About the Flagship
This flagship focuses on facilitating innovation through improved framework conditions including experimental approaches to regulation, through so-called regulatory sandboxes, as well as test beds, living labs and innovation procurement.
Guidance document on experimentation tools
- Completed
- Q2 2023
Initiation of preparations of the Guidance
- Q3 2023
Publication of the Staff Working document
The Commission issued a staff working document in July 2023 that clarifies relevant use cases of regulatory sandboxes, test beds and living labs in order to support policymakers and innovators in their approach to experimentation in the EU. This document includes an overview of the main existing experimentation clauses and regulatory sandboxes in EU law.
Stimulating Experimentation Practices
- Ongoing
- 8 June - 21 September 2023
- Q1 2024
Announcement of results
- June/July 2024
Signing of grant agreement with the beneficiaries
The Commission will support innovators through the European Innovation Ecosystems Work Programme relevant topic to identify areas and establish an experimentation space, such as regulatory sandboxes, living labs or test beds, which could facilitate the deployment of disruptive technologies.
Relevant links
Innovation-Friendly Regulations Advisory Group
- Completed
- 2022
13 contracts signed
- 2023
Meetings of the expert group
- February 2024
IFRAG concluded its mandate
- July 2024
IFRAG report was published
The Innovation-Friendly Regulations Advisory Group (IFRAG), composed of 11 experts, was appointed by the Commission at the end of 2022. Its role is to provide upstream policy advice on new technologies. It focused in 2023 on: (i) the use of emerging digital technologies in the public sector, and in particular virtual worlds, by looking at their implication for the EU regulatory landscape; and (ii) applications in areas such as citizens’ involvement in decision-making. The IFRAG concluded its mandate in February 2024 and in July 2024 published its findings.
Open innovation test bed in renewable Hydrogen
- Completed
- 13 December 2022
- 18 April 2023
Deadline for applications
- End of 2023
Grant Agreement preparations concluded
The Commission will establish a new open innovation test bed in renewable hydrogen in 2023 under Horizon Europe to provide access to physical facilities, capabilities and services. The initiative especially targets SMEs and innovators who cannot afford investing in such costly technology infrastructures, and they will benefit from the characteristic of Open Innovation Testbeds to have a Single Entry Point. As part of the open innovation test bed, the implementing parties are seeking guidance on compliance with the European legal and regulatory frameworks and on increasing circularity by design (life cycle assessment), to support the development of a vibrant hydrogen economy across the entire value chain.
Relevant links
The Commission also updated the new R&I&D Framework to reflect economic and technological developments further simplifying the rules applied by EU countries to implement RDI aimed at innovative solutions including in digital, health and carbon-neutral technologies that support the transition to a green and digital economy.
Innovation Procurement Specialist Advisory Service
- Ongoing
- 8 June - 21 September 2023
- Q1 2024
Announcement of results
- June/July 2024
Signing of grant agreement with the beneficiaries
The Commission will support the formation of an innovation procurement specialist advisory service through the relevant topic under the European Innovation Ecosystems Work Programme. This will act as an intermediary between public procurers and innovative suppliers. The call will open on 8th June 2023 with the deadline for applications on 21st September 2023.
EU wide benchmarking on innovation procurement
- Ongoing
- December 2022
Signing of the contract for the Innovation Procurement Observatory
- 23 March 2023
1st workshop that will present the objectives
- Q1 2024
First deliverables of the benchmarking
The Commission will update its EU wide benchmarking of national policy frameworks and investments on innovation procurement in Europe. This includes both the investments in R&D procurement and the investments in public procurement of innovative solutions ((PPI procurement).
Relevant links
Benchmarking of innovation procurement investments and policy frameworks across Europe
GovTech
- Completed
- Q4 2022
Signature of the Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA)
- Q2 2023
Signature of the first Specific Grant Agreement with the FPA consortium
- 6 July 2023
The GovTech Incubator kicks off
The Commission will create an Edge AI Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs) to develop AI prototypes using low-power computing technologies. The TEF will collaborate with other EU partnerships, provide testing facilities for SMEs, and focus on implementing AI components in connected autonomous objects.
Relevant links
Partnership for Realization and Validation of AI hardware Leadership
Member States and Associated Countries actions supporting the New European Innovation Agenda
At the Competitiveness Council in December 2022, following the adoption of Council Conclusions on New European Innovation Agenda (NEIA), the Commission launched a call to governments to announce actions in support of the NEIA. This announcement was based on the understanding that full support and engagement from the Member States and Associated Countries is needed to ensure the implementation of the NEIA.
The actions were gathered through the EIC Forum, a group of Member States and Associated Countries' public authorities and bodies in charge of innovation policies and programmes, with the aim of promoting coordination and dialogue on the development of the Union's innovation ecosystem.
Austria
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishment of 100% renewable energy living labs | The initiative aims to initiate, promote and support five "reallabs" for different types of regions in Austria, in which prototype system solutions for integrated, regional energy systems are developed, tested and validated | Regional | Ongoing | Website |
| Mobility Labs | Initiative on Urban and Regional Mobility Labs. Currently 6 mobility labs active. The Call for proposals for regional mobility labs opens in autumn 2023 | National | Ongoing | Website |
| IÖB (IOEB) - Initiative for Innovative Public Procurement | IOEB (IÖB=Innovative öffentliche Beschaffung) is a strong and flexible initiative with permanently updated actitives. | National | Ongoing | Website |
Belgium
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Testing and Experimentation Facility for Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities (CitCom.AI) | Support deeptech technology AI from lab to market introduction and uptake in EU | European | Planned for future | EISMEA-RTD-EICFORUM ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Contact) |
| Programme for Innovative Procurement | Support of innovation for Flanders public procurement entities to address societal challenges | Regional | Ongoing | Website |
Bulgaria
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D4: Develop a single web-based platform (one-stop-shop) for data access and tools within a national data ecosystem | Platform to provide a centralised, authorised, and automated layer of access to data from existing and built within the D3 intervention information systems of the primary sources of public data. It will also provide mediation (intermediation) in data sharing, as well as functionalities for working with sensitive data and analysis tools. | National | Planned for future | EISMEA-RTD-EICFORUMec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Contact) |
| Sofia Tech Park | The main objective of the Park is to support the development of the research, innovation and technology capacity of Bulgaria. This will be done in partnership with private and public organisations supporting the development of the innovation environment, implementing educational programs, while providing support services for the commercialisation of new technologies, products and services. | National | Ongoing | Website |
| Joint Innovation Centre at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences | The Centre is the coordinating unit for the implementation of the policy of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in the field of innovation, intellectual property, technology transfer, and commercialisation of research results | National | Ongoing | Website |
| Business Centre for SME Support - Ruse | The main purpose of the Centre is to support by all available means the business in Ruse and the region, especially the small and medium enterprises, and to stimulate their development, as well as to co-ordinate, incorporate and complement the activity of all those organisation and structures, assisting the small and medium enterprises, and to establish contacts on local level. | Regional | Ongoing | Website |
Croatia
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovative public procurement | Measure C2.9.I2 under the national Recovery and Resilience Plan aims at enabling the public sector to procure the most modern technical solutions, innovative products and services and thus creating opportunities for economic entities to find new users of innovative products and services | National | Ongoing | EISMEA-RTD-EICFORUMec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Contact) |
| Technology transfer programmes | Activities envisaged under the technology transfer programmes carried out by technology transfer offices (TTO) include consulting and support activities for the innovation process at various stages, including: patenting and other activities related to the protection of IP rights, preparation of market analyses and business plans, procedures related to licensing, contracting and implementation of agreements on commercialisation, consulting and services for access to the pre-seed funding and support for new product development. | National | Ongoing | EISMEA-RTD-EICFORUMec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Contact) |
Cyprus
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Digital Innovation Hub | DiGiNN brings together under one roof in a structured service framework, Cyprus’ leading expertise on digitisation and innovation | National | Ongoing | EISMEA-RTD-EICFORUMec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Contact) |
Czechia
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovative public procurement programme BETA | Support innovation in the public administration through public procurement procedures using innovation, research, sandboxes, etc | National | Ongoing | EISMEA-RTD-EICFORUMec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Contact) |
Denmark
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategy for green public procurement: Green procurement for a green future | Contribute to achieving the climate goals through public procurement | National | Ongoing | Website |
Estonia
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovation Procurement | Increase innovation procurement through special advisory services, sharing best practices etc. Supporting development and implementation of innovative solutions in the public sector | National | Ongoing | EISMEA-RTD-EICFORUMec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Contact) |
Germany
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation SPRIND | The Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND) is a flexible and rapid government funding instrument with the aim to support and accelerate the identification and development of innovative ideas | National | Ongoing | Website |
| Regulatory Sandbox Act | The German government is planning to pass a Regulatory Sandbox Act that will provide uniform and innovation-friendly framework conditions for regulatory sandboxes and allow new scope for testing innovations | National | Ongoing | Website |
| Coordinating Office for Regulatory Sandboxes at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) | The Federal Regulatory Sandboxes office has been implementing the Regulatory Sandboxes strategy since 2019 incorpotating pillars on Legal Opportunities, Informing and networking and Initiation and support | National | Ongoing | Website |
Georgia
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition to support Angel Investor Networks | The objective of the competition was to strengthen the Angel Investor Networks organizations operating in Georgia | National | Ongoing | Website |
| Proposal Writing Camp | Preparation of potential applicants for Horizon Europe projects | National | Planned for future | Website |
Greece
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building an R&I ERA Pilot on Green Hydrogen | Contribute to the development of a Clean Hydrogen Observatory, the improvement of education and skills in the sector, the acceleration of the pre-market step of the hydrogen value chain, and by expanding the landscape of hydrogen valleys. | European | Ongoing | EISMEA-RTD-EICFORUMec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Contact) |
| Innovation Hub for green H2 and energy storage in Western Macedonia Region | Develop hub connecting science, industry, politics and other partners in the Greek hydrogen economy by 2025 and onwards | National | Ongoing | EISMEA-RTD-EICFORUMec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Contact) |
Hungary
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creating Science and Innovation Parks under the John von Neumann Programme | Development of Science and Innovation Parks, spaces for university-industry collaboration, fostering the growth of domestic start-ups and spin-offs, as well as SMEs and large companies, in future-oriented technology areas | National | Ongoing | Website |
| National Laboratories Programme | The National Laboratories Programme brings together the most competent R&I actors in a given field in order to engage in exploratory and experimental research activities and to achieve research results of national strategic and international importance. The National Laboratories develop competences, products and services in order to provide solutions to local and global socio-economic issues that can be used in Hungary or in Europe. They also provide special expertise and computational infrastructure for SMEs | National | Ongoing | Website |
Ireland
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Digital Innovation Hubs | “One-stop-shops” providing access to technical expertise and experimentation, as well as innovation services, and the training and skills development necessary for successful digital transformation | European | Ongoing | Website |
Italy
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reform of the industrial property code - Abolition of Professor Privilege | To define a multi-year strategy for industrial property, with the aim of adding value to innovation and encouraging investment in the future | National | Planned for future | Website |
| Modification to the regulatory framework on public procurement - Innovative procurement portal | To match the demand and supply of innovation, encouraging an effective collaboration between PA, companies, start-ups and research institutions, in line with the provisions of the Italian Digital Agenda | National | Ongoing | Website |
Lithuania
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovative public procurement | Development of Science and Innovation Parks, spaces for university-industry collaboration, fostering the growth of domestic start-ups and spin-offs, as well as SMEs and large companies, in future-oriented technology areas. | National | Ongoing | Website |
| National Laboratories Programme | The National Laboratories Programme brings together the most competent R&I actors in a given field in order to engage in exploratory and experimental research activities and to achieve research results of national strategic and international importance. The National Laboratories develop competences, products and services in order to provide solutions to local and global socio-economic issues that can be used in Hungary or in Europe. They also provide special expertise and computational infrastructure for SMEs. | National | Ongoing | Website |
Luxembourg
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The GovTech Lab | Work with internal and external actors on the development of the digitalisation of public services and integration of new technologies | National | Ongoing | Website |
Poland
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovative Public Procurement: Green Deal Pre-Commercial Procurement Projects | The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) supports the implementation of European Green Deal by launching several research projects carried out as pre-commercial procurements. They all are aimed at developing new solutions and technologies in research and development that support the achievement of the objectives of the European Green Dea | National | Ongoing | Website |
Portugal
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zonas Livres Tecnológicas (Regulatory sandboxes) | The objectives of Free Technological Zones include attracting foreign investment, promoting projects with an international dimension and stimulating the entrepreneurial ecosystem | National | Ongoing | Website |
| Procure+i - Competence Centre for Innovation Public Procuremente | Platform to provide information, guidance and support services to foster Innovation in Public Procurement | National | Ongoing | Website |
Slovenia
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Lab InnoRenew | Living Lab InnoRenew provides an opportunity for members to work together to jointly develop new ideas, products and services; collaborate and interact with InnoRenew Centre of Excellence and its partners and exchange knowledge about research and development in the field. | European | Ongoing | Website |
Spain
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandbox Guidelines (MCIN) | Promotion of regulatory sandboxes | National | Ongoing | Website |
| Public Procurement of Innovation (Linea FID-CPI MCIN) | The Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI) aims to promote innovation in the public and private sectors through public procurement, so that innovative solutions are incorporated in public administrations and innovation in companies is encouraged | National | Ongoing | Website |
| Pre-commercial public procurement (CDTI) | Through this instrument, the CDTI will acquire R&D services that may result in prototypes of first products or services, in the form of test series, which are technologically innovative and meet public needs | National | Ongoing | Website |
Sweden
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demand accelerator: Enabling innovation through experimentation spaces and public procurement | Make innovation procurement an innovations policy instrument | National | Ongoing | Website |
| Checks for innovation procurement | The objective is to strengthen the capacity of contracting authorities to use procurement as a tool for innovation | National | Ongoing | EISMEA-RTD-EICFORUMec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Contact) |
| BeBo and Belok purchasing networks | The aim of BeBo and Belok is to push the bar when it comes to energy efficiency in the built environment and to reduce dependence on energy | National | Ongoing | Website |
Türkiye
| Title | Description | Scope | Status | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SME Support Call for Order-Based R&D Projects | Within the scope of Order R&D calls, to increase cooperation and enable more effective use of public resources allocated for R&D supports and contribute to the sustainable development of the country | National | Ongoing | EISMEA-RTD-EICFORUMec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Contact) |