Commission launches call for tenders to improve access to innovation procurement opportunities

The European Innovation Council (EIC) and the SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) has issued a call for tenders to improve access to innovation procurement opportunities for innovators.

EISMEA opened the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme (Strategic Access to Innovation Procurement) on 27/04/2026, with a submission deadline of 08/06/2026. The call has an estimated total value of €4.3 million and a planned contract duration of 36 months.

The main aim of this call is to help EIC-supported innovators gain easier access to public and private innovation markets through skills development, networking and tailored support. The initiative focuses on four key areas:

• Skills enhancement on innovation procurement: organising training courses, the EIC Innovation Procurement Academies, led by experts in innovation procurement and improving practical tools such as the EIC toolkit.
• Reinforcing contacts between EIC awardees and buyers: developing communities of public and private sector buyers and organising matchmaking events to connect innovators with potential customers.
• Assistance to EIC…