I.A.3. Preliminary Funding Sources and Opportunities Mapped

Estimated Execution Time

1-3 weeks

Objective

To identify and understand the funding mechanisms for the procurement of innovation, technical support programmes, and policy frameworks that can financially and strategically support the innovation procurement process, at the regional, national, and EU level. Mapping these resources early is essential to de-risking the process in the eyes of internal stakeholders and to shaping a feasible project scope. It is also important to identify budget lines in your organization that can contribute to strategic objectives that can be solve or improved by procuring innovation or innovate in the way the procurement is done.

This step is not a single mapping exercise but the beginning of a continuous scouting activity, ensuring your organization stays alert, ready, and aligned when the right opportunity emerges.

Who is Involved

Champion – an internal initiator and facilitator who recognises a need or has a mandate.
Projects office department – (if any) or any department/person familiarized with project application and fundraising can be of great help. You can also recur to the national competence centre for innovation procurement in your country (see resources).
Funding office – internal or external office that keeps track of funding opportunities.

Activities / Tasks

I.A.3.1. Set Up Scouting Channels

Subscribe to relevant newsletters (e.g., national innovation agencies, Horizon Europe, regional digital health or green transformation programs).
Follow thematic platforms (e.g., EU Funding & Tenders Portal, TED, EIC, national PCP/PPI hubs).
Join relevant networks, Slack groups, LinkedIn communities, or partner mailing lists.

I.A.3.2. Map Potential Sources of Support

EU level: Explore opportunities from Horizon Europe (e.g. HERA, SANTÉ), Digital Europe Programme, Structural Funds, Interreg, EU4Health, etc.
Regional/National: Identify funding from national funds, health ministries, regional authorities, innovation agencies, digital health funds. For this it will be important to understand your healthcare system and engage with the healthcare authority and payor (see step I.C.3) to explore if innovation aligns with existing investment priorities or budget lines.
Internal investment: Don’t forget internal investment possibilities like unused procurement budgets, reallocation of strategic funds, or ongoing modernization programs.
Include potential private or hybrid funds (e.g., innovation partnerships, philanthropy, public-private innovation clusters). Also, include both direct funding and in-kind support, e.g. technical assistance from national competence centres or European networks (e.g. EAFIP, HIPAT, etc.).

I.A.3.3. Define Eligibility, Timelines, and Internal Capacity

Understand who can apply, co-financing requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission timelines. Cross-check funding rules with the expected use of PCP or PPI, some funding may be instrument-specific (e.g. Horizon funds focused on PCPs), others more flexible.
Clarify alignment between your organizational profile (e.g. public hospital, university hospital) and funder eligibility.
Identify whether your organization has the capacity (staff, experience) to apply for funding directly or if it needs external support or partnerships.

I.A.3.4. Track, Document and Prioritize Opportunities

Create a simple spreadsheet or Notion table with fields like: name of opportunity, thematic scope, eligibility, funding amount, co-financing ratio, application deadline, internal effort, and strategic fit.
Flag items by readiness: “monitor”, “prepare”, “apply”.
Keep in mind: an opportunity identified today may take months or even years to materialize, planning ahead is essential.

Tips / Common Pitfalls

✅ Check what in-kind resources (staff time, equipment, facilities) could count as co-funding.

✅ Look at adjacent areas like digitalization, workforce, or green hospital initiatives.

✅ Engage early with funding contact points (where allowed). Asking the right questions can save time and prevent misalignment.

❌ Don’t chase funding just because it’s available, applying to calls that don’t fully fit your needs or goals often leads to wasted effort or off-track projects.

❌ Don’t underestimate how long it takes to prepare and secure funding (grants can take 6–12 months from call to contract).

❌ Don’t assume grants are “free money”, many require significant co-investment (financial or in-kind), reporting, and project management.

Outcome / Deliverables

A living funding tracker with some structured and monitored opportunities
Scouting habits and monitoring channels established

Resources

Horizon Europe - Work Programme 2026-2027 Health Funding Opportunities for PCP and PPI

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