Request for proposals to participate in EIT Food RIS CEL 2025–market testing

EIT Food RIS Consumer Engagement Labs is the largest food co-creation initiative in Europe. From 2019 to 2024, the co-creation processes involved 154 consumer panels and 59 companies from 19 European countries. Together, they designed, developed, and introduced to the market 36 innovative food products.

Consumer Engagement Labs are co-creation processes involving consumers and producers, based on an innovative methodology developed by the University of Warsaw. Each Labs process engages a relatively coherent group of consumers who jointly go through a multi-stage, interactive ideation process to develop proposals for new products that better address their specific needs. Unlike typical sensory panels and consumer surveys, the Labs do not involve testing sample products, but instead enable the creation of innovative, non-existing combinations of product features and benefits. This is supported by interactive formats, creativity-stimulating techniques, and the ability to redesign food products without the need for specialist vocabulary or detailed knowledge of ingredients or production methods.

The present request for proposals is launched by EIT Food CLC North-East Sp. z o.o. (“EIT Food CLC NE”) jointly with the University of Warsaw to select 1 company that will deliver market testing services for a product that was successfully developed with the participation of consumers.

Eligible companies need to meet the following criteria:

A legal person (informal organisations/unregistered startup teams are not eligible) registered in a member state of the European Union.

A retailer (company specialising in retail sale; NACE code G47), focused on fast-moving consumer goods or a food service company (NACE I56).

Willing to carry out market tests of a selected new product, which is the outcome of the Labs co-creation process.

Able to sign a subcontracting agreement with EIT Food CLC NE and act as a subcontractor in a project funded based on Horizon Europe/EIT modalities (EIT Food partners and Rising Food Stars members are not eligible).

Possessing knowledge, skills, and resources needed to carry out the subcontracted tasks

Tasks of selected organisation

The subcontractor will be responsible for the organisation and delivery of research services related to a product co-created with the participation of consumers and the food company. Specific new products were designed with the involvement of consumers in 2021–2024 and introduced to the market by food companies in 2022–2025. The subcontractor will deliver research services supporting the market testing of one such product. The contractual tasks include:

Participation in a meeting with the food producer company to analyse the innovative product features and benefits, along with marketing collateral.

Providing input into the food producer company’s planning for commercial exploitation of the co-created product, including discussion of commercialisation strategies and marketing communication.

Carrying out retail market testing of the product by: placing an order with the food producer for an initial batch amounting to at least 10,000€ net; making the product available to consumers in selected retail/service outlets; analysing sales performance for at least one month; collecting insights, lessons learned, and consumer/employee feedback.

Submitting a “Report on the new product market testing” — including data on the number of outlets, product quantity used (confirmed by a food company invoice amounting to at least 10,000€ net), sales performance over at least one month, and qualitative insights. Invoices issued in local currencies must be converted to euro using the official national bank exchange rate from the day preceding the invoice date. A report template is provided by the University of Warsaw.

Participating in a debriefing session with the University of Warsaw team to discuss project experiences and lessons learned.

Complete information can be found in the "Request for Proposals EIT Food RIS CEL market testing 2025" document.

Selection process

Interested and eligible organisations are invited to submit their proposals by 6th October 2025, 12:00 CEST using the “EIT Food RIS Consumer Engagement Labs” Application Form (Annex III). The proposal must include:

Required information regarding the tenderer;

• Indication of the selected product for market testing;
• A proposed plan of market testing activities;
• Signed Declaration of Honour (Annex II).

Please send your application via e-mail in English to: mkielkiewicz@wz.uw.edu.pl

Incomplete applications or those submitted by ineligible organisations will be rejected.