📅 Thursday, 23 April 2026 – 10:00 to 12:00 CET
💻 Online, virtual event
The INPROCAP project is building the skills and tools needed for all actors in the Big Science ecosystem to succeed. The sixth webinar, titled “Pre-Commercial Procurement – Phases, Cases and Practice”, is part of the INPROCAP Webinar Series (October 2025-December 2026).
This session focuses on how procurement can be used as a strategic tool to foster innovation and strengthen collaboration between Big Science Organisations (BSOs) and companies.
During this two-hour online session, participants will explore the main phases and steps of Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) in detail, examine a concrete implementation from CERN’s QUACO project, and hear a practitioner perspective from CDTI.
Learning objectives
By the end of this session, you will:
- Understand the full pre-commercial procurement (PCP) cycle and the rationale behind each phase
- Learn how PCP has been applied in a real Big Science context (CERN QUACO)
- Gain a practitioner’s perspective on implementing PCP (CDTI)
- Build confidence in identifying when and how PCP can be effectively used
Who should attend
- Industrial Liaison Officers (ILOs)
- Procurement and technical staff from Big Science Organisations (BSOs)
- Companies, including SMEs and start-ups interested in collaborating with BSOs
- Organisations involved in or exploring pre-commercial procurement
Agenda
We prepared several interesting sessions for you:
Session 1 – Main steps and phases of PCP
We will explain what PCP is and how it differs from standard public procurement, then walk through all phases from problem definition through solution design, prototype development, and pilot production. Key legal and procedural considerations, decision points, and State Aid rules will be covered at each phase.
Session 2 – CERN QUACO case study
We will examine how CERN structured and ran the QUACO PCP call, covering what worked and what challenges emerged at each phase. The case will highlight lessons transferable to other BSOs considering PCP for their own innovation challenges.
Session 3 – Industry Days
PCP in practice (CDTI) + Q&A. A practitioner from CDTI will share first-hand experience running PCP (including the hadrontherapy PCP) and provide practical insights from evaluation committee work—what assessors look for and common proposal weaknesses
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required.
