Lesson 1.3 — PCP, PPI & Innovation Partnership
PCP, PPI & Innovation Partnership
Watch the embedded video above, then use this page to review the central ideas, comparisons and practical implications.
Lesson content
This lesson compares three instruments for directly purchasing R&D or innovative solutions that are not yet fully available on the market.
What you will learn
- Explain the purpose and phased structure of PCP
- Describe how PPI supports market uptake
- Understand how Innovation Partnership combines development and purchase
- Recognise the main IPR and market considerations
- Select the most suitable route for different innovation needs
Compare the three instruments
Key terms
| R&D | Research and development activities used to design, prototype and validate new solutions. |
|---|---|
| IPR | Intellectual Property Rights. In PCP, providers normally retain ownership while the buyer keeps agreed usage rights. |
| TRL | Technology Readiness Level: a scale used to describe technological maturity. |
| Launch customer | An early buyer whose demand helps an innovative solution enter the market. |
Which route fits?
Use PCP followed by a separate PPI when several suppliers can develop solutions for a broader market. Consider Innovation Partnership when one buyer needs a specialised solution and wants development and purchase within one procedure.
Before you continue
Reflection: Would your organisation benefit more from competing several R&D approaches, or from developing and purchasing one specialised solution through a single partnership?
Lesson resources: download the comparison slides and use them when discussing instrument selection.
