Pre-commercial procurement
Pre-commercial procurement means acquisition of R&D services with the aim of placing innovative goods and services on the market. Acquisition of R&D services, where the benefits are used exclusively for the needs of the contracting authority and which are paid for entirely by the contracting authority, shall not be considered pre-commercial public procurements; neither will the acquisition of services which are considered as state aid.
Aiming to introduce access to new possibilities to conclude R&D service transactions as means for contracting authorities of the EU Member States to produce goods and offer services, which best meet the needs of contracting authorities, as well as to promote innovation, the European Commission adopted the 14 December 2007 Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions entitled ‘Pre-commercial Procurement: Driving innovation to ensure sustainable high quality public services in Europe‘.
Last date edited: 2012-06-11
