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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.

On 9 December 2025, the INPROCAP project organised Training 3: Market analysis in the context of innovation procurement as a hybrid event in Hamburg, Germany, with participants joining both on site and online. The training built on earlier sessions in the INPROCAP series and focused on the role of market analysis in supporting informed and effective innovation procurement decisions.

The Big Science Industry Forum Spain 2025 (BSIFS 2025), held in Madrid, served as one of the most relevant regional events for Southern Europe under the INPROCAP project. The forum brought together industry, scientific infrastructures, academia, and public administration to explore how innovative procurement and new contracting models can strengthen Europe’s Big Science ecosystem. With participants from Spain and across Europe, BSIFS reaffirmed its position as a key meeting point for companies seeking to engage with large scientific facilities.

The second INPROCAP webinar, held on 27 November 2025, focused on one of the most critical yet often overlooked phases of innovation procurement: needs assessment and the identification of unmet needs.

INPROCAP took part in the Research and Technology Infrastructures (RTI) Summit 2025 in Copenhagen on 22–23 October. It was an event held under the Danish EU Presidency and convened leading RTIs, Big Science Organisations, industry, and EU-funded projects. INPROCAP partner PEDAL Consulting, s.r.o. presented the project’s training pathway and capacity-building work to advance innovation-friendly procurement across the Big Science ecosystem. It engaged with RTI leaders and companies on skills needs, practical tools, and opportunities for collaboration.

The first INPROCAP webinar, held on 17 October 2025, officially launched the project’s series of trainings and capacity-building webinars. The session introduced participants to the fundamentals of innovation procurement and outlined the structure of the forthcoming INPROCAP training manuals and learning pathway.

Innovation procurement is increasingly recognized as a powerful tool for driving progress in the Big Science sector. However, the needs of stakeholders differ — companies are looking for opportunities to enter new markets, Industrial Liaison Officers (ILOs) are expected to provide specialist advisory support, and Big Science Organisations (BSOs) require advanced procurement expertise. To address these diverse requirements, the INPROCAP project has designed a comprehensive training programme that brings together shared objectives with tailored approaches.