Design Contest for the future euro banknotes

Euro banknotes are a tangible, visible symbol of European unity and it is the responsibility of the European Central Bank to keep them up to date. Two decades after the introduction of the first series of euro banknotes, the ECB is now in the process of developing the future euro …

CPV: 22314000 Gravure, 79822500 Storitve grafičnega oblikovanja
Kraj izvršitve:
Design Contest for the future euro banknotes
Organ za podeljevanje:
European Central Bank
Številka dodelitve:
PRO-007891

1. Buyer

1.1 Buyer

Official name : European Central Bank
Legal type of the buyer : EU institution, body or agency
Activity of the contracting authority : Economic affairs

2. Procedure

2.1 Procedure

Title : Design Contest for the future euro banknotes
Description : Euro banknotes are a tangible, visible symbol of European unity and it is the responsibility of the European Central Bank to keep them up to date. Two decades after the introduction of the first series of euro banknotes, the ECB is now in the process of developing the future euro banknotes, including their design. The ECB aims to develop future euro banknotes that European citizens can identify with and that are as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible. The design contest of the European Central Bank is conducted in two phases and for two themes of the design of the future euro banknotes: Theme 1: European culture and associated stories and motifs; Theme 2: Rivers and birds and associated stories and motifs. Applicants can apply for one theme or for the two themes. In phase 1, the ECB is seeking suitable Applicants that will, if selected, be invited to participate in the design phase (Phase 2) of the design contest. In the first phase, the ECB will verify the eligibility of the Applicants and a selection team will then evaluate the applications against the selection criteria, set out in the Call for Applications. Per theme, the ECB envisaged inviting up to 20 Applicants to participate in phase 2, provided that - they are eligible and with the highest overall scores for the selection criteria; - they have proven their eligibility by submitting the relevant documents (as set out in the Call for Applications); and - they have indicated, by ticking a box in the Application form, their general willingness to assign to the ECB, on a perpetual, exclusive and irrevocable basis, all intellectual property rights and all forms of usage rights (including but not limited to reproduction, distribution, communication to the public, adaptation, modification, and translation rights) in any designs they develop as part of the design contest, without any territorial or temporal limitation. This general declaration of willingness shall constitute a precondition for entry into phase 2. Upon invitation to participate in phase 2, this declaration shall be formalised in a separate, duly signed agreement between the Applicant and the ECB, ensuring the legal transfer of the relevant intellectual property and usage rights. In phase 2, the ECB will send the Applicants an Invitation to Tender containing information and documents including the specifications for preparing the design proposals. A Design Contest Jury, composed of independent experts in visual arts and communication, will assess the submitted design proposals against the award criteria. Each design proposal must comprise a series of six banknotes denominations per theme (i.e. €5, €10, €20, €50, €100 and €200). All design proposals will be evaluated following a process of pseudonymisation. This will ensure that the Design Contest Jury and ECB staff involved cannot link proposals to specific designers during the assessment phase. The identification of the winning design proposals (up to five per theme) will mark the conclusion of the design contest. Thereafter, the ECB envisages conducting a public survey before the Governing Council selects the final design proposal for the future euro banknotes from the winning design proposals. The ECB will pay Applicants that are invited to phase 2 a lump sum of EUR 5,000 (for one theme) or EUR 10,000 (for two themes). A second instalment of EUR 10,000 (for one theme) or EUR 20,000 (for two themes) will be paid to Applicants who have been selected to participate in phase 2 and who have submitted in phase 2 a complete design proposal. The ECB will pay Applicants whose designs are selected as the winners of this design contest at the end of phase 2 an additional lump sum of EUR 10,000 for each winning design proposal.
Procedure identifier : a2b89963-b670-4e7a-b1af-373f4a14948c
Internal identifier : PRO-007891
Type of procedure : Other multiple stage procedure
Main features of the procedure : This design contest shall be open on equal terms to all natural or legal persons resident or established in the European Union. Other tenderers will not be admitted. This design contest is conducted in accordance with Decision ECB/2016/2 laying down the rules on procurement (as amended), available at https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb/legal/1001/procurement/html/index.en.html And in EUR-Lex: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02016D0002-20200501. The detailed features and terms and conditions of the procedure can be found in the procurement documents.

2.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Services
Main classification ( cpv ): 79822500 Graphic design services
Additional classification ( cpv ): 22314000 Designs

2.1.2 Place of performance

Postal address : European Central Bank Sonnemannstrasse 22
Town : Frankfurt am Main
Postcode : 60314
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Frankfurt am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt ( DE712 )
Country : Germany
Additional information : This design contest is conducted as an electronic tender procedure. Tenderers must submit their applications electronically via the ECB’s design contest portal. A registration to the ECB's design contest portal is required. Information on this design contest, the requirements which applicants must fulfill and the ECB's design contest portal are set out in the call for applications, which Applicants shall download from the ECB's website, before submitting an application: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb/jobsproc/tenders/html/index.en.html

2.1.4 General information

Legal basis :
Directive 2014/24/EU
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2016/245/2020-05-01 - Consolidated text: Decision (EU) 2016/245 of the European Central Bank of 9 February 2016 laying down the rules on procurement (ECB/2016/2) (recast)

5. Lot

5.1 Lot technical ID : LOT-0001

Title : Theme 2: Rivers and birds and associated stories and motifs
Description : Applicants may apply for one theme or the two themes proposed for the future euro banknotes: - Theme 1: European culture and associated stories and motifs - Theme 2: Rivers and birds and associated stories and motifs
Internal identifier : PRO-007891 - Theme 2

5.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Services
Main classification ( cpv ): 79822500 Graphic design services
Additional classification ( cpv ): 22314000 Designs

5.1.2 Place of performance

Country subdivision (NUTS) : Frankfurt am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt ( DE712 )
Country : Germany
Additional information :

5.1.6 General information

Procurement Project not financed with EU Funds.

5.1.10 Award criteria

Criterion :
Type : Quality
Description : 1. Education and relevant work experience (40%) and 2. Proven track-record of creative work (60%)

5.1.11 Procurement documents

Access to certain procurement documents is restricted
Languages in which the procurement documents are officially available : English
Deadline for requesting additional information : 11/08/2025 12:00 +02:00
Information about restricted documents is available at : https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb/jobsproc/tenders/html/index.en.html

5.1.12 Terms of procurement

Terms of the design contest regime :
The decision of the jury is binding on the buyer : no
Terms of submission :
Electronic submission : Required
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted : English
Deadline for receipt of requests to participate : 18/08/2025 12:00 +02:00

5.1.16 Further information, mediation and review

Review organisation : European Central Bank
Information about review deadlines : All Applicants will be informed in writing of the outcome of the assessment of their application once the evaluation of phase 1 is concluded. Applicants who are not invited to participate in phase 2 of the design contest may request the reasons for the rejection of their application. Such requests must be submitted in writing to the ECB within 15 calendar days from the date of receipt of the rejection notification via email to dc@ecb.europa.eu . The ECB shall provide the reasons for rejection in accordance with Article 36(2) of the ECB Procurement Decision. The ECB may decide to withhold certain information where the release of such information would affect other suppliers’ legitimate commercial interests, would hinder application of the law or would otherwise be contrary to the public interest.

5.1 Lot technical ID : LOT-0002

Title : Theme 1: European culture and associated stories and motifs
Description : Applicants may apply for one theme or the two themes proposed for the future euro banknotes: - Theme 1: European culture and associated stories and motifs - Theme 2: Rivers and birds and associated stories and motifs
Internal identifier : PRO-007891 - Theme 1

5.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Services
Main classification ( cpv ): 79822500 Graphic design services
Additional classification ( cpv ): 22314000 Designs

5.1.2 Place of performance

Country subdivision (NUTS) : Frankfurt am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt ( DE712 )
Country : Germany
Additional information :

5.1.6 General information

Procurement Project not financed with EU Funds.

5.1.10 Award criteria

Criterion :
Type : Quality
Description : 1. Education and relevant work experience (40%) and 2. Proven track-record of creative work (60%)

5.1.11 Procurement documents

Access to certain procurement documents is restricted
Languages in which the procurement documents are officially available : English
Deadline for requesting additional information : 11/08/2025 12:00 +02:00
Information about restricted documents is available at : https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb/jobsproc/tenders/html/index.en.html

5.1.12 Terms of procurement

Terms of the design contest regime :
The decision of the jury is binding on the buyer : no
Terms of submission :
Electronic submission : Required
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted : English
Deadline for receipt of requests to participate : 18/08/2025 12:00 +02:00

5.1.16 Further information, mediation and review

Review organisation : European Central Bank
Information about review deadlines : The ECB shall inform all Applicants in writing of the outcome of the evaluation. The successful Applicants will be invited to submit a design proposal under Phase 2 of the Contest. All Applicants will be informed in writing of the outcome of the assessment of their application once the evaluation of Phase 1 is concluded. Applicants who are not invited to participate in Phase 2 of the design contest may request the reasons for the rejection of their application. Such requests must be submitted in writing to the ECB within 15 calendar days from the date of receipt of the rejection notification. The ECB shall provide the reasons for rejection in accordance with Article 36(2) of the ECB Procurement Decision. The ECB may decide to withhold certain information where the release of such information would affect other suppliers’ legitimate commercial interests, would hinder application of the law or would otherwise be contrary to the public interest.

8. Organisations

8.1 ORG-0001

Official name : European Central Bank
Registration number : 0001
Postal address : Sonnemannstrasse 22
Town : Frankfurt am Main
Postcode : 60314
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Frankfurt am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt ( DE712 )
Country : Germany
Contact point : European Central Bank - Design contest
Telephone : +49 69 1344 0
Roles of this organisation :
Buyer
Review organisation

8.1 ORG-0000

Official name : Publications Office of the European Union
Registration number : PUBL
Town : Luxembourg
Postcode : 2417
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Luxembourg ( LU000 )
Country : Luxembourg
Telephone : +352 29291
Internet address : https://op.europa.eu
Roles of this organisation :
TED eSender

Notice information

Notice identifier/version : 5f00990d-e399-4887-a383-3c78e6164764 - 01
Form type : Competition
Notice type : Design contest notice
Notice dispatch date : 10/07/2025 14:45 +00:00
Languages in which this notice is officially available : English
Notice publication number : 00461742-2025
OJ S issue number : 133/2025
Publication date : 15/07/2025