Inovāciju partnerība

Inovāciju partnerība ir publiskā iepirkuma procedūra, ieviesta 2014. gada Eiropas Savienības (ES) iepirkumu direktīvās, kas ļauj līgumslēdzējiem iegādāties inovatīvus produktus, pakalpojumus vai darbus, kas vēl nav pieejami tirgū. Procedūra apvieno pētniecības un attīstības elementus ar gala iegādi vienā integrētā iepirkumā. Inovāciju partnerības risina situācijas, kurās standarta iepirkuma procedūras nav piemērotas, jo vēlamais risinājums vēl nepastāv.

Why innovation partnerships exist

Before the introduction of innovation partnerships, contracting authorities wanting to procure innovative solutions faced a difficult choice. They could run a research contract first, then a separate procurement for the eventual product, but this fragmented approach often failed because the research supplier had no guaranteed path to the production contract. They could try to specify innovative requirements in standard tenders, but this rarely worked because suppliers cannot bid on solutions that do not yet exist.

The innovation partnership procedure solved this problem by integrating research, development, and purchase into a single procurement framework. The contracting authority selects one or more suppliers based on their innovation capability, works with them to develop the solution through staged research and development, and then purchases the resulting product or service from the supplier whose solution best meets the requirements. The integrated structure provides commercial certainty for suppliers while preserving competitive pressure throughout development.

Innovation partnerships are particularly relevant in sectors where public buyers have specific needs that are not met by current market offerings. Examples include healthcare technologies, defence systems, environmental solutions, and digital public services. The procedure has also been used for novel construction techniques, sustainable materials, and emerging technologies in transport and energy.

How innovation partnerships work in practice

The procedure begins with the publication of a contract notice describing the innovation challenge. Interested suppliers express interest, and qualified suppliers are shortlisted based on selection criteria that emphasise research capability, innovation track record, and relevant expertise. Several shortlisted suppliers can be selected to participate in the partnership, although the buyer can also choose a single supplier.

Selected suppliers enter the development phase, which is structured in stages with defined milestones. At the end of each stage, the contracting authority reviews progress and decides whether to continue with each supplier. Suppliers whose work is not progressing satisfactorily can be discontinued, while those meeting milestones proceed to the next stage. This staged approach manages risk and preserves competition during development.

Once development is complete and the contracting authority decides to proceed with implementation, the resulting product or service can be purchased from the partnership supplier or suppliers without running a separate procurement. The framework of the original innovation partnership covers both the development phase and the eventual production purchase.

Strategic considerations for buyers and suppliers

From the buyer's perspective, innovation partnerships are powerful but resource-intensive. The procedure requires substantial commitment to managing the development process, evaluating staged progress, and making continuation decisions. Buyers using innovation partnerships need internal expertise in research and development management, not just procurement administration. Many buyers find that they need to invest in building these capabilities before launching their first innovation partnership.

From the supplier's perspective, innovation partnerships offer the prospect of guaranteed development funding combined with a clear path to production sales. This combination is attractive for suppliers focused on innovation, particularly small and medium enterprises that might otherwise struggle to fund speculative research. The competitive dimension throughout the partnership keeps pressure on performance, but the structure is more supplier-friendly than running pure research contracts followed by separate production procurements.

Innovation partnership trends in EU procurement

Innovation partnerships remain relatively rare compared with traditional procurement procedures. The procedure is complex, requires substantial investment from both buyer and suppliers, and is not appropriate for routine purchases. Where innovation partnerships have been used successfully, they have delivered solutions that would have been difficult to procure through other means. The European Commission and national governments continue to encourage greater use of innovation partnerships as part of broader public procurement modernisation efforts.

Related terms

Konkurētspējīgā dialoga procedūra (Competitive Dialogue): alternatīva procedūra sarežģītu līgumu slēgšanai.
Dizaina konkurss (Design Contest): cita alternatīva radošiem vai dizaina orientētiem iepirkumiem.
Ierobežotā procedūra (Restricted Procedure): standarta procedūra mazāk inovatīvām vajadzībām.
Pārrunu procedūra (Negotiated Procedure): alternatīva procedūra ar pārrunu elastību.
Priekškvalifikācija (Pre-qualification): kvalifikācijas posms, kas ir kopīgs visām selektīvām procedūrām.

See Otnox plans to track procurement opportunities across 25 markets.