry and scaling for deep tech startups and SMEs that have received EIC support.
What bidders would likely be expected to deliver
The tender asks for a supplier able to combine technical platform operation, editorial and community management, event organisation and targeted programmes such as Women Leadership. Typical deliverables include a functioning community site, regular content and newsletters, moderation and member support, data analytics and reporting, integration with EIC processes, and the running of themed programmes and events.
Technical, legal and governance considerations
Running an EU-funded community platform raises specific technical and legal requirements. Contractors must ensure secure hosting, single sign-on integration where required, compliance with EU data protection rules and accessibility standards. The platform must accommodate sensitive personal data related to applicants and experts and meet procurement rules about subcontracting and transparency.
Strategic context and implications for the innovation ecosystem
The contract is part of wider EIC efforts to strengthen European deep tech scaling capacity and to make non-financial acceleration services more effective. A well run platform can improve discovery of services, facilitate matchmaking and reduce duplication across national ecosystems. However the outcome depends on governance, sustained resourcing and measurable impact metrics. A single vendor managing content and the platform raises questions about continuity, vendor lock-in and whether the platform will adapt to new EIC priorities over time.
From an ecosystem perspective, the platform can provide value if it helps awardees connect to regional networks, investors and corporate partners outside Brussels. To succeed it needs clear key performance indicators, robust privacy safeguards and transparent links to the rest of the Horizon Europe and EIC service architecture.
Practical notes for potential bidders and stakeholders
Organisations considering bidding should prepare to demonstrate experience in three domains: technical operations of community platforms at scale, editorial and community engagement for innovation audiences, and delivery of targeted leadership or acceleration programmes. Evidence of EU procurement experience, public sector data handling, multilingual capacity and event logistics is likely to be advantageous. Bidders should also plan for measurable KPIs tied to engagement, service uptake and satisfaction among EIC beneficiaries.
| Recommendation area | What to show in the bid | Why it matters |
| Platform operations | SLA, uptime history, hosting model, security certifications | Ensures reliable service and protects personal data |
| Community management | Examples of curated content, moderation policy, growth metrics | Shows ability to activate and retain users |
| Programme delivery | Past programmes for founders, evidence of outcomes | Demonstrates ability to run Women Leadership and other activities |
| Compliance | GDPR or Regulation 2018/1725 practices, subcontracting transparency | Required for EU contracts |
| Interoperability | API experience, single sign-on and portal integrations | Needed to connect with EIC service catalogue and EU login |
Open questions and risks to watch
The public notice gives headline aims but leaves implementation details to the tender documents. Key matters for scrutiny include how success will be measured, how user data will be used and shared, the relationship between the contracted provider and EIC awardees, and how the platform will avoid creating a single point of failure for EIC community services. Civil society, potential bidders and awardees should look for clarity on data retention, subcontracting, multilingual support and contingency arrangements.
How to apply and where to find more information
The call was published on the EU e-Tendering portal. Interested parties needed to submit their bids through that portal. The application deadline stated in the call notice was 28 June 2023. For the original announcement and any updates parties were directed to the EIC news item and the call webpage on the e-Tendering portal.
Closing perspective
This tender reflects the EIC's broader push to professionalise non-financial support to innovators and to create a digitally enabled community across the European innovation ecosystem. The success of the procurement will hinge on the balance between technical robustness, community relevance and adherence to public procurement and data protection rules. Observers should track how the contract is structured and how performance is measured once a contractor is selected.