THE UPDATED ADVERT IS AVAILABLE HERE.

Notice of extension of the selection period of private partners (SMEs) for the establishment of a reserve list for the replacement of an economic operator within the DANUBIUS-RO project

The consortium of:

• The National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences (INCDSB)
• National Research and Development Institute for Marine Geology and Geo-ecology (GeoEcoMar)
• National Research and Development Institute Danube Delta Tulcea (INCDD)
• Sabba Ștefănescu Institute of Geodynamics of the Romanian Academy (IGSSS-AR)

as promoter of the project "International Centre for Advanced Studies on River - Sea Systems, DANUBIUS-RO", announces the organisation of a public selection procedure of economic partners (SMEs) in order to constitute a reserve list for the replacement of an economic agent withdrawn from the project implementation consortium.

The selection shall be carried out in accordance with the Methodology for the selection of private partners by research organisations intending to submit projects in partnership with a view to accessing funding available under the POCIDIF (methodology available at MIPE link).

The DANUBIUS-RO project is part of the ESFRI DANUBIUS-RI project (https://www.danubius-ri.eu/) and is implemented under the Smart Growth, Digitalisation and Financial Instruments Programme 2021-2027, Priority: 1. Support and promote an attractive and competitive RDI system in Romania, Specific objective: RSO1.1 - Developing and increasing research and innovation capacities and adoption of advanced technologies (ERDF), Action: A1.2 - Support for advanced technology projects through the creation of innovation hubs in areas of strategic interest; Implementation period: 2023-2029.

Topics of interest

Interested companies must express an interest in the transfer of knowledge and R&D&I results that fall within DANUBIUS-RI Strategic Research and Innovation Agendafor the theme of the withdrawn economic agent, respectively:

"Technologies for the realisation of equipment for the valorisation of side streams/waste generated by agricultural, agro-industrial, food industry and apiculture activities."

Value of the partnership contract50000 euro.

Eligibility, selection criteria and evaluation grid

• Applicant SMEs must fulfil all the eligibility requirements set out in the Applicant's Guide approved by Order MIPE no. 3340/04.09.2023 (link) and the State Aid Scheme approved by Order MIPE no. 3284/31.08.2023 and amended by Order MIPE no. 2010/10.05.2024 (link).
• The selection procedure is carried out in accordance with the Methodology for the selection of private partners (MIPE link) and all the selection criteria set out therein.
• The selection of SME proposals will be carried out according to the evaluation grids annexed to this notice.
  The grids include administrative eligibility criteria (administrative evaluation grid available here), respectively the technical selection criteria and the score assigned to each technical criterion (Technical evaluation grid available here).

Documents needed

• Letter of interest form explicitly mentioning the topic of interest (model here)
• Documents to check administrative eligibility (list here)
• Documents to verify technical eligibility (list here)

Document templates are available here.

Templates of the documents can be requested and emailed to the contact person and the legal representative of the interested entity after registration of the letter of intent.

Deadlines and how to apply

• Documents for administrative eligibility: until 24.12.2025, 14:00sent by e-mail to dir.inovare@incdsb.ro and Cc: office@incdsb.ro, contact person Simona Litescu Filipescu, phone 0212207780;
• Documents for technical eligibility: until 15.01.2026, 14:00sent by e-mail to dir.inovare@incdsb.ro, contact person Simona Litescu Filipescu, phone 0212207780;
• Documents transmitted by email must be signed either in holograph or electronically, using an electronic signature, in accordance with the legislation in force, by the legal representative of the SME or by a person authorised for this purpose. In the case of signature by an authorised person, the authorised person must present the document attesting the authorisation.

Evaluation and results

• The evaluation shall be carried out according to the criteria set out in the methodology for the selection of private partners and the attached grid.
• The results will be published on https://www.incdsb.ro/anunturi/selectie-parteneri-danubius-ro/ on 25 January 2026.
• Letters of acceptance / rejection will be sent to the SME within a maximum of 3 working days from the date of finalisation of the evaluation, but no later than 28.01.2026, to the e-mail address provided at the time of submission of the proposal for collaboration.

Signing the Partnership Agreement

The selected entities will sign the partnership agreement with the leading research organisation (INCDSB) and the other members of the DANUBIUS-RO consortium, according to the published model and the provisions of the Applicant's Guide.