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The INPROCAP Training Series reached an important milestone with its eighth session in Bratislava on 29-30 June 2026, closing the pre-summer phase of the programme. Training 8, titled Practical Aspects of Innovation Procurement Procedures, welcomed participants from Big Science Organisations (BSOs), Industrial Liaison Officers (ILOs), public procurers, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and innovation stakeholders from across Europe.

Between September 2025 and April 2026, the INPROCAP project successfully implemented four regional events across the North, Middle, East and South European hubs, bringing together companies, SMEs, Big Science Organisations (BSOs), Industrial Liaison Officers (ILOs), research organisations and public authorities to strengthen collaboration in innovation procurement.

On 11 May 2026, the INPROCAP project hosted its seventh webinar, “Innovation Partnership – Procedure & BSO Practice”, bringing together procurement professionals, Big Science organisations, Industrial Liaison Officers (ILOs), companies and innovation stakeholders to explore one of the most advanced innovation procurement procedures available under the European procurement framework.

On 23 April 2026, the INPROCAP project delivered its sixth webinar, dedicated to Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) and its role in addressing complex technological challenges in the Big Science ecosystem. The session brought together policy insights, legal perspectives, and practical experience, offering a well-rounded view of how PCP can be effectively implemented.

On 14 April 2026, the Big Science and NOMATEN Innovation Days 2026 took place at the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) in Poland, bringing together 61 participants from international research organisations and industry. The event provided a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, showcasing innovative technologies and fostering collaboration opportunities between science and business.

On 7 April 2026, the INPROCAP MIDDLE regional event took place at ASTRON in the Netherlands, bringing together around 30 participants from across the Central European ecosystem. The event gathered companies, Big Science Organisations (BSOs), and Industrial Liaison Officers (ILOs) to explore collaboration opportunities and address real technological challenges in Big Science.

The INPROCAP project continues to build capacity in innovation procurement across the Big Science ecosystem. On 23 March 2026, the INPROCAP consortium delivered its fifth training session, “Practical Training on Innovation Procurement for Industrial Liaison Officers and Big Science Organisations”, held onsite at CERN (Switzerland) with the possibility to join online.

On 24 February 2026, the INPROCAP consortium delivered its fourth webinar in the training series. We focused on Open Market Consultation (OMC) as a strategic instrument in innovation procurement. The session brought together nearly 50 participants, including procurement professionals, Industrial Liaison Officers, and representatives from Big Science Organisations. The aim was to discover how early market engagement drives better procurement outcomes. 

From 16 to 19 February, the INPROCAP consortium gathered in Kiruna, Sweden, for a key in-person project meeting hosted by the EISCAT Scientific Association. The four-day meeting marked an important milestone in the project’s implementation and provided valuable space for strategic alignment among partners.

Big Science Organisations play a key role in driving technological progress through large-scale research infrastructures. To meet increasingly complex scientific and societal challenges, these organisations rely on advanced solutions that are often not yet available on the market. Innovation procurement therefore represents a strategic tool to connect Big Science needs with industrial capabilities, enabling the development of novel technologies while strengthening European innovation ecosystems.
Building on insights from engagement with industry clusters, prime contractors and innovation-driven companies, this article outlines key conclusions, challenges and practical recommendations for improving innovation procurement practices in the Big Science context.