AIPF has identified the need for better communication to share information about initiatives, proposals, projects, and infrastructure opportunities with industry stakeholders. To achieve this, we propose creating a classification system or directory with keywords linked to different areas of expertise. This system would help companies find relevant information more easily.
Present status
On the topic of the promotion of the integration, classification and the distribution of information, it was decided to move forward with the proposal from The Netherlands to identify matches between procurement needs and required competences from industry by making a matrix with activities and the type of work in that domain e.g. metrology in the domain of mechanics. The uniform matrix once established on the EU level would simplify targeted calls and other notifications of needs within the research infrastructure procurement and easier / faster response from the industry. Given the first indications from procurement services have been positive, the aim is to improve the current proposal and have a version to discuss with procurement officers in October at the BSBF in Trieste.
On the simplification and standardisation, the aim is to reduce the workload for both procurement services and industry by collecting the standard information that companies are now required to provide for each tender in a slightly different format for each of the organisations that the intend to work with. The idea is to have companies provide this information in a standard format to be used and accepted by all big science organisations. This could then be updated once a year. Ideally, this would be stored in an European online platform. A further possibility of a single point confirmation / certification of the actualization of such documentation is to be explored and promoted further in terms of mechanisms available and in terms of industry interest. Such confirmation (and its recognition) would significantly reduce the efforts, shorten the time and simplify the comunication during the procurement process on both sides.
The aim for this year is to get the vast majority of standardly required information aligned to be discussed with procurement officers in October at the BSBF in Trieste.
Regarding the platform to be used, the work is centered in exploring existing platforms that are currently not fully exploited by our community.
Meet the team
Jan Visser
Anthony Gleeson
Rok Hrovatin
Isabel Bejar Alonso