Pre-commercial procurement (PCP) is an approach to public procurement of research and development services that is outlined in the PCP communication and associated staff working document. It is an important tool to stimulate innovation as it enables the public sector to steer the development of new solutions directly towards its needs.

PCP challenges industry from the demand side to develop innovative solutions for public sector needs and provides a first customer reference that enables companies to create competitive advantage on the market. PCP enables public procurers to compare alternative potential solution approaches and filter out the best possible solutions that the market can deliver to address the public need.

Public procurers can drive innovation from the demand side by acting as technologically demanding customers that buy the development and testing of new solutions. This enables European public authorities to modernise public services faster and to create opportunities for companies in Europe to take international leadership in new markets.

Creating a strong European market for innovative products and services is an important step towards creating growth and jobs in quickly evolving markets such as ICT.