In the rapidly evolving landscape of urban development, harnessing innovation through public procurement has become not just an option, but a critical necessity. This principle forms the cornerstone of the BUILD project, which is dedicated to empowering public buyers with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate the realm of innovative procurement effectively. As cities face unprecedented challenges, the ability to adopt sustainable innovation becomes increasingly vital. This spring, the BUILD consortium successfully implemented a series of training activities for public buyers, aimed at fostering cooperation, knowledge sharing, and ultimately, the widespread adoption of sustainable innovation across cities.

The Research and Innovation Week 2024, held from March 18 to 21 at Tour & Taxis, Brussels, was a pivotal platform for deliberating the future trajectory of Research and Innovation (R&I) in Europe. Amidst the discourse on past achievements and future strategies, the event spotlighted the important role of innovation procurement in propelling the green transition agenda of European public authorities. It focused on key learnings and barriers gathered from practical experiences, as well as the main achievements and wishes that experts shared.

The webinar on “Innovative Procurement Methods” delved into the complexities and opportunities surrounding the procurement of innovations. It raised fundamental questions: Is procuring innovations difficult and risky? How do organizations navigate the challenges associated with innovative procurement?

A seamless integration of innovation procurement into intricate challenges faced by municipalities, such as the energy transition, circularity, climate change, and sustainability. That is a common aspiration shared by procurement leaders interviewed by the PROCEDIN project. Their key message lies in the alignment of public procurement of innovation with broader sustainability goals while streamlining processes for widespread and consistent adoption. Additionally, concerns about supplier readiness to meet future needs and engage in innovation procurement processes are acknowledged.

In the realm of procurement, municipalities grapple with risk aversion, especially when considering innovative approaches. This article explores strategies to address this obstacle. Through insights from the PROCEDIN project’s whitepaper, we aim to share knowledge on the tools needed to overcome these challenges and foster innovation in public procurement.

In the pursuit of innovation through procurement, cities face a spectrum of barriers. In this extract from the PROCEDIN’s whitepaper, we delve into the strategies and enablers identified by procurement leaders, determined tackle the lack of capacity of public buyers, and facilitate the implementation of Procurement of Innovation (POI).

In the third PROCEDIN project’s whitepaper pill, we learn that initiating the procurement of innovation (POI) journey involves a multitude of triggers and dark spots. Through interviews with procurement leaders, various starting points and valuable advice have emerged, providing essential insights for municipalities venturing into the realm of innovation-driven procurement.

The second pill from PROCEDIN’S Whitepaper on adoption of innovation procurement draws insights from eight illustrative case studies. They unfold the journeys of cities, shedding light on their unique challenges, successes, and visions for the future. Each of them provides a nuanced understanding of how cities navigate the complexities of innovation procurement adoption. Beyond the use of formal innovation procurement instruments, their cases reveal that it is crucial to encompass incremental changes to procurement systems. Such as adapting specifications and award criteria to encourage supplier innovation, making public buyers more attractive to innovative suppliers.