Innovation Partnership
As Gaeilge: Comhpháirtíocht Nuálaíochta
Also known as: Innovation Procurement
Last reviewed April 2026
An EU procedure where the buyer co-develops a new product or service with one or more suppliers and can buy the result without re-tendering.
A procurement procedure created by the 2014 EU directives for situations where no existing solution on the market meets the buyer's needs. The authority runs a multi-stage process to develop a new product, service or works with one or more partners, then purchases the resulting solution under the same contract without a fresh competition. In Ireland, innovation partnerships are rare but used in research-heavy sectors such as health technology and energy.
Related terms
Competitive Dialogue
A flexible EU procedure for complex contracts where the authority develops the solution with shortlisted candidates.
Negotiated Procedure
A flexible EU procedure where the authority negotiates terms with shortlisted bidders — only allowed in defined circumstances.
EU Procurement Directives
The EU rules governing public procurement above threshold values, transposed into Irish law as S.I. 284/2016.