II.B.3. Proposal writing: Common Unmet Needs and Innovation Challenge Definition

Estimated Execution Time

3 weeks

Objective

To define a shared innovation challenge from the perspective of public procurers, grounded on clearly identified common unmet needs. The activity aims to analyse the limitations of existing solutions, justify the need for Public Procurement of Innovation (PCP/PPI), and frame the challenge in functional terms, ensuring alignment with EU policy priorities and strategic objectives.

Who is Involved

Procurers / Clinicians / Technical staff: define and validate the common unmet need.
Project Department / Innovation Unit (from contracting authorities): coordinate needs analysis and challenge framing.
Technical Experts (IT, data managers): contribute to the analysis of existing solutions, barriers, and feasibility.
Supporting Entities/Knowledge Partners (consultants, research org, legal & procurement experts): support in challenge definition and policy alignment.

Activities / Tasks

II.B.3.1. Consolidate common unmet needs across procurers

Collect and validate common procurers’ information on unmet needs identified.
Collect and validate performance gaps, pain points or inefficiencies in clinical workflows, data journeys and patient journeys.
Translate needs into a clear, outcome oriented and functional innovation challenge. Define what needs to be achieved, not how. Avoid describing technologies or pre-selecting solutions, describe what are the challenges encountered so far to fulfil the needs.

II.B.3.2. Identify adoption barriers and market limitations

Analyse the state of the art and assess the shortcomings and limitations of existing solutions.
Identify why the market cannot currently meet the need through standard procurement
Consider adoption barriers. Document legal, technological, organisational, or ethical factors preventing uptake.

II.B.3.3. Verify coherence with strategic frameworks

Define the scope and boundaries of the challenge to ensure the challenge fits the procurement and cross-border eligibility requirements (see Step I.B.2).
Describe applicable policy connections. Link the challenge to EU; National or Regional strategic frameworks such as the Green Deal, Digital Europe, or EU Health Union, Digitalization strategies, Increasing capacity, etc.

Tips / Common Pitfalls

✅ Describe what must be achieved, not which technology should deliver it.

✅ Include quantitative and qualitative data showing why current solutions fail or not cover fully the needs.

✅ Leverage EU support tools and networks.

❌ Avoid naming or hinting at specific suppliers or known technologies.

❌Do not frame the challenge too narrowly or tailor it to a single solution

❌ Disagreement on needs reduces impact and proposal quality.

Outcome / Deliverables

List of common unmet needs and a clearly defined and justified common innovation challenge.
Functional description of needs and expected outcomes
Strategic alignment with EU priorities, national strategies and funding requirements

Resources

Guidelines for Innovation Procurement (PCP/PPI) EU Healthcare PCP and PPI Examples

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