SPIN4EIC launches 'Elevate & Connect' to link EIC awardees with public and private buyers
- ›SPIN4EIC held an online launch event called Elevate & Connect on 22 February 2024 to introduce a new procurement-focused support programme for EIC awardees
- ›The programme aims to build communities of public and private buyers and help EIC-funded start-ups and SMEs access procurement opportunities inside and outside the EU
- ›The two hour online event ran from 10:00 to 12:00 CET and registration closed on 20 February 2024
- ›EIC beneficiaries, public authorities at local, regional and national level, and private buyers were the primary target audiences
- ›Organisers unveiled an online SPIN4EIC community and signposted upcoming calls and opportunities for EIC awardees and procurers
SPIN4EIC Elevate & Connect: launch event to bring EIC awardees closer to buyers
On 22 February 2024 the SPIN4EIC Strategic Innovation Procurement Programme staged its inaugural online event, Elevate & Connect. The two hour session ran from 10:00 to 12:00 CET and served as a public introduction to the programme, the services it plans to offer and a new online community for procurers and EIC awardees. Registration for the event was open until 20 February 2024.
| Item | Detail |
| Event name | SPIN4EIC - Elevate & Connect (launching event) |
| Date and time | 22 February 2024, 10:00 to 12:00 CET |
| Format | Fully online, two hours |
| Registration deadline | 20 February 2024 |
| Primary audience | EIC beneficiaries including start-ups and SMEs and public and private buyers |
| Key aims | Introduce programme services, reveal online community, preview upcoming calls and procurement opportunities |
What SPIN4EIC says it will do
The launch event presented the programme as a bridge between innovation funded by the European Innovation Council and demand-side actors who buy goods and services. Organisers also used the session to unveil a new online SPIN4EIC community and to outline forthcoming calls and opportunities for beneficiaries and procurers.
Why procurement matters and what it takes for start-ups
Public procurement can be one of the fastest routes to scale for deep tech and other innovative companies because it offers sizeable, stable contracts and reference clients. However moving from grant funding to winning tenders is not automatic. Procurement processes require readiness on multiple fronts including regulatory compliance, procurement-specific contracting terms, product readiness for deployment, evidence of performance and the ability to respond to complex tender documentation.
Who should attend and why
For procurers the pitch is access to a curated pipeline of EIC-supported innovations. For EIC awardees the value proposition is help entering procurement channels and meeting buyer requirements. Whether that exchange produces actual contracts depends on follow up activity, concrete procurement calls and the readiness of suppliers and buyers to adapt their processes.
Registration, follow up and staying informed
Agenda and thematic coverage
Organisers published an agenda image in connection with the event to show the session structure. The initiative also signalled that it will engage across a broad set of sectors where EIC awardees operate.
| Sector | Notes |
| Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries | Included among targeted domains |
| Construction and Transport networks | Relevant for infrastructure procurement |
| Earth and related environmental sciences | Covers environmental monitoring and adaptation solutions |
| Energy | Includes clean energy and grid technologies |
| Food and Beverages | Innovation in supply chains and processing |
| Health | Medical technologies and digital health solutions |
| Information and Communication Technology (ICT) | Software, AI and digital services |
| Public sector innovation | Procurement for improved public services |
| Security | Tools for safety and resilience |
| Engineering and technology | Industrial and systems engineering innovations |
| Partnership development | Support for buyer-supplier collaboration |
| Public procurement | Capacity building and tendering support |
Caveats, expectations and critical questions
The launch sets out a plausible demand side strategy but several questions determine impact. These include how the programme will translate community connections into concrete procurement actions, what resources will be available to prepare EIC awardees for complex tenders, how cross border procurement will be supported and measured, and which procurement frameworks will be used to pilot innovations. Announcements of communities and upcoming calls are a necessary first step but not sufficient to guarantee that public contracts will flow to EIC firms.
Administrative note and disclaimer
For EIC beneficiaries and procurers interested in supply side readiness the launch of SPIN4EIC represents a practical forum to explore procurement pathways. For observers the critical measure will be subsequent detail on specific procurement pilots, evaluation metrics and whether the initiative results in funded contracts and scalable procurement frameworks across EU member states.