When to use PCP

  When an unmet need requires innovation, as there is no available solution on or close to the market yet

  Adequate process to procure R&D services, up to the prototyping stage

   Procurer wants to induce step change in the market

   Intellectual property rights management:

• • CAs leave intellectual property ownership rights with the participating economic operators
  • CAs keep license-free rights to use the research and development results and the right to require the economic operators to give licenses to third parties.

Key features

• Multi phased procurement where the competition must be kept at the execution phase
• May include the acquisition of the limited prototypes or test products developed
• Cannot include the acquisition of larger volumes of resulting end-solutions on a commercial scale
• It falls under an exemption of the Directives, but must comply with EU Treaty principles
• Does not constitute state aid as the R&D services are procured at a market price
• Encourage demand side to meet supply side
• It is an important tool to stimulate innovation as it enables the public sector to steer the development of new solutions directly towards its needs. PCP is published openly using simple existing procedures: open, restricted or negotiated procedure with publication.

European Commission – Framework for state aid for research and development and innovation