Innovation Procurement in Big Science: From Needs to Award
This practical, self-paced course equips procurement professionals, Industrial Liaison Officers, and companies in the Big Science ecosystem with the knowledge and tools to plan and carry out innovation procurement—from identifying unmet needs and consulting the market to selecting and awarding the right procedure.
Target audience
- Procurement officers and legal staff in Big Science Organisations
- Industrial Liaison Officers
- Startups and companies exploring public-sector innovation procurement
- Policy professionals and R&D managers
Learning outcomes
- Explain the EU legal framework and key innovation procurement procedures
- Identify and document unmet technological needs
- Conduct market analysis and Open Market Consultation
- Develop a business case for innovation procurement
- Structure and manage Pre-Commercial Procurement
- Apply Innovation Partnership, Competitive Dialogue, and Competitive Procedure with Negotiation
- Manage intellectual property rights in innovation procurement contracts
Course details
| Format | Self-paced online course: video lessons, downloadable manuals, and quizzes |
|---|---|
| Level | Intermediate |
| Estimated duration | Approximately 16–20 hours |
| Certification | INPROCAP Innovative Procurement Certificate |
| Pass mark | 70% on the final assessment |
Curriculum
- 6 Sections
- 30 Lessons
- Lifetime
Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections
- Section 1 — Introduction to Innovation Procurement6 ItemsThis section introduces the foundations of innovation procurement, explains the main EU instruments, and presents the INPROCAP training manuals and certification pathway.
- 1.1Lesson 1.1 — Welcome & INPROCAP Project Overview5 Minutes
- 1.2Lesson 1.2 — What is Innovation Procurement? Definitions & EU Framework12 Minutes
- 1.3Lesson 1.3 — PCP, PPI & Innovation Partnership15 Minutes
- 1.4Lesson 1.4 — PMC, Functional Specifications & Value Engineering10 Minutes
- 1.5Lesson 1.5 — Competitive Dialogue & Competitive Procedure with Negotiation10 Minutes
- 1.6Section 1 Quiz — Introduction Check7 Questions
- Section 2 — Needs Assessment6 ItemsThis section explains how to identify, prioritise, and clearly express unmet needs, and translate them into functional requirements that encourage innovative market solutions.
- 2.1Lesson 2.1 — Agenda5 Minutes
- 2.2Lesson 2.2 — Why Needs Assessment Matters in Innovation Procurement15 Minutes
- 2.3Lesson 2.3 — Methods for Identifying Unmet Needs30 Minutes
- 2.4Lesson 2.4 — Functional vs. Technical Requirements30 Minutes
- 2.5Lesson 2.5 — Practice: Translating Needs to Functional Requirements30 Minutes
- 2.6Section 2 Quiz — Needs Assessment Check15 Minutes7 Questions
- Section 3 — Market Analysis in Innovation Procurement6 ItemsThis section explains how to conduct market analyses, assess the state of the art and technology readiness, evaluate supplier options, and use the findings to select an appropriate innovation procurement approach
- 3.1Lesson 3.1 – Why Market Analysis Matters10 Minutes
- 3.2Lesson 3.2 — SOTA Analysis: Prior Art Research, TRL, and the IPR Landscape10 Minutes
- 3.3Lesson 3.3 — DTI SOTA and OMC Playbook15 Minutes
- 3.4Lesson 3.4 — Market Research Methods, Supplier Identification and Cost Analysis15 Minutes
- 3.5Lesson 3.5 — Self-Guided Exercise: Mini-SOTA Analysis30 Minutes
- 3.6Section 3 Quiz — Market Analysis Check15 Minutes7 Questions
- Section 4 — Open Market Consultation (OMC) — Strategy & Practice7 ItemsThis section explains how to plan and conduct a legally compliant Open Market Consultation, analyse supplier feedback, and use the results to refine procurement strategy and specifications.
- 4.1Lesson 4.1 — Objectives5 Minutes
- 4.2Lesson 4.2 — What is OMC? Legal Basis, Purpose & Compliance Pillars20 Minutes
- 4.3Lesson 4.3 — OMC Formats, Planning & Designing Good Questions10 Minutes
- 4.4Lesson 4.4 — Analysing Results & Writing the OMC Report5 Minutes
- 4.5Lesson 4.5 — OMC in Practice: NCBR Case Studies (Poland)50 Minutes
- 4.6Lesson 4.6 — Industry Days & Early Supplier Engagement in BSOs15 Minutes
- 4.7Section 4 Quiz — OMC Design and Legal Compliance15 Minutes7 Questions
- Section 5 — Building a Business Case for Innovation Procurement5 ItemsThis section explains how to build a robust business case for innovation procurement using cost-benefit analysis, Net Present Value, risk assessment, and practical evidence from the ARCHIVER PCP case.
- 5.1Lesson 5.1 — What is a Business Case? Purpose, Structure & EAFIP Fit10 Minutes
- 5.2Lesson 5.2 — Cost-Benefit Analysis: Costs, Benefits, NPV & Risk12 Minutes
- 5.3Lesson 5.3 — Real PCP Case Study: ARCHIVER at CERN30 Minutes
- 5.4Lesson 5.4 — Exercise30 Minutes
- 5.5Section 5 Quiz – Business case15 Minutes7 Questions
- Section 6 - Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP): Phases, Funding & Practice6 ItemsThis section explains when PCP is appropriate, how its competitive R&D phases work, how risks, benefits and intellectual property rights are allocated, how Horizon Europe can support PCP and how the model was applied by CERN and CDTI. Learners move from a visual foundation to three institutional perspectives and two real implementation cases.
- 6.1Lesson 6.1 – PCP Fundamentals: Purpose, Legal Logic & Phases
- 6.2Lesson 6.2 – From the Innovation Procurement Journey to PCP
- 6.3Lesson 6.3 – EU Support, Funding Conditions, IPR & Deployment36 Minutes
- 6.4Lesson 6.4 – CERN QUACO: A PCP for Innovative Accelerator Magnets30 Minutes
- 6.5Lesson 6.5 – PCP in Practice: CDTI Governance & Hadrontherapy10 Minutes
- 6.6Quiz 6 – PCP Phases, Rights, Funding & Practice7 Questions
Instructor
