EISMEA launches €7 million tender for EIC Community and Ecosystem Partnership Programme
- ›The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) published an open call for tenders EISMEA/2025/OP/0024 to run the EIC Community and Ecosystem Partnership Programme.
- ›Estimated total value is about €7 million and the contract can run for up to 48 months with award on best price quality ratio.
- ›The contractor will manage the EIC Community platform, run events, deploy Key Account managers per top EIC sectors and coordinate the EIC Women Leadership programme.
- ›The scope includes communication and event support for existing EIC Business Acceleration Services and promoting services listed in the EIC Service Catalogue.
- ›Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU e tendering portal by 9 September 2025 at 10:00 CEST.
EISMEA launches tender for the EIC Community and Ecosystem Partnership Programme
On 23 July 2025 the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency published an open call for tenders titled EIC Community and Ecosystem Partnership Programme. The procedure identifier is EISMEA/2025/OP/0024. The tender seeks a contractor to coordinate and implement a cluster of community, leadership and communication activities that support EIC awardees and the wider EIC ecosystem.
Tender essentials at a glance
| Item | Detail | |
| Call title | EIC Community and Ecosystem Partnership Programme | |
| Procedure identifier | EISMEA/2025/OP/0024 | |
| Estimated total value | €7 000 000 | |
| Maximum contract duration | 48 months | |
| Procedure type | Open procedure | |
| Award criterion | Best price quality ratio | |
| Deadline for submission | 9 September 2025, 10:00 CEST | |
| How to apply | Electronically via the EU Funding and Tenders e tendering portal | |
| Publication date | 23 July 2025 |
What EISMEA wants the contract to deliver
The tender covers four linked areas of work. The contractor must manage a community platform and animate sectoral communities. It must run the EIC Women Leadership programme which offers training mentoring and networking for female researchers and entrepreneurs aiming for leadership roles. The supplier must also deliver communication and event support for the EIC Business Acceleration Services contracts. Finally the contractor must act as a bridge between EIC awardees and third party ecosystem partners to enable access to specialised services and facilities.
How the call fits in the EIC and EU innovation landscape
EISMEA runs the European Innovation Council component of Horizon Europe and manages programmes aimed at scaling deep tech and supporting SMEs. The EIC Business Acceleration Services are a set of support actions offered to EIC beneficiaries that can include coaching investor matchmaking partner searches and thematic services. The EIC Service Catalogue consolidates these third party offerings so that awardees can find sector specialist support. This tender is a coordination and support action focused on community management outreach and facilitation rather than direct research funding or investment.
Practical implications for bidders and the market
The estimated budget of €7 million for up to 48 months is modest when compared to the overall EIC budget lines and the breadth of the task. The winning contractor will need demonstrated capacity in community management event production strategic communications and sector specific outreach. Experience with EU procurement and with Horizon Europe related digital platforms will be an advantage. Consortia of communication agencies universities incubators innovation intermediaries or sector specialists are likely candidates.
The award will be made on a best price quality ratio. This means proposals should strike a balance between cost competitiveness and quality delivery with clear KPIs and evidence of previous performance.
Risks and critical points to watch
Several potential challenges emerge from the tender description. First 'top notch communication' and similar phrasing are aspirational and subjective. Bidders should propose measurable outputs and outcomes rather than rely on marketing language. Second the task requires coordination across multiple existing contracts and partners which raises governance and data sharing issues that must comply with EU rules including data protection. Third successful community activation depends on sustained engagement from awardees and partners which can be difficult to guarantee. Finally the budget requires careful planning to cover platform maintenance events communications and dedicated Key Account managers across multiple sectors.
Next steps for interested applicants
Applications must be submitted electronically through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal by 9 September 2025 at 10:00 CEST. Organisations preparing bids should assemble evidence of relevant experience propose clear staffing and governance arrangements show compliance with data protection rules and demonstrate experience with EU funded programmes and community building. Proposals should explain how they will measure engagement and impact and how they will liaise with existing EIC Business Acceleration Services contracts and the EIC Service Catalogue.
Contact and publication details
The announcement was published by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency on 23 July 2025. The procuring authority is EISMEA. Interested parties should consult the call documents on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal for all formal requirements and attachments.
This article is intended to reframe the public tender notice into a clearer structure and to highlight practical considerations for applicants and stakeholders in the EU innovation ecosystem. It does not replace the official tender documents which remain the authoritative source for application details.