By acting as technologically demanding first buyers, public procurers can drive innovation from the demand side. In December 2007, the European Commission adopted a Communication to promote the use and address the underlying barriers of pre-commercial procurement in Europe. Pre-commercial procurement is an approach where public procurers involve industry at an earlier stage in R&D projects and share the risks and benefits of designing, prototyping and testing new products. This approach is now becoming the focus of attention, in particular in relation with standard procurement. It is also a very pertinent topic for Research Infrastructures. In addition, IP arrangements in pre-commercial procurement contracts may have consequences on the use of the results and therefore impact the TT process. This led us to the conclusion that HEPTech should focus on exploring this subject, and as suggested by ESS and Juan Tomas Hernani, we have decided to go ahead with a preparatory workshop that would serve the purpose of providing the basis for further discussions and activities on this subject.
Venue: European Spallation Source - Tunavägen 24, Lund
| Organizing Committee: | Juan Tomas Hernani | ESS |
| Jean-Marie Le Goff | CERN | |
| Antonio de Valladares Pacheco | CERN | |
| Ute Gunsenheimer | ESS | |
| Ian Tracey | STFC | |
| Bernard Denis | CERN/JRC |
