Pre–commercial procurement (PCP) to buy R&D (research and development) services to solve circular economy challenges defined by the participating cities.

The Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture Secretariat awarded a pre-commercial procurement contract for research and development services to address circular economy challenges in the Baltic Sea region. Six organisations—Association Zero Waste Latvija, Comat Studio, Franziska Seehausen, INC Innovation Center GmbH, Superhood Oy, and Zirobio OÜ—were selected across two lots in Phase 2 to develop and pilot innovative solutions, with a total contract value of EUR 25,603 awarded on 19 May 2026. The procurement involved parallel funding of multiple R&D providers to explore circular economy practices with input from cultural and creative sector stakeholders.